FabSwingers.com forum: Rough sleepers

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

I work in a city centre and there are always what appear to be rough sleepers/ homeless people hanging round outside. My city council says no one needs to be homeless for more than one night and that people should not give them money. I feel guilty each time I walk by but if I gave all of them money, every day, I'd be skint.

Thoughts? Answers? Comments?

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By *ire_bladeMan
over a year ago

Manchester

I had 1 demand a quid a few weeks back that was his 1st mistake

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Im sure that if the queen can sleep at night, you can

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By *lkDomWhtSubBiCpleCouple
over a year ago

Somewhere / Everywhere /Kinksville

What do the council offer them then?

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By *he Happy ManMan
over a year ago

Merseyside

"I work in a city centre and there are always what appear to be rough sleepers/ homeless people hanging round outside. My city council says no one needs to be homeless for more than one night and that people should not give them money. I feel guilty each time I walk by but if I gave all of them money, every day, I'd be skint.

Thoughts? Answers? Comments?"

It's a lie. They are given help for one night but after that they are on their own.

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By *he Happy ManMan
over a year ago

Merseyside

"I had 1 demand a quid a few weeks back that was his 1st mistake

I know a street begger. He makes £60 an hour on a good day.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Thoughts? Answers? Comments?

It's a lie. They are given help for one night but after that they are on their own. "

Really? So why the pretence?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Your city council should house them then shouldn't they.

Most rough sleepers have mental health issues and or drug and alcohol addiction. It's a real tragedy. The main problem is that there's little or no funding for the underlying problems. The charity sector is not able to fill all the gaps. On top of this, those charities are normally funded and thus controlled by the councils, who seem ill qualified to know what to do. They might give you an art class etc. But no actual, practical help. It really saddens me. But we are run by psychopathic politicians.

Shelter has done some great work though. And any help you can give them, be it volunteering or money, would be helping the people you see on the streets.

Salvation Army soup kitchens are also great.

There's lots we can all do to help. We just have to do it.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

A local man here,begs on the streets,and drinks with the money he begs,then sleeps rough,but i know for a fact he has a counsil flat,but prefers to sleep on the streets.

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By *he Happy ManMan
over a year ago

Merseyside

Thoughts? Answers? Comments?

It's a lie. They are given help for one night but after that they are on their own.

Really? So why the pretence?"

I don't know why the pretence to be honest. I just know it's a lie. A rough sleeper told me it's a lie.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"A local man here,begs on the streets,and drinks with the money he begs,then sleeps rough,but i know for a fact he has a counsil flat,but prefers to sleep on the streets."

You should divorce him

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By *ce WingerMan
over a year ago

P.O. Box DE1 0NQ

"A local man here,begs on the streets,and drinks with the money he begs,then sleeps rough,but i know for a fact he has a counsil flat,but prefers to sleep on the streets."

In Derby there a few people who prefer to sleep on the streets, or have been evicted from social shelter schemes due to their behaviour stemming from drug/alcohol problems. Most of them spend all day tapping up enough money for their next bag of Mamba or can of strong cider/lager. It's sad to see, but it's a way of life for them.

I live in a Salvation Army Housing Association flat and last year there were about 12 empty flats in our complex. I gave their number to several street dwellers in the vain hope that they could get a roof over their head, but only one of them actually bothered to ring up and enquire about it, he is now doing ok and we have become quite good mates.

During the winter months there is a different church open every night that provides food & shelter, but as I said previously, some prefer to doss in doorways

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Thoughts? Answers? Comments?"

They're not alowed into shelters pissed/high.

For most thats the long and the short of it

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By *ngel n tedCouple
over a year ago

maidstone

"A local man here,begs on the streets,and drinks with the money he begs,then sleeps rough,but i know for a fact he has a counsil flat,but prefers to sleep on the streets."

We used to have one like that, frank the skank, if he went home his misses used to make him literally sleep in the doghouse. Twenty years ago we only had 3 bums, frank the skank, little arthur and dirty old roger. Now we seem to have a bum in every doorway, all in contact with eachother via mobile phone, huddled around the cashpoints and fast food shops at the weekend.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"A local man here,begs on the streets,and drinks with the money he begs,then sleeps rough,but i know for a fact he has a counsil flat,but prefers to sleep on the streets.

That's my problem with rough sleepers is that they do hang about cash points and shops. I'm sure that they can make some people feel intimidated. And like someone above said, they all seem to have mobile phones. Probably more modern than mine!

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By *onnyJohnMan
over a year ago

Doncaster

Thoughts? Answers? Comments?"

Why should you feel guilty?

Feel concerned or sorry, perhaps even worried for them, but guilty...

Volunteer at a homeless shelter, go door to to asking for donations such as old blankets or sleeping bags... there are a number of ways to help without giving money.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

A lot of them have drug,/drink/mental issues like a previous poster says. The amount of people sleeping rough increased dramatically when psychiatric hospitals closed down, so persons who can't manage life on their own are now on the streets instead of being "institutionized" I chatted to a big issue seller and he told me he chooses to live in a tent. It's a complex issue. If you want to help them buy them a sandwich or coffee or give money to shelter XXX

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By *riskynriskyCouple
over a year ago

Essex.

