To raise awareness of what being homeless is really like.

[PumkpinSpice]

Im sorry if this is in the wrong category but I have just made an account after reading a now deleted post on here about how homeless people should be forcefully institutionalised if they refuse to live in a shelter.

It angered me so much but by the time I signed up the post had been deleted so I thought I'd make my own one tho share the reality of these shelters

I myself was street homeless for quiet a long time. I sometimes made use of night shelter, open 9pm until 6am it's basically yoga mats all lined up in a church with no gaps between them, you are lying right next to a complete stranger, its full of men, some are angry, mentally unwell, abusive etc, things always kick off in them and frankly they are a terrifying place to be in as a woman.

Now homeless hostels are different, you are allocated a room, you will likely have to be in for midnight and not allowed to leave until 6am. The ones I lived in had sex offenders, child abusers, drug addicts, alcoholics etc. Some of the incidents that have happened in the ones I lived in include, people being stabbed in their rooms, people forcing their way in to others rooms to beat them up, sexual assault, rape, fires, drug dealings, the list goes on.

I know people might be angry seing homeless people in door ways etc but trust me sometimes it's the best option.

I'm happy to answer any questions about being street homeless or about shelters and hostels

Women’s facilities? Dyou think single-sex might be a good idea?

My homelessness ended 4 years ago but I was homeless on and off for 5 years.

You should put this in AMA I'd you felt comfortable doing so, to educate and enlighten those who want it, because YANBU

Tbh I don't know much about the asylum hotels but I will say that during the winter there are winter night sbelters in churches and during this time a lot of European beggars will come over and make use of these shelters so they can beg on the streets, it takes places away from local homeless people unfortunately.

I worked for a Merseyside advice drop in. We are quite well off for good shelters, but even so, many were described as being 'full of people who hunt in packs'. One young male had been through the care system and had LD's, there should have been a duty to house him, but the places just wasn't suitable for him being so vulnerable. He was actually better protected in the tent community that is just on the outskirts of Liverpool. Another man, did better doing cash in hand work and being allowed to sleep on a block of flat's stairwell. As you say, as a woman you'd sleep somewhere visible during daytime.

A lot of the women are also violent and can be a real danger, but yes I do believe women only hostels would be great, unfortunately I have never come across one.

They come under the 1951 Refugee Convention treaty. Also international maritime law. It's the previous government's lack of will to process people we should be angry about. Oh yes and brexit breaking the French agreements.

How did you manage to get off the streets? Have you got your own place now?

If we see a homeless person begging do agree with helping them with money? Or would you offer them food? How well can help support people

Not all the Dover lads jump
the housing queue @Attelina .

If they get rejected as refugees (they mostly aren’t) by the Home office after three years or so in a hotel, they have a fortnight to disappear before they’re deported.

One of our big probs at local shelter is increasing homelessness & no one speaking any English, which can be bastard tricky re emergency help.

OP, 💐 for life.

I did crisis at Christmas and I felt so much for the guests we served. Being homeless must be so so tough. Absolutely nothing but sympathy from me always

I attended a local drop In centre that had a female barber who offered free haircuts to the homeless, she spent some time with me, teaching me all about barbering and training me, I attended college and she gave me an apprenticeship when I was ready, I'm now fully qualified and I'm still with her but I'm now a full time member of staff.

Tbh it's just what you fell moat comfortable with doing, if you're not comfortable giving money then try speaking to them and ask if they would like any food. It's also good to ask if they are aware of the local services in the area as they could be new to the streets. I don't drink or smoke and never have done so any money I got went on food and clothes.

Thank you, people like yourself really make the difference.

You’re one of life’s true heroines, OP.

I agree - women should have their own spaces for refuge. That doesn’t stop (rare-ish) women on women violence, but it does stop 99 per cent of VAW.

What would good provision look like ideally?

Our local authority finds emergency accommodation for anyone who is street homeless. These are often single person bedsits, and are sometimes in a different place to where the person normally resides. I recognise it isn’t perfect but it seems like better provision than some places.

Stop trying to pit one vulnerable group against another. Blame those with the most power for the things that are wrong.

Asylum seekers are not entitled to work or to mainstream benefits and are supported at a subsistence level far below these. If any are given phones or top up cards, it will be by independent non government funded charities, not the state.

I think many many people are only a few unfortunate events (or even ) one away from homelessnesss.

redundancy, addiction, bereavement, marriage break down, landlord ups your rent, cost of living crisis.

homelessness can slip up on you

In my area it's homeless hostels mostly. They need to be ran better, more staff, crack down on the drug use in them, throw out the violent residents etc. There also needs to be safer options, it isn't fair first women to be housed in a hostel full of sex offenders

High five to that barber, I'm glad to hear there are people out there who are willing to help. All the best OP.

She's an angel, she truly saved my life. Thank you .

In my area it's homeless hostels mostly. They need to be ran better, more staff, crack down on the drug use in them, throw out the violent residents etc. There also needs to be safer options, it isn't fair first women to be housed in a hostel full of sex offenders

Hard agree to all this. I've worked in many shelters and homeless provision. And trained, available present staff, the ability to ask violent people to leave, and smaller, safer places are needed.

The issue is that the numbers are growing, the issue people come with are getting worse, lack of healthcare for many things is getting worse, and philosophically, we are moving to 'meet people where they are at' rather than 'if you can't meet community standards, leave'. I know why but it's less safe for more vulnerable people.