Tired of the performative beggars and alcoholics this time of year

[Onand]

Is anyone else sick and tired of the huge number of ‘homeless’ beggars, alcoholics and addicts that descended on the streets since the Christmas rush started this year?

Manchester is rife with them- this year there is a particularly ropey bunch of alcoholics/ addicts that are obnoxiously ‘sleeping’ or sitting with their bags pointing directly out into the street instead of being against a wall, they’re building ‘dens’ in shop doorways which stink of human faeces and piss, dealers go from spot to spot, dogs forced to sit in uncomfortable situations (often not even their dog as the same one gets passed from beggar to beggar).

It’s a self perpetuating problem because soup kitchens serving buffets set up and cater meals for them whilst they’re generally being a nuisance and making the streets look an absolute shitty mess. Why are they tolerated? People need to stop giving them money as it just encourages them to keep doing it when there are services in place to help them.

Bah humbug I know, but It’s beyond grim.

Completely agree with this. Every opinion is valid for a good discussion, it’s what a forum like MN is for.

We have a similar service in the UK city I live in, needle exchange, stuff for safer crack use, they do BBV testing and vaccinations, supply Naloxone, and also run a sexual health service and a project for people with multiple and complex needs. They do not have a drugs consumption room but do give harm reduction advice on safer ways of using drugs.

And the timing of this thread is just 😮 Days before Christmas, when most people are counting their blessings and reflecting how dreadful it must be to be on the streets at this time of year. Christmas softens most hearts, not hardens them!!

I think attitudes like yours are what stifles meaningful debate about difficult issues

Meaningful debate 🤣🤣

Jog on

@Verydemure that's a really good post and accurate- not all of this situation is about homelessness- it's in the mix for 'some' damaged troubled individuals- but not all anti social behaviour be it begging, aggressiveness or open drug taking or frequent excessive drunkenness out on the streets involves homelessness- it's more complex than that for large numbers of individuals

You don't sound like you have any goodwill or goodness in you, OP, to be fair.

You also don't seem to have the first clue about addiction or what leads people to becoming addicted.

Yes, it is absolute privilege to be able to turn your snooty, snotty nose up at homeless people who may or may not be struggling with addiction whilst you load yourself up with Christmas goodies to take home to a warm home.

Please read all of my responses on this thread. You will see that I am for proper help that addresses the issues of those in genuine need who slip through the net, those struggling to get by despite working or caring full time, cannot afford food or heating. My goodwill runs out at the addicts shooting up outside boots in view of families or the alcoholics peeing all over themselves and the pavement in broad daylight.

Apologies for wanting to walk to a from home and work without constantly passing human excrement and zombie spice addicts camping on the streets begging from Christmas shoppers. I wonder how the staff of these businesses feel having to clean up piss and shit every single day and the piles of rubbish, discarded food and sleeping bags.

Do they have a say in the matter or do they have to put up and shut up too because of their ‘privilege’.

I bet you live on a farm or in one of the ‘Conde Nast happiest towns to live’ judging by that username.

Hostels won't take dogs and you usually have to be fairly sober to access one

Depends where you are but in my corner of London there are both “wet” hostels for drinkers and hostels that take dogs.

I work in a related field (a food bank) and support a fair number of formerly homeless people in hostels. I suspect from what I see myself that a number are in and out of hostels because hostels can be difficult places - there are fights and arguments and people can be asked to leave for breaching rules. And then back on the street until the next.

This post nails it.

OP the opinions you’ve posted here are disgusting.

I am also fed up of seing people shoot up in train stations or lying outside in the cold drunk out of their mind. I just don't blame those people though nor do I think they choose to live this way. I blame unadequate health services, social services not having enough resources ( many homeless people have had awful childhoods) and politicians who rather agree with some populist rhetorics than do something ( because homeless people don't vote).
I have posted upthread about a Service for homeless people, but those opened a lot if people were NIMBY. Probably people like you.
Contrary to you OP I actually do know what I'm talking about. I have worked and lived with homeless/former homeless people, one of them is actually a close friend. I also know that there is a chance that a loved one or even yourself can become one of those people. Major mental health problems/traumas can hit anybody.
Maybe next time OP count your blessings, it's Christmas afterall

From my last post-

Please read all of my responses on this thread.

