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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To raise awareness of what being homeless is really like.

59 replies

PumkpinSpice · 27/10/2024 15:16

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

OP posts:
Starch8 · 27/10/2024 17:02

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

They are sent to accommodation centres…. When have you seen that they go to hotels and get mobile phones etc ?

NeverAgainNelly · 27/10/2024 17:02

PumkpinSpice · 27/10/2024 16:52

I used to sell the big issue and was only allowed to sell at my allocated spot. The beggars hated the homeless big issue sellers, I still remember the day that a lady walked right past me selling the big issue for £2.50 and gave the drug addicted beggar sitting next to me £20, he was not homeless.

I actually tipped an old lady off once just as she was about to give money to a well known local addict and she was so rude to me. I said that he wasn't actually genuine and she said "So! It doesn't hurt to be nice!" Then indignantly shoved her money in his hand and stormed off. Giving addicts money to kill themselves isn't being nice. It's being a part of the problem but as I learned even when you try to warn people they do not listen because they think they are doing a good deed. The police said they can't even move the non genuine ones on because then the public start having a go at them and telling them to leave them alone. It's almost self perpetuating and the public are encouraging the non genuine ones to keep coming back because they keep throwing money at them.

Kendodd · 27/10/2024 17:28

Well done you OP for getting yourself off the streets. You'll look back on your life and all the things you might achieve in the future, getting off the streets will have almost certainly have been the most difficult.

What are your plans for the future OP?

PumkpinSpice · 27/10/2024 17:37

Kendodd · 27/10/2024 17:28

Well done you OP for getting yourself off the streets. You'll look back on your life and all the things you might achieve in the future, getting off the streets will have almost certainly have been the most difficult.

What are your plans for the future OP?

Thank you very much. Life is great, I have a daughter and I'm getting married in April next year. I spend one day a week cutting homeless people's hair and wish to continue doing this ur also want to get more involved with local homeless projects . I will continue to work sd a full time barber, I love the barber shop I work in and mt boss saved my life, I go to work everyday and throughoutly enjoy every last second of it, but I do plan on getting very involved with my local homeless community.

OP posts:
Acommonreader · 27/10/2024 17:51

No question from me but just wanted to say how much I admire you! You have had an incredibly difficult life and have succeeded in changing it. You’ve a real inspiration and I wish you every happiness.

BananaPalm · 27/10/2024 20:57

Acommonreader · 27/10/2024 17:51

No question from me but just wanted to say how much I admire you! You have had an incredibly difficult life and have succeeded in changing it. You’ve a real inspiration and I wish you every happiness.

Came to say the same... 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

SandyLanes · 27/10/2024 21:11

Have felt quite emotional reading your posts OP. Thank you for sharing your story and well done on turning your life around. I’ve also very much appreciated your thoughts on donating etc.
Have a wonderful wedding!

JohnSt1 · 27/10/2024 21:12

The attitude some people have towards the homeless makes me very sad.

I'm so happy for you that you now have a good life. Long may it continue!

Supersimkin7 · 27/10/2024 21:46

Get rid of the begging gangs, for a start. Organised crime puts genuine homeless at huge risk of being menaced, robbed and bullied themselves. As if it couldn’t get worse…

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