Hi Write this blogg in response to Suelllar Bravemens further attacks on the homerless
Before i begin, i will say, I have never been a fan of the Tories, “Blame game” pointing the finger of blame at those on benefits, out of work, and now the homeless. If you ask either sector, none choose this.
For the past decade or so, i have been doing my own research into homelessness.
Firstly, i will say, there is a sector of supposed homeless, who are not actually homeless. These people to me are the lowest of the low. Taking advantage of the goodwil of passers by at the detriment to those who genuinely may need it.
Most homeless people really do not want to be on the streets. The elements are nearly always unkind, sweltering in the summer, wet, freezing, and cold in the winter. For many a sleeping bag and tent is all that stands between them and certain death.
Most will tell a story of alcoholism, how they were kicked out of the house by their partners. Of course the law generally takes the ladies side. Men have little chance.
While too, a single mother with child will be rehomed, not a glamourous one at that, but will be first sent to a hotel for a few weeks, then a bedsit, and there they remain while they bid on whatever housing stock might be available.
Also, no fault landlord evictions do not help either. With many people afraid to report things in case of eviction. The lettings industry needs radical change.
However, it was an experience with a homeless person. I will call him Mike.
I met Mike while i worked in Northampton Town Centre. You could tell this man was homeless, his hair was like dreadlocks and bundled behind his hat. Where after all could he get it cut? He also had a beard. You could tell from looking at him he was most defintely homeless. And i always did my best to help. No financially, but i used to buy him coffeess, sausage rolls, even some toiletries from the local shop.
This many used to hang around in various “strategic” places, where he believed regulars (i suppose, like myself) would very likely give him something. Clearly, i couldnt everytime i saw him, it was too ezpensive
Sadly a time came when i lost my job and i was shopping in the town centre. And there he was. They had provided him with a home now, but not the resources to run it. He was begging for money from people to put money on his meter. I explained i had now lost my job and did not have the resources to go on helping him as i did. But i did see him for £20 to put money on his meters.
That was the last i saw of him.
But i was encouraged to learn he had found work in a warehouse and was on the up. This man, was amazing, he never openly begged for anything. Never directly asked. If it was offered, he would take, but never had a sense of self entitlement. He was always unfailingly courteous. But frankly most of the homeless i met were.
Northampton some time ago, lost a Homeless man, George, i will say his real name now as he has passed away. George had an ongoing problem with his leg. The staff at Northampton General continually wanted to admit him so they could treat it. But he never felt safe in hospital. He, unlike the others, was a drnnker. A Scotsman of colour. Sadly, little did he know he had a releatives in Scotland who wanted him back. But George was one man who never wanted to leave the streets. Strangely over time you get used to it. You develop your own support network for sustinence and use of the loo. Then as for the elements, you get used to them. Sleeping in the cold draughty streets. Like a soldier, you get used to the cold, the hunger, the lack of a warm shower. It becomes a way of life. And like a soldier, even when you sleep, you have to keep your whits about you as at anytime someone could come and steal your worldly goods. Sleeping bags, tents, whatever valuables, gone in an instance.
But one other thing with George, he was given accomodation. He was no longer homeless, but remained on the streets, why?
Well, for all the gesture of giving him keys, he had not the means to run the house. While the local authority would pay some money towards rent, council tax, it didnt cover everything. Cost of water, gas, electric and so on. Plus George, like many other homeless people didnt want the resposibility of running a home. Lets face it, as a housekeeper, there is much to it. Constantly monitoring usage, budgeting, and thats before housework, cooking, cleaning. Things we all do without thinking. For someone on the streets see, they have none of that. No bills to pay, no rent, no council tax. Just money for food and maybe some of the basics.
This leads me onto Suella Bravemens attack. See, the problem is, many of these people are just handed keys and told to get on with it. It would make far greater sense to put them into a half-way house where they could be educated (if required) and supported into independent living. See, like those in prison, these basic skills are lost to them after a while.
Those in prison are given jobs, but they have a roof over their head (they dont pay for), light to read their books or do whatever they do (again, they dont pay for), water to wash and drink (again, they dont pay for) so when many are released from prison, this is the life they meet. This is where the parallels between those in prison and on the streets meet.
So to simply tell people, there is support for those who are genuinely homeless, no theres not! For simgle mums with child, maybe. But not a single man who has been made homeless as a result of divorce.
My message is this, people who have been on the streets for a while using tents and sleeping bags are in need of rehabilitation. Many, true, do not want to be there. Others are so seasoned to it, they want no other life. Of course added to this issues around drug and alcohol addiction compounded by mental health. Simply getting the homeless off the streets is not enough, they need ongoing support. Even to be houses in temporary assisted living, so they can be coached and re trained in the skills needed to survive in the outside world. Opportunity to clean themselves up, seek councilling and help with addiction, edcuation and training for work, plus sustinance to keep going.
In such a place they can relearn to cook, clean, wash, take out the trash etc.
I am not saying every homeless person needs this. But after a few years this kind of husbandry might be required.
At the end of the day if the governments plan is simply to take their tents and hand them keys to a house without ongoing support, it isnt going to happen.