You will see that I am for proper help that addresses the issues of those in genuine need who slip through the net, those struggling to get by despite working or caring full time, cannot afford food or heating. My goodwill runs out at the addicts shooting up outside Boots in view of families or the alcoholics peeing all over themselves and the pavement in broad daylight.

Apologies for wanting to walk to and from home and work without constantly passing human excrement and zombie spice addicts camping on the streets begging from Christmas shoppers. I wonder how the staff of those businesses feel having to clean up piss and shit every single day and the piles of rubbish, discarded food and sleeping bags.

Do you think it’s acceptable for the above to be happening on the main streets in a city centre? Am I as well as the majority of the poll who agree with me not allowed an opinion on that kind of disgusting behaviour?

I am pretty certain substance use means you're not permitted to use the homeless hostels.

Isn't this part of the thread though. People being sick of seeing it on the streets is also people being sick of lack of government response to provide services and spaces for homeless addicts/mentally ill. If everyone says, 'ah, it's okay, these people are desperate and have been let down so they can continue to do what they want, where they want' the local authorities and government will happily continue to spend money elsewhere.

Lines have to be drawn. Will it be okay for them to set up their tents and take drugs inside the shops, or on your house doorstep? If not, why not?

But to become a drug addict don’t they chose to take the substance in the first instance? That usage spirals as a result of addiction, again all down to the user so this concept that they’re not to blame for their actions makes no logical sense.

My issue is when they congregate in large groups on city centre high streets or aggressively beg outside businesses that are struggling to make money without having Spice users out of their mind in their doorways.

San Fran is just the natural evolution of the Liberal dream.

The problem is we're so soft. Portugal may have the right approach, you have to give the incentive, but get these people off the street one way or another.

This is exactly how it should be dealt with. The more this is tolerated the more we get the tent cities of California and other Democrat ridden shitholes.

Addiction isn't always related to trauma. I think addiction is also a cultural issue. If drugs and alcohol are commonplace in the community you live amongst then you are receiving the exposure and are far more likely to experiment and see taking those substances as the norm growing up. This is one of the reasons that addiction is more prevalent amongst the poorer sectors of society where it is more socially acceptable to drink and use drugs. Of course, there are addicts in all walks of life, and often it is hidden amongst the middle classes as they have more money and support around them so less likely to end up homeless as a result. What starts as 'liking a drink' or having a smoke can over time can turn into an addiction.

Someone I know ended up homeless as a result of alcohol abuse- someone from a loving family, married with a beautiful wife, children and a good job and beautiful house. Over the years his love of a 'a few beers' on an evening spiralled out of control, leading to a bottle of vodka a night, eventually losing his job, losing his wife and family who all tried to help and ending up with him sofa surfing. The support was there but the drink was more powerful- he checked himself out of rehab and couldn't stick at it

No, I used to work in homeless hostels. The vast majority are “wet” hostels.

Are you really spending your Christmas Eve just aimlessly hating homeless people, drug users and alcoholics?

If someone ends up in a shop doorway taking spice, they’re probably not okay. Somethings gone wrong somewhere.

What a mad time of year to have absolutely no sympathy to that.

But to become a drug addict don’t they chose to take the substance in the first instance? That usage spirals as a result of addiction, again all down to the user so this concept that they’re not to blame for their actions makes no logical sense

Taking a substance doesn’t automatically make you addicted to it though. You don’t see everyone who drinks end up an alcoholic or everyone who is given Morphine ending up on Methadone.

I have sympathy but the solution of just leave them on the street is all wrong.

Begging should be criminalised, rough sleepers should always have access to shelter, rehab facilities are needed for addicts and better mental health provision. But put that in place and it stops most of it. This soft on crime/ASB mentality is detrimental to addicts and everyone else.

It's not about hating on people, it's hating what's becoming of our town centres, rather than dealing with the problem.

You're really so dumb to think anyone uses their real names to post here?

Begging should be criminalised

It is criminalised though. It’s illegal.

I hope you made it clear that that is utterly reprehensible.

And just because one student is totally lacking in morality doesn't mean you should assume everyone is a con artist.