Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...about homeless man outside our shop.

137 replies

Ashamed2BFeeling · 29/10/2019 14:36

Less of an AIBU and more WWYD.

Every night for the past few weeks, what we assume is a homeless man has been sitting outside the convenience store where I work. We're open till late and have a couple of pubs and a chippy right on our doorstep so have people coming in and out all night.

So we frequently have people coming in buying him food which is great to see. In fact yesterday, someone went to the chippy and bought him a portion of chips that he had to give away because someone an hour ago had already bought him chips and gravy!

A very kind lady came by just last night with a thick regatta coat and a new pair of trainers for him.

We make him a cup of tea when we're doing one and stuff but now and again, we'll get people coming in buying him beer that he's asked for. Not great but he's not causing any hassle. We've not had any complaints from customers, more concern than anything else.

But at the end of the night when we go to close up shop, he's always left. And while this is late, it's not the middle of the night or anything. I don't know where he goes.

Basically, is there something we can do for him, someone we can call? It's great that people are happy to feed him (and I'm hoping that doesn't sound patronising), but I'd love it if we could help him find a more long term solution.

Any suggestions are gratefully received.

OP posts:
IfWishesWereFishes · 29/10/2019 14:37

Why don't you ask him?

HolyMilkBoobiesBatman · 29/10/2019 14:39

Have you tried

Streetlink.org.uk

BirthdayCakes · 29/10/2019 14:41

Local churches will often be able to help or know who can..

Pilipilihoho · 29/10/2019 14:45

Another vote for Streetlink - they will connect him with outreach workers (though he may already be known to them) and support services. He may not actually be homeless, but if he is, they'll also be able to advise him on accommodation etc

PrincessSarene · 29/10/2019 14:46

Yep, report to StreetLink. They even have an app you can use. Chances are he’s probably known to local services if he’s something of a regular, but it can’t hurt to refer him anyway. They also have an option where you can ask to be informed (or not) about the result of your referral. I’ve used this when referring someone I see around a lot, so that I’m reassured he is on someone’s radar and people have made contact with him, even if he doesn’t choose to use their services.

Supersimkin2 · 29/10/2019 14:46

He probably goes back to his flat. All three of our local 'homeless' are in social housing. Begging's perfectly legal wherever you live.

billandbenflowerpotmen1 · 29/10/2019 14:53

In our city we have many regulars who have their 'spots' in shop doorways. The person may sometimes have a sleeping bag to keep warm through the day. I know some who leave their spots when the night shelter opens in the evening or they go home to their own homes. (Many people who have lived on the streets find life on their own very lonely once they are housed, you also can't beg from your own flat if you need daily cash for drugs or alcohol)
Shop doorways are usually sheltered and often have cctv so relatively safe in the day and a great spot for begging. If the person has a drug addiction problem you may see them leave their spot a few times a day sometimes for a few minutes and sometimes for a hour or so.

Windygate · 29/10/2019 14:56

Begging isn't legal in England and Wales. Though Supersimkin is right in saying that some beggars have homes and return to them after their begging shift. Our local council has a link where you can flag up a potential rough sleeper and they will go and offer support.

EpcotForever · 29/10/2019 14:56

He's probably gone home!

holidays987 · 29/10/2019 15:01

Do streetlink operate in your area? It's easy to report a rough sleeper to them from your phone. They usually come out at night to see the rough sleeper, if you can give an exact time he'll be there.

As others have said though, just because he's begging doesn't mean he has nowhere to go. It's possible he's been offered accommodation already, or has somewhere. Sounds like you've been very kind.

Newoneonherr · 29/10/2019 15:06

That guy is just playing you all for fools. There are very very few genuinely homeless people in the UK, and for those that are genuinely homeless, there are a host of various third sector sink tanks who will bend over backwards to justify their existence by providing support.

Tell him to move on and play his little game somewhere else.

Toddlerteaplease · 29/10/2019 15:06

@Ashamed2BFeeling I wonder if it's the same man I offered chips to last week. He asked for a cup of coffee With three sugars instead. The chippy seemed quite used to him. The staff seemed to think he was genuinely homeless. Are you in the East Midlands. Very close to a large (ugly) Hospital?

MikeUniformMike · 29/10/2019 15:10

He's probably raking it in. Free beers and chips plus the odd fiver here and there over a few hours every evening.

Furrydogmum · 29/10/2019 15:12

There is a man who begs at a traffic lit junction on my way home from work - he has a flat about 1/2 a mile away. I feel sad that anyone feels the need to spend their day in often freezing and wet conditions when they have a home. There must be reasons why he would find it harder to get a job than to do this but it is pitiful to see him scrabbling around after bits of change thrown out of car windows.
It could be the same with your man but you're very kind to want to do something to help him.

greypetex · 29/10/2019 15:13

Basically, is there something we can do for him, someone we can call?

Talk to him. Ask if he wants to be helped?

FenellaVelour · 29/10/2019 15:13

There are very very few genuinely homeless people in the UK

Hmm Biscuit

hallohallohallo · 29/10/2019 15:14

Agree with pp. All of the 'homeless' people sitting outside shops round here are actually not homeless. We were noticing more and more 'homeless' turning up. The council wrote to residents telling us to stop giving money/alcohol in particular because these people are housed and have benefits and are not who they are pretending to be (homeless with nothing). Apparently our residents were being very generous which got around and is why more and more 'homeless' were turning up.

Witchend · 29/10/2019 15:14

If he's going at night then he's going to be inside somewhere possible at a homeless hostel or at his own place.
Out of interest is he now wearing the nice coat and trainers?

OrangeSlices998 · 29/10/2019 15:17

Definitely recommend StreetLink.

Or ask him?

hallohallohallo · 29/10/2019 15:18

I feel sad that anyone feels the need to spend their day in often freezing and wet conditions when they have a home.

The thing that makes me angry is when they're sitting out in the cold, wet conditions all day/night with an animal or two in what I can only guess is there to gain more sympathy from passer bys? Seems very unfair to the animal who looks cold and miserable sitting there.

TheReluctantCountess · 29/10/2019 15:21

Good question, Witchend. My bet is that he’s not wearing them.

Witchend · 29/10/2019 15:21

hallohallohallo or child. Used to see that quite a bit with the professional beggars in Oxford. Then they'd be picked up at the end of the day in the posh car.

ghostyslovesheets · 29/10/2019 15:23

your local authority will have a rough sleeping officer - report him to them and they will offer support if needed

YouJustDoYou · 29/10/2019 15:25

The thing that makes me angry is when they're sitting out in the cold, wet conditions all day/night with an animal or two in what I can only guess is there to gain more sympathy from passer bys

Sometimes the dog is their only companion, their warmth, their feelings of some kind of safety living on the streets.

Rosehip10 · 29/10/2019 15:29

Going back to his house/flat probably. Begging a lifestyle choice for some.