Helping for the homeless.

[bowlingbun]

Many people become homeless because for some reason they cannot cope with their situation. Surely it would be better to deal with that situation BEFORE they become homeless?!

[Chris From The Gulag]

The Bleeding Obvious is not part of present Government policy.

Probably , a bean counter job ?

More facilities for the " Potential " homeless versus crisis mangement when there is no alternative.

" No alternative " ... when the death toll becomes too great ?

Here in Worksop , it's easy to see why there are " Problems " that lead directly to potential homelessness ... a sense of desperation / no hope.

The principal risk factors that have been found to increase vulnerability to homelessness among individuals are described below.

Race. ...
Extremely low income ( Current and lifetime ) ... to which I must add irregular income ( Eg. low millions on zero hour contracts )
Lack of affordable accomodation
Disruptive events in youth. ...
Prior imprisonment. ...
Chemical abuse. ...
Psychiatric disorders. ...
Physical health.
Martrimonial break ups.

Take your pick !

[Chris From The Gulag]

Hull charities' crucial message on why Hull's homeless need help all year - not just at Christmas.

Christmas sees a rise in volunteers throughout the sector - but it shouldn't stop there.

Sandy Smith, chair of Hull HARP, said: "Homelessness is a year long occurrence and it's lovely that the city comes together to try and help over Christmas but it is happening every day of the year.

People need directing to the services that we have but people are getting told not to go to hostels by people who have had bad experiences, or by people who don't want them to go for one reason or another. The staff there are great and there are enough spaces.

"Obviously, they are not all perfect as we have seen this week with the veterans going into Dock House but that may be because someone had just left that room or another reason.

"They have cleaning services and the staff are good at what they do. If someone doesn't go to a hostel they are missing out on that first step where they can get help and they then end up wallowing in that situation."

[Chris From The Gulag]

Wakefield City Council spends thousands of pounds a day on emergency housing payments for vulnerable people.

Department for Work and Pensions data show that the council spent £445,257, between April and September 2018, on helping people on benefits who are struggling to cover housing costs.

The Government awarded the council £997,585 for the Discretionary Housing Payment scheme for the 2018-19 financial year.

In the first six months, Wakefield City Council spent almost half of its annual budget. This equates to £2,433 a day.

Payments can be awarded to claimants if they have been affected by specific housing policies and could be at risk of homelessness, or if they have emergency costs unrelated to welfare reforms.

Of the money spent so far, the largest proportion of 51% was due to the removal of the spare room subsidy.

Financial assistance charity Turn2us said that while the payments are a “vital source of income” for vulnerable people, they are not a long-term solution to the housing crisis.

Campaigns manager, Matthew Geer, said: “Welfare changes over the last decade are leaving councils increasingly burdened, and funds are only limited.

“While we would welcome increasing the funding for DHPs, this will not solve the problem long-term and ultimately help to change the lives of people who are struggling.

“The Government must stand up and act fast to end the rising tide of homelessness across the country – including building affordable homes, tackling the issue of high rents and ending the ongoing benefits freeze.”

Homelessness charity Crisis said it was concerned that the Discretionary Housing Payment scheme is unsustainable in the long term.

Chief executive, Jon Sparks, said: “To truly prevent people from becoming homeless, we need more than sticking plaster solutions.”

The DWP said the scheme allowed local authorities to “provide additional support to people experiencing financial difficulty with housing costs”.

A spokesman commented: “Since 2011 we have provided around £1 billion to local authorities to make these payments.”

For 2018-19, the DWP has awarded a total of £153 billion in DHP funding across England and Wales.

Funding for the scheme in 2018-19 is less than it was last financial year, when the council was awarded £1.08 million.

Wakefield spent almost all of its allocated funding last year.

[Colin _1706]

I called in at a small local supermarket this morning to get some nana's for my little lady who has trouble retaining potasium. Near the door is an old boy must have been in his 70s. I could tell he was homeless by his skin and his general demeanour. There is usually a young lad there begging. But this old fella just touched me. He said good morning as I hobbled towards the door. I said good morning back and said how's things mate? Not so good he replied. I couldn't not do anything, I just couldn't. I feel actual pain for people like him. My head hasn't been firing on all 4 cylinders today and I got a bit uncoordinated at the till. But I got the old boy two hot bacon batches and a big bottle of fresh orange juice in a seperate carrier bag and gave it to him on my way out. He thanked me and I said its to help keep you going.
Its nothing really. Nothing. But I couldn't not do anything.

[Chris From The Gulag]

Not uncommon Colin ... many only realise the true state of affairs for many out there when it stares them in the face.

Tent City along the Chesterield Canal from me is a good example ... many shoppers now avoid the " Quick " walking route from Worksop town centre to Sainsburys / Argos because of the " Eye sore. "

[Colin _1706]

I will not judge them Chris, I have no right to and neither has anyone else. Yeah I know what your saying, its easier for some people to ignore the homeless and then it's not a problem in their heads.

If I see a homeless person, I see a human being. They need to eat and stay warm and be safe somewhere. I feel so strongly for them. What on earth has our country become where millions are destitute?
This is not our way. This is not the British way. My parents would be turning in their graves if they could see this.

It pee's me off a lot that our local council tells us not to give them money. I am sick of the government telling us how to live our lives at an increasingly microscopic scale.
I will decide who I give my money to, or who I give food to.

I was lucky to be born into a good family. Some people were not as lucky as me and that is all it boils down to.

[jenny lucas]

It can be a real moral dilemma, I definitely agree. Do bear in mind that often we are asked not to give money to the 'apparently homeless'/'beggars' (and it is not just the state that asks us - outside Westminster Cathedral in Victoria is a notice asking the public NOT to give money to the beggars there)(as the cathedral organises handouts etc etc itself), because it will only go on drink/drugs or, or course, it is basically a scam (ie, it's simply a 'job' for the beggars)( I have a very nice Romanian begger lady outside my Waitrose....why she is there is beyond my comprehsnion - ie, why she is ALLOWED to be there.....)

All that said, I tend to assume that 'an old man' such as you describe Colin really IS 'in trouble' and simply because of their age are unlikely to be a 'fake'.

I also agree that giving food is much better than giving money 'just in case' they are simply after their next fix etc.

I do tend to think that there is a distinct 'underclass' of those who are 'unsaveable' ....ie, they can't become citizens who play a normal part in the econmy - for various reasons, whether drugs/drink or most likely mental illness (and that can be interrelated with the drugs etc), and they are the ones we simply have to 'shelter' (literally and by providing a 'safe place' to live out their lives as happily as they can)

[Chris From The Gulag]

Oh too true , Jenny ... best evidenced when volunteering at your local food bank for a week.

Even I baulk at that idea ... even if I swopped time between my local one and this forum.

Trouble is , society tends to take the lowest common denominator when adding a tag to those using a food bank.

[Pet66]

My grandson walked past a homeless man. Firstly he said no to giving something. Then had a guilt kick, went back to him with a sausage roll and can of pepsi. The thanks were, I don't like sausage rolls and not keen on pepsi!! He did accept the drink though. Grandsons reaction was never again. DD has suggested he doesn't let the incident make him uncaring which he agrees with. She said IF he wants to another time, maybe a warm drink and even a cookie may be more help. It is very difficult in Birmingham city centre, because,so many and some, not all are not homeless. Very sad,and very conscious stabbing for those of us who do care about them.