Homeless to have tents banned

[dubsie]

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/nov/04/suella-braverman-says-rough-sleeping-is-lifestyle-choice

No one wants to see people sleeping in tents in cities but what are homeless people meant to do. Given the choice I think I'd choose a tent over a shop door way or a park bench...and I don't think many people choose being homeless ....not a lifestyle choice for most people.

I think this is more the fact that people like this minister can't stand the sight of homeless people, it reminds them that their decisions have consequences

Many people presenting as homeless in large cities are not from there originally. Many are also young and are presenting as a result of family breakdown. They need to go home and engage with mediation services instead of being bunged into hotels in cities. So many people commenting have no understanding of homelessness and have simplistic view.

Probably. I hope no council anywhere processes the ban. Inhumane.

Shes an ignorant bitch.. being homeless is a lifestyle choice?? and is blighting our communities??
Yet she does nothing to help.. give me bloody strength!

A large number are also care leavers who have disengaged with services.

Fucking barbaric.

@Bobslug that logic is incredibly naive and lacking in understanding for what is supposed to be a top level politician. Either she hasn't taken the time to understand why homelessness has increased hugely under her party's government, or she didn't bother to think she needed to. Or she didn't understand what was explained to her, or she doesn't care at all about homelessness and wants to appeal to the popular vote. None of those options is good. She's either stupid, scheming, ignorant, uncaring or similar. She's not "evil" but it's a horrific policy suggestion that doesn't even address any of the issues and will have harmful possibly fatal outcomes. I don't have any problem with people expressing their disgust or anger with this idea.

By far the most reasonable post on this thread @Bobslug

I wonder how many homelessness charities she consulted with?

Solve the mental health crisis, put money into tackling m h
Put money into tackling addiction
Talk to the homeless charities
Build more housing for social rent
Do all that ... and then you can make these statements

The Scandinavian model probably wouldn’t work as well in the UK because they have far lower levels of immigration. We currently have to house hundreds of additional people pretty much every day; most Scandinavian countries simply don’t do this.

The Guardian just ran a piece where more than 50% of homeless in London are now illegals. It doesn't elaborate on whether they were in accommodations and left, or are avoiding any help due to fear of registration, but many will be "used" to, or maybe feel safer living in tents on their journey here.

@usernamealreadytaken what's the difference in levels of immigration between the UK and the Scandinavian countries? Are you talking about the raw numbers or per head of population?

Local authorities have a statutory duty but they don't have the resources. You do realise that thousands of families now sleep in temporary accommodation because they can't find a home....what chance is there for a person living on the street when children sleep in hostels.

I'm afraid your comments are out of touch with reality.

People don't want to be reminded of how unequal society is. They'd rather homeless people be out of sight and out of mind. I imagine they feel safer in city centers because of the cameras everywhere.

I imagine they’re trying to avoid the US situation with tented cities but we need an alternative.

I’m not sure this is true. Immigrants are more likely to be in work. The majority of immigrants to the UK are students or workers and most of those workers are skilled. These people will be accessing the private market. My understanding is also that refugees have very limited access to social housing. Finland built more social housing units specifically to house homeless people I don’t see why are targeted approach would be impacted much by immigration.

I think you are mistaken, Suella and a number of other Tories are well aware of the reality for the situation which explains announcements like this.

https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/prediction_main.html

It is all positioning for who takes over from Rishi.

She is just evil. End of.

But housing is in short supply in rural areas, being homeless in a village is going to be worse unless the community is able to support them...which from experience won't happen.

When I was a lad we had a few so called vagrants but they were well known living on parks etc....but the numbers we have today are shocking. Something is wrong and it needs sorting.

a few American cities have major issues with tent cities. So in that respect I agree with her.

in our area SE, if someone if rough sleeping, we call a number and they just pick them up and take them to a shelter.

First reply nailed it.

Ah ok I get it. After being prompted by a comment above re a Guardian article I just read the Home Office are evicting refugees, who gain right to remain after 7 days instead of 28. As a result they don’t have time to find homes and there’s been a notable increase in requests for help according to charities. My understanding is now that they have purposefully put a policy in place that they know is going to increase homelessness, and therefore, to combat the problem that they know will result they are banning tents rather than paying for more accommodation. If this is the case, that is evil.

The really sad thing is that Braverman has likely done research that suggests her views will be applauded.

Denmark refused their quota and will only accept 200 refugees per year, and also has a program of returning refugees as soon as possible to their nation of origin. They are working towards zero-asylum seekers.

The number of refugees in Norway rarely exceeds about 10000, or 0.2% of the population. The UK rate is more than double that, at around 0.5%.

AFAIK, Iceland only accepts resettled refugees, it returns asylum seekers via Schengen rules.

Sweden has very restrictive asylum policies, and those who are rejected don’t have access to social support.

Doesnt sound very much like the UK system.

I commute regularly into an absolute hotspot in the city for homeless. I see them all the time, the same faces. I’m a bit of a people watcher so I notice things. The ones outside the tube and by the small Tesco are there for two reasons:

1. good pickings for begging ( they are often very aggressive and intimidating)
2. reliable regular access to their dealer who cycles up throughout the day. its clear to me these people are living in absolute hell, the young woman I’ve seen extremely unwell suffering from what I’m assuming to be heroin withdrawal (alcoholics look and behave quite differently) they are on good days, polite and articulate and able to behave themselves which makes me think that they have heavy drug problems rather than innate learning difficulties or just mental health. So in my opinion, they should be provided with small, modular self contained pods nearby ( like the bunkabins motorway workers use) that they don’t need to share and can come and go as they please. If they refuse to engage with treatment services then so be it, but they aren’t on the streets and they won’t freeze to death for the council cleaners to find in the mornings. The begging is to fund daily drugs, they are next to a free for all food bank! just prescribe them the drugs, give them a little space to crash, better for everyone.