We have so many homeless

[NameChangeObvsx1]

Yet no push to take them in. My heart goes out to the people from the Ukraine but why don’t we welcome the UK homeless in so readily?

Because most, not all, homeless people have a lot more problems than just not having a home. Sadly they need a whole package of care and not just someone's spare bedroom.

I know! I feel like I have seen nothing in the media in regards to how to share our homes but I have seen posts on MN in doing so.
We have a spare room and would be so willing to spare it for someone in need...however, with a young baby, I'm just too unsure!

Because of mental health drug and addiction issues. Unlikely it’s simply a lack of shelter.

I hear you, but they still need help, and how do we know anything about the potential problems any Ukrainians might have. There’s a homeless guy who leaves his duvet - I say ‘duvet’ but it’s the inner of a duvet with the cover ripped off - in a nearby bike shed.

Before anyone asks, I’m a single woman in a one bed flat so not something I could realistically help with, but every time I see him pick up his duvet ‘shell’ to go off to find somewhere to sleep it breaks my heart.

@NameChangeObvsx1

I hear you, but they still need help, and how do we know anything about the potential problems any Ukrainians might have. There’s a homeless guy who leaves his duvet - I say ‘duvet’ but it’s the inner of a duvet with the cover ripped off - in a nearby bike shed.

Before anyone asks, I’m a single woman in a one bed flat so not something I could realistically help with, but every time I see him pick up his duvet ‘shell’ to go off to find somewhere to sleep it breaks my heart.

There are many charities who work with people who are homeless. You could volunteer or give goods or money.

situational trauma is one thing and yes needs help, but the ones living rough will have such serious disorders that it's unlikely to be safe to house them with volunteers.
do you have experience with serious mental health conditions? even seasoned workers go home after 8 hours of "work" to recoup from the never ending supervision they need.

This is so true . I work in housing and even when we have special projects that help house homeless , the majority fail mainly due to addiction issues

My above post was in reply to fallfsllfall’s post of “ Because of mental health drug and addiction issues. Unlikely it’s simply a lack of shelter“”

I went to Bristol city centre recently and it was utterly depressing seeing so many homeless people on the street. This is Tory Britain. The Government doesn’t care if people can’t afford to pay their bills and end up losing their homes. It’s only going to get worse until they get voted out at the election in 2024.

our community has shelter for all the homeless, but because of rules that need to be followed (no drugs or alcohol no antisocial behavior) many rooms are available. with warmer weather many will prefer to sleep rough and save the government funds meant to pay rent to purchase drugs and alcohol.
once they reach 65 and are eligible for senior care, many are ready for long term care placement and semi forced upon them treatment rarely before sadly.

@NameChangeObvsx1

I hear you, but they still need help, and how do we know anything about the potential problems any Ukrainians might have. There’s a homeless guy who leaves his duvet - I say ‘duvet’ but it’s the inner of a duvet with the cover ripped off - in a nearby bike shed.

Before anyone asks, I’m a single woman in a one bed flat so not something I could realistically help with, but every time I see him pick up his duvet ‘shell’ to go off to find somewhere to sleep it breaks my heart.

Maybe you can add a sleeping bag beside the duvet in the bike shed? Or something? Pin a note saying "For the guy who uses this duvet, good luck". He may not get it if others see it there, but probably anybody who would take it would be in a similar situation and needs it.

i've lived and voted long enough to reassure you no one really cares about the homeless issue. homeless projects require money that is taken from other pots meant for other issues. ex. an on the street liaison officer to assist police is a newly created position...that same person would have been a nurse at the mental health unit and that position left unfilled.
it has nothing to do with them being able to pay their bills. most need residential care, and that suggests they don't have capacity to make their own decisions. but at times they have capacity and facility care is not what they want long term. not to mention many are young and plug up long term housing. they are a very very costly group to care for.

Have you been to California (mostly LA/San Fran)? Or East Hastings St in Vancouver? Absolutely shocking the number of people who are homeless. I can't imagine the UK ever getting as bad as this and yet I fear it in the next few years.

@Cheesecakeandwineinasuitcase

I went to Bristol city centre recently and it was utterly depressing seeing so many homeless people on the street. This is Tory Britain. The Government doesn’t care if people can’t afford to pay their bills and end up losing their homes. It’s only going to get worse until they get voted out at the election in 2024.

Most people are not homeless because they can't afford to pay their bills. They have all sorts of problems and even when given somewhere to stay, they can't make it work. The idea that by voting Labour in, homelessness will disappear is very simplistic and naive. There are organisations that are trying to develop strategies to house people whilst delivering counselling, physical health care, mental health care, financial support and addiction support services. But it's extremely expensive and, even then, does not always succeed.

@mjf981, they never should have closed Riverview (city land grab) in vancouver.

We are all only a couple of traumatic life events from the risk of serious mental health issues and homelessness. Let’s not generalise shall we ‘fallfallfall*.

I have housed homeless women in my house. A few. Through a very specific program and with very specific support. I'm also trained and able. I would absolutely never ever suggest anyone who isn't do this. However a mum and children who've left a boring home in Ukraine? Would probably work out.

