Do you give to people begging in town ?

crazyH

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

If you think our 'welfare' state is a safety net as it used to be, you are VERY out of date.

Even the gainfully employed can fall into homelessness in the UK these days. I have always been in work but following divorce, when our rental house was being sold and I had no money for a deposit, I was very nearly homeless. A friend took pity on me and rented to me without a deposit.

Judge not.

Some facts:
In six years of running a homelessness charity I have only worked with two Eastern Europeans - and both of them were in work at the time.

Many people on the street are not a ‘priority’ for the extremely limited social housing available and private rentals are often unaffordable. E.g. a 31 year old (female) care worker who was sleeping in her car because she could not afford the £500 a month average cost of lodgings from her minimum wage.

Relationship breakdown causes very many (usually men) to move onto the streets. These are lives ‘interrupted’ by homelessness and people affected may be in work or already claiming benefits.

Domestic abuse creates homelessness, although if there are children involved the abused parent can be housed as a ‘priority’.

Homeless people, in my experience, have dogs for companionship - and often already had the dog before becoming street homeless.

Funding for alcohol and substance misuse projects have been cut to the bone so getting a residential place on one is like gold dust. Many people turn to drugs and alcohol after becoming homeless.

One of my sons when he was a young teenager took a Christmas lunch down town to a homeless guy. I was proud of him.

In the early 80's I slept on a beach in Crete once, we only had money left for the taxi to the airport and had to risk it. During the night a man with a dog and a torch gave us a good kick to wake us and make us move. I realise now it must have been a policeman! I understand why people have dogs.

I try and engage in a few minutes chat and offer to buy them a drink and sandwich. I dont give money.

There seems to be a lot of emphasis on immigrants here. Most of the homeless people I have stopped and spoken to have been British, usually with a background of mental illness or family breakdown, or both. Two that I got to know quite well were firmly against any help from hostels because they didn't want to be told what to do. One of them eventually died from hypothermia

To be honest if I do give them any money I'm not that bothered what they do with it. If it gets them through the day so be it.

I know Shandy, it's just so sad

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.

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.

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

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

nanna8

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

It still happens.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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 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.