John Lewis homeless advert

[2littleguineas]

I'm not sure what the story is behind this John Lewis advert is, are they behind a supporting the homeless campaign?
I'll admit while I watched the clip my eyes welled up with tears and I'd a huge lump in my throat. Simultaneously though I welled up with rage and disgust.
While I agree the sentiment is good and they're trying to get us to see the people behind the homeless label I think the type of homeless person portrayed in this advert does a huge disservice to the majority of homeless people.
While I am well aware that many people living previously living ordinary lives with jobs, mortgages and familieshave ended up on the streets through a down turn in circumstances, many many more have never had such a pretty back story. Their previous circumstances and what led them to living on the streets and the lives they live on the streets are nowhere near as palatable as the story of the man in the advert.
Drugs/alcohol/abuse and crime have often played a major role as to why these people have ended up where they are. Is it not as important to show the true circumstances as to why people end up on the streets even if the back story is raw and alien to the majority of us?

I'm glad too, it's really shit.
I wonder who went to the effort of making it though and were they hoping to highlight homeless or just jump on the JL advert band wagon.

It doesn’t even really make any sense. How would he be able to get access to the shop to play his VHS memories on their TVs? Why would they still be selling VHS tapes in this day and age? What is his backstory (as aside to I’m now homeless, but I used to have a good life)?

80% of 'homeless' people in my city are Beggars. They are not homeless. They are 'career homeless'.

Some have been seen to change in to clean, expensive clothes and then get in cars and come back the next day 🙄

Not even a fucking joke. Our Mayor is campaigning for laws to to get rid of them.

The rest are drug addicts, with housing, income and support. They choose not to use it.

The genuine rough sleepers are rarely found in city centres. They will be in parks and quiet areas where they won't be disturbed or attacked.

I used to volunteer in a soup kitchen for rough sleepers, we provided hot food, warm place to stay for a few hours (daytime) advice, clothes/soap/dog food/etc. One young lad was a client, we sorted him out with a suit, John Lewis, gave him an interview and he got a job with them even though he didn't have an address, he used our address on paperwork. John Lewis knew he was rough sleeping. I don't know what happened after that, I think it worked out well for him, we never saw him back in the soup kitchen. He was young though 18 or 20, not ingrained into the homeless life, I really think the chance JL gave him helped steer him away from that life. Much, much harder had he been older, with alcohol or drug problems.

@TurkeyBear

Where do they get changed into 'clean, expensive clothes' that people can see them, in the street?

TurkeyBear what a load of bollocks. You claim to have access to statistics about the number of people who are truly homeless that even your local council don't have access to. I mean what are you suggesting they do go check whether a person is really homeless? Frankly your bigoted attitude is the reaons we need "help the homeless" campaigns. Other societies would be appalled to know that instead of feeling compassion for people with no home we manage to turn it around and make it their own fault because they do drugs. (I take it you don't drink/smoke/gamble/overeat or do anythig else that could become an addiction.)

I found that film moving actually but a bit weird. I am glad it is not JL but I would contend your point OP for one reason. if we want people to realise the plight of the homeless we have to appeal to their humanity and the best way to do this is by allowing them to relate to homeless people. turkey has demonstarted just how easy it is to dehumanise and make them all druggies in our head.

well, if the companies who spend on their xmas ads were to give the same amount to charities instead of amusement for those of us who are able to afford xmas then things would be so much better, i can't believe the investment people put into big companies xmas ads

@TurkeyBear this is a myth. In the city I live and work most of the street beggars, are street homeless with addiction problems, mental health issues and other problems. I work in substance misuse and my partner for the probation service and we know the majority. Most of these people are begging through desperation.

I am glad it is not JL

Me too!

Homeless ppl .............if they dont look completely bedraggled..................must be faking it.

if they do look that way..................must be a druggie.

I think the reason ppl tell themselves this is sometimes down to prejudice but in some cases its fear.

Fear that they could end up there themselves one day. Especially if they are on zero hours or UC. UC has increased homelessness.

I've seen this advert somewhere else. I thought it was really good here it is in full

I had also seen it elsewhere a while ago. Thought it was one of those arty showcase things that people do just to get them seen. There are lots of them on YouTube.

I've worked with the homeless - yes they do come from all walks of life and circumstances, but for the vast majority it is a shitty upbringing, abuse, mental health problems, addiction and usually some stint in prison, and when they come out they have nowhere to go. It's the same shitty story over and over and they're facing bigger problems than where they're sleeping that night. It's been a huge eye-opener for me. I learnt quite quickly that the ones with the amazing stories aren't always telling you the truth. And yes, the rough sleepers aren't in full view; they hide. They're not the ones begging, not in my town.

I say all this with the greatest respect and sadness. I've met some wonderful people.

Excellent post ContesseDeSpair

thistleking thanks for the insight. Like you when I mentioned all the various reasons people that can cause people to become homeless I said it with kindness and empathy. when I started this thread it was to try and point out the unfairness of using a scenario that is far removed from the true reasons that cause the majority of homeless people to end up in that situation.