However we did at one time have massive addiction issues and low rates of homelessness. So don't kid yourself it's addiction which causes homelessness. It isn't.

in your view @MrsTerryPratchett, what is it (or are there too many factors to generalize)?

Think bout it this way. There are loads of people who are struggling. MH, drugs, alcohol, low incomes, abusive pasts, disability, currently abusive homes, trauma impacted.

In a society with good supports, there are shelters, women's refuges, healthcare, counsellors, parents' supports, cheap housing and benefits. People muddle through, still housed. In a shit society there aren't. People fall out of housing. Then any trauma, addiction or MH is amplified, increased and self medication becomes the obvious outward sign. Coupled with housing being treated as a profit making asset, not a human right.

But if you kept the person housed, they'd be healthier, happier and, although not great, they'd be fine. Cheaper as well for the Tories at the back.

It's ideological. To have a big homeless population is ideology. We shouldn't blame the person.

@Porridgealert

Because most, not all, homeless people have a lot more problems than just not having a home. Sadly they need a whole package of care and not just someone's spare bedroom.

I'm domestic violence victim with disabilities. Severe trauma/PTSD but not incapable of managing a home/tenancy. You right lots of us need own private home but was in refuge and lots of younger victims especially if no children who would be very happy with safe spare room of a safe home.

Lots of homeless problem simple not enough money for too expensive housing if get ill or job loss and some even are working but homeless cos housing so expensive.

The problem for domestic violence is 100% not having safe affordable longterm home. Refuges are only temporary and postcode lottery of safe rehousing after with lots of lawbreaking councils.

All homeless have no more problems, mental trauma stuff, than Ukrainian refugees who also have trauma and need package of support.

Some homeless people have drug or alcohol addiction or mental health problems but massive reason for those problems is being homeless. Also can't get proper help with safe home and also why can't people be given the support package needed.

100% want Ukrainian refugees to get help too but we homeless or at risk of it need help too and there shldnt be excuses of having problems. Cos the problems for lots of us are not having safe homes.

@fallfallfall

Because of mental health drug and addiction issues. Unlikely it’s simply a lack of shelter.

Lots of homeless or at risk of it, it's 100% lack of affordable homes.

Right now people losing jobs or ill can't pay too expensive rents when savings run out. Also lots of landlords don't take benefits. No addiction.

Lots of adduction happens after being homeless cos life hell and if no safe home especially street homeless but also homeless temp is very unsafe and bad and people need to be high to not be in bad hell reality.

Also with mental health, lots of people have mental health problems but very capable of managing tenancy. Problem of mental health and also physical is being too ill to work so benefits and landlords not wanting benefits.

The ones who do need more support, why isn't there the support. If need it shld be given it, not left to rot and die homeless.

@MrsTerryPratchett, yes more people living on the edge of problems. yes due to poor support.

Lots of adduction happens after being homeless cos life hell and if no safe home especially street homeless but also homeless temp is very unsafe and bad and people need to be high to not be in bad hell reality.

This is so true. Then when you finally find out you need to house people because the society wakes up, it's now much much harder. Because people who were muddling through now have serious addictions, trauma from homelessness, with all the violence, health issues, survival dealing and sex work, witnessing violence. Now their housing is more likely to fail again.

It's shit.

@nosafeguardingadults
I was quite clear that I was not talking about all homeless people. I never worked with victims of DV so I can't comment about that but I do strongly agree that people have a right to feel safe.
It might not be your case but the plain truth is that for many homeless people, it's not as easy to say here are the keys to your new flat and think that everything will work out fine. As I said, they need a lot more support put in place and that's expensive. And even when they have support packages, it still often doesn't work out. Even if you it were true that people only get addiction and mental health problems because they became homeless, unfortunately, those issues don't just disappear when they get a home.

I don't want to mix Ukrainian refugees in here because that's a red herring. Their issues are very different from the issues that often cause someone to be homeless in their own country.

@fallfallfall

our community has shelter for all the homeless, but because of rules that need to be followed (no drugs or alcohol no antisocial behavior) many rooms are available. with warmer weather many will prefer to sleep rough and save the government funds meant to pay rent to purchase drugs and alcohol. once they reach 65 and are eligible for senior care, many are ready for long term care placement and semi forced upon them treatment rarely before sadly.

Lots of homeless shelters are very unsafe. Safer on streets sometimes especially for women. Violence, rapes, stealing, and whatever rules say often drugs, no privacy or dignity. We human beings who need own safe homes not dangerous scary homeless shelter.

It's a lie that being homeless is because of severe addiction or mental health, suggesting people incapable of managing bills or tenancy. Lots of us it's very simple lack of access to safe affordable longterm homes. Being and feeling safe in own safe private home is big solution to lots of mental health problems and is way to recover, not unsafe no security frightening no privacy shelters.

Had to return to abuse after refuge because safe rehousing postcode lottery and lots of housing departments break the law. I'm not the only one. It's a big reason why victims go back or don't leave.

Street homeless no need for addiction. Lose job or get ill physical or mental and end up not enough money to pay rent cos housing allowance less than lots of rents. Even if can afford rents which is possible, landlords don't take benefits. It no children under 18, street homeless. Nothing to do with addiction.

Lots get addicted after being homeless cos life hell and need to be out of it. Homeless is big cause of addiction.