Do you give to people begging in town ?

We seem to have a different sort of homeless here??

They spend their time wrapped in duvets in doorways as far as I can make out. I’m sure drugs and alcohol come into it somewhere but it isn’t obvious.

Their duvets always seem clean. I’m sure there is someone doing their bedding for them as I passed one chap who has a pristine white one.

Another time when out meeting friends for the evening, I passed a building society doorway where the staff were coming out and stepping around a homeless person, wishing him a good night and see him in the morning etc . They all knew his name.

Maybe the EE will stop coming now. I think immigration changes mean people have to show they can support themselves when they arrive. Same in Spain now with the TIE cards. One has to prove a certain income level to reside there. Obviously if people on the streets arrived here illegally these rules don’t apply. If a person needs hot soup and sleeps on the streets, what hopes for their futures? They can’t afford to pay to travel back home if they need handouts of socks and toothpaste so are they stuck here permanently in no-man’s land?

Only if they do something to earn it. There is a man who sits and plays the lute beautifully in our local town centre. I always give him money because his lute playing gives me such pleasure.

I am very ambivalent now about Big Issue sellers. Members of the same family have been selling the Big Issue in two local towns for at least the last 25 years. First the father, when he had a heart attack the son took over and for the last 10 years it has been his wife.

Some years ago I read of a court case where a Big Issue seller, took the DSS to court because they refused her full benefits because her only employment was selling the Big Issue a few hours a week and she won the case. I suspect this is what is happening in this case. I think the family live in the city 15 miles away.

I am not sure of the nationality of this family, it doesn't really matter, I would unhappy if any family, even one with 25 generations in the area and a direct bloodline connection to William the Conqueror, seemed to have a 25 year monopoly of what is meant to be an aid to help people get back on their feet and then move on

BTW; if anyone is concerned for a person who appears to be rough sleeping most local authorities have a dedicated officer to deal with rough sleepers. Often you can send an e-mail giving details of the location, if you have a name so much the better. I have done this where I live. You won't know the outcome, obviously, but they will tell you that they have made contact.

Used to.but, not any longer.

I never give money in London because it would mainly go towards drugs and alcohol. I also have been abused verbally when I have offered to buy a sandwich.

I very rarely go to Liverpool city centre it did have someone “homeless” on every corner in one area. By the cathedral it was very select years ago I worked there in a furriers when I was seventeen. Now outside nearly every doorway there is a resident I don’t know what their story is and I do feel sorry for them. I have bought food and drink for some in the past but I haven’t been into town for over eighteen months now. I don’t plan on going there as there are so many other places to go. Trafford centre Cheshire oaks I go there sometimes with my DS and family. Boundary Mill is five mins from my daughters.

I have tried over the years to be kind offering a listening ear, choice of food and drink. Even when the request has been for a skinny latte with a low fat cheese sandwich ! Now people just seem to hustle for the money which can be aggressive and intimidating.

We don’t see many near us but there are one or two in the CBD. There is a local church where homeless people can get a meal ,it is a joint venture between several local churches. I don’t know where they go during the day because they are not visible but a lot come for a meal. Last time I was in London ,about 6 years ago, I saw there were a lot of beggars and I would give them a pound if they were close by. Not if they were passing dogs around, though and we saw a bit of that. Looked like organised crime to me.

I just realised why we don’t see beggars much. It is illegal here.

Aveline
The pandemic caused a lot of problems for migrant workers as a lot of them were working under the radar as in hospitality/ car wash etc.

Homelessness is a huge problem. Adults are not a priority on the homeless register with local authorities.

Yes, there may be hostel beds available in some places. But a lot of homeless don't feel safe in hostels and would rather try to find a secluded and hence safer place to sleep.

I saw huge numbers of homeless in Edinburgh and Cambridge. So sad, in such a wealthy country.

My answer is no, I don’t give to beggars. I don’t think giving money helps them, it perpetuates the problem.