I work in London and the ones I see most days won't get a penny out of me.

Their behaviour is disgusting, I understand that some have mental health issues but a lot of them are just the dregs of society...

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By *hoenixAdAstraWoman
over a year ago

Hiding in the shadows

I used to work for a local homeless charity.

There's a long process involved to getting someone off the streets. Most have mental health, drug & alcohol problems. The first step is to attend the day centres & a rehab/support group

If the person kept to this, proved they were willing to try, then they were offered a place in one of the hostels. Strictly no drugs or alcohol allowed inside, and had to agree to tests if thought had been using.

We would work with several local companies to help the residents get back into work, and if they stuck to this part of the programme for an individually specified time, we would then be able to help them into permanent housing.

We had a very high success rate, but sadly I do still see faces I recognise round & about, as some were just unable or unwilling to change

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

[Removed by poster at 20/07/17 07:04:51]

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Ok, I never ever give money. I always ask them how they are and if they are hungry or thirsty. I then buy them food and drinks. I've also bought a guy a coat from a charity shop as it was freezing and he was so cold.

Councils spout this crap about enough homeless shelters- there isn't. I used to work somewhere where homeless people used to come to to ask for help, and I could never find them spaces in hostels

So my advice to all is- they are human beings with basic needs, say hello don't ignore them and if you can buy them a cuppa a dsinething to eat x"

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

It varies feom area to area. Where i currently work there are plenty of people that sleep on the streets through choice. There isnt one that doesnt have a flat or a house, but they prefer to sleep on the street.

When I worked in Leeds however there was a large proportion of genuinly homeless people. I used to give them drinks or food instead of money. There was one guy i used to speak to most days who used to be a professor until he had a mental breakdown. Super clever guy.

Another guy had been a fellow Officer in my regiment but PTSD had messed him up so bad he couldnt cope with the quietness of a house!

THESE ARE HUMANS AT THE END OF THE DAY. WE ALL HAVE OUR PROBLEMS TO LESSER OR GREATER DEGREES.

IF YOU DONT WANT TO GIVE MONEY. GIVE THEM AN HELLO SHOW THEM THEY ARENT INVISIBLE.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Some awful attitudes shown here towards people who sleep rough.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

my daughter has a certain man in manchester she always buys a least a drink for - sometimes a snack - she talks to him a little and he has such simple needs that often she will offer food and he says he has enough for the day but a drink would be nice - always a screw top bottle type so he can save it for as and when - we are going there later today as it happens -

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I wouldn't give money but I would give them food, basic toiletries, clothes, that kind of help...

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By *wisted999Man
over a year ago

North Bucks

I brought one I recognised a big bag of McDonald's and some tins of dog food for his obligatory cute dog.

Cheeky git then tried to sell them to people queuing up for a nightclub.

I feel sorry for genuine homeless people. There seems to be an awful lot of tents springing up in parks round where I work.

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By *riskynriskyCouple
over a year ago

Essex.

Where I work, they damage property, shit on business door steps, ask for £1, if you give it to them they then ask for more, if you say no they then call you every name under the sun.

They swear at you if you buy them food, they throw food all over the place...

I could go on...

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By *hoenixAdAstraWoman
over a year ago

Hiding in the shadows

THESE ARE HUMANS AT THE END OF THE DAY. WE ALL HAVE OUR PROBLEMS TO LESSER OR GREATER DEGREES.

IF YOU DONT WANT TO GIVE MONEY. GIVE THEM AN HELLO SHOW THEM THEY ARENT INVISIBLE. "

You are officially my favourite person of the day now x

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By *ophieslutTV/TS
over a year ago

Central

Thoughts? Answers? Comments?

It's a lie. They are given help for one night but after that they are on their own.

Really? So why the pretence?"

Our society is built upon pretence - enabled by the wealthy.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

In my experience very few rough sleepers need to be on the streets but sadly there is very little help for the genuine ones, often becausevof their issues and reluctance to seek help. I never give money. I have bought a sandwich and drink and never had it thrown back at me. Have you ever noticed they have the best behaved dogs in the World?

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By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

East Sussex

If nobody needs to be homeless why are there so many homeless people?

There's certainly been an increase in this area. Youngsters are using the shelters on the seafront. I've never seen them beg but its hardly Butlins, whats making them choose that over housing of some sort if its available?

Experience has shown me that authorities lie and manipulate facts and I know that not all homeless people are genuinely down on their luck.I suspect that the truth is that some people are professional beggars and some people are genuinely down on their luck and in need of help.

I think the quality of compassion is a good one to exhibit and if its sometimes misplaced thats better than withholding it when it's needed.