Yes, on the odd occasion when I have to go into Newton Abbot (my nearest town) I do give to the one or two who seem to be homeless. But I am wary since, years ago in Torquay, I gave money to a young man and later saw him go into an off- licence and come out with a pack of lagers. Nevertheless, I find it hard to just walk by.

I don't give money in case it is spent on alcohol or drugs. I often buy a coffee or something to eat instead.

nanna8

I just realised why we don’t see beggars much. It is illegal here.

It still happens.

I give money and it’s very possible it will go on drugs or alcohol.
If the person is addicted, giving them a sandwich is not going to “cut the mustard” and they’re likely to put themselves in danger or do something illegal to obtain the substances they’re addicted to.
I don’t approve of drug taking but plenty of well off people do it as well, so who am I to judge.
Until they get put into rehabilitation, nothing is going to stop them.
I have worked for a homeless charity for over 20 years, so some of the younger ones I will try to direct towards the available help.
Also, I have never had any abuse when giving money, all have been polite and grateful, for any amount given.

Loislovesstewie

A lot of the 'beggars' have homes and are claiming benefits; if you give money to them, they will be spending it on drink/drugs. I speak as a former homelessness officer, and we knew that to be the case;they were people we dealt with regularly. There was a designated outreach worker for street homeless people, and she knew the circumstances of all the 'beggars'.

Yes, I remember years ago, don’t know how true it was.....a ‘ homeless’ man being caught after begging in London, and then driving home in his Rolls Royce, parked a few streets away!

I do give to food banks, and have bought food for people, as they’re often outside the supermarkets. I go in faith that they are in need. I do however, tend to avoid those with dogs. I know the argument that they need them for protection, but they’re expensive to keep.

Due to the Welfare State , there’s no need for anyone to be “poor” in this country, or homeless, for that matter...

I always give homeless people money, there are a lot of them around Newcastle train station. When I went to Broadstairs in Kent I was surprised to see a man living in a shop doorway in the main High Street, most tourists were ignoring him completely.

I was shocked in NY to see homeless people sitting in the snow, obviously on drugs, with drugged cats and dogs 'sleeping'. So terribly sad, I did give them money.

I'm sure I am going to be unpopular but I do give them money if I have it and I don't care of they spend it on drink/drugs either. It must be such a soul destroying life and a lot of them really can't help where they have ended up. My friend works for the YMCA and the stories are unbelievably sad. Of course she'd be cross about what I posted in my first sentence. The care system is partly to blame.

GagaJo

Homelessness is a huge problem. Adults are not a priority on the homeless register with local authorities.

Yes, there may be hostel beds available in some places. But a lot of homeless don't feel safe in hostels and would rather try to find a secluded and hence safer place to sleep.

I saw huge numbers of homeless in Edinburgh and Cambridge. So sad, in such a wealthy country.

Actually there are lots of facilities for people, it's just that some will NOT engage. There will be lots of reasons for this, but I know that we did a huge amount to try to assist people into long term accommodation. There is a shortage of social housing, but we could help to access privately rented/supported/hostel accommodation. The problem was often that the customer only wanted what wasn't immediately available and would rather carry on doing nothing. I did however house a gentleman who had been street homeless for over 20 years. He still had the tenancy the last I heard, so that was one success!

Shandy57, I'm interested to know why you think seeing a homeless person on the Kent coast is unusual? Lots of people with 'problems' are 'shipped off' to coastal areas all around the country

JaneJudge, I was just surprised to see him there, in such a busy street, and it looked as though the doorway was his permanent home as he had a lot of possessions. We had a homeless person in our seaside village, a local offered him his spare room, happily.

You are right I shouldn't have been surprised, my friend was looking to relocate to Brighton and said people were sleeping in every shelter. I used to work at Earl's Court and took the bus through Kensington High Street, quite a few lived in doorways there.

it has never occurred to me that rough sleepers had dogs for protection. For most of them the dog is the only companion they have got.