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By *oodmessMan
over a year ago

yumsville

Rough sleepers will usually have sleeping bags and their entire home right next to them. Those who have a house, gaining extra money will either ask for money directly or have small signs.

There are two guys at the end of my street that do it. They are out around 7 and sit by the bus station, they then move to the shopping areas around lunch. I happened to walk past one getting out of a taxi as he was telling him to keep the change - it's just not done if you're looking for your next meal. It boils my piss as I know they'll spend it on (or stronger), when others have it extremely hard.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

i dont know how the housing system works but it did make me wonder after the london fire how a lot of homes were found - i know some were hotel rooms and such but a lot were re homed - so were these homes empty and ready for people to move into - if so why when the list for people needing homes is supposed to be so long - just passing thoughts in my head

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By *oodmessMan
over a year ago

yumsville

"i dont know how the housing system works but it did make me wonder after the london fire how a lot of homes were found - i know some were hotel rooms and such but a lot were re homed - so were these homes empty and ready for people to move into - if so why when the list for people needing homes is supposed to be so long - just passing thoughts in my head "

Does make you wonder how they found so many so quickly. They did buy them back off the developer and will be fitted out as council rather than luxury apartments though if there is a housing crisis, rather than developers only building a few for social tenants it seems the Govt does have ways and means to create housing.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Some awful attitudes shown here towards people who sleep rough.

^ I know shocked that people on here can be so callous. I guess they are all me me me, they should watch the true story of "A Streetcat named Bob" and see how some homeless people get treated, spat at and abused in the street. I would not swap places with anyone at -2 degrees in January and lie on a pavement, these people slagging them off are dicks

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I had 1 demand a quid a few weeks back that was his 1st mistake

^ what did you do beat him up? How manly you are!

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Thank you for your comments. It has been interesting reading through them all. I do give money sometimes, and food or drink. Bought one guy in Manchester a burger meal. He asked and it was obvious when we reached the takeaway he was a regular there.People choosing to sleep rough have my sympathy. It could be me, or one of my family and I would hate to imagine them being treated badly.

I do think that the people who stand by the trolley return bay at supermarkets with their hands out, intimidating old ladies into giving them their pound coins out of the trolley have become such a nuiscance. My mum has her pound ready now when we go shopping and she has a trolley token!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Where I work, they damage property, shit on business door steps, ask for £1, if you give it to them they then ask for more, if you say no they then call you every name under the sun.

They swear at you if you buy them food, they throw food all over the place...

I could go on..."

So because a few of them have anti-social tendencies, you tarnish them all with the same brush? I work and live in London and there are a huge amount of homeless people who are respectful. Unfortunately, attitudes like this mean that those treated like the "dregs of society" sometimes act like it.

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By *riskynriskyCouple
over a year ago

Essex.

"Where I work, they damage property, shit on business door steps, ask for £1, if you give it to them they then ask for more, if you say no they then call you every name under the sun.

They swear at you if you buy them food, they throw food all over the place...

I could go on...

I will alway be polite to people no matter their background or circumstances until they give reason to not to.

Years ago I would have given some money or buy a hot drink etc in the winter but not now.

I suppose the actions of a few have spoilt it for the many.

However many are abusive whether you give them money or not, they argue over who has the best smart phone, argue of drugs, argue over where to stay in Blackpool when they go for their Christmas drink up.

They regularly smash the flower pots outside a restaurant and shit on the doir step as they use to sleep on the steps when it was empty. One case of explosive diarrhoea up the wall of another restaurant.

Telling people "I don't want more fucking food I want money."

A small case of murder, the list goes on.

So to be honest, I congratulate you on being a better human being than me...

However I will be sticking to my opinion of the homeless near my place of work...

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By *onestjohn1962Man
over a year ago

Sheffield

"I had 1 demand a quid a few weeks back that was his 1st mistake

I know a street begger. He makes £60 an hour on a good day. "

And fuck all on a rainy Tuesday in January

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By *iamondsmiles.Woman
over a year ago

little house on the praire

We have no homeless people here but i go to 5he next town. I ask what they want. Usually socksm i buy them thermal underwear. Sleeping bags. Food and drink sometimes i can come back and probsbly spent £60 but i dont give them money and i always give them a hug

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

maybe give them a bite to eat

maybe they have some form of health problem that has made them homeless

maybe many things

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Where I work, they damage property, shit on business door steps, ask for £1, if you give it to them they then ask for more, if you say no they then call you every name under the sun.

They swear at you if you buy them food, they throw food all over the place...

I could go on..."

thats not everbody now,

people who have homes thief demand things damage property, through shitty nappies in carparks

many things lets not tar everyone with the same brush

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"We have no homeless people here but i go to 5he next town. I ask what they want. Usually socksm i buy them thermal underwear. Sleeping bags. Food and drink sometimes i can come back and probsbly spent £60 but i dont give them money and i always give them a hug"

that is so sweet

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"In my experience very few rough sleepers need to be on the streets but sadly there is very little help for the genuine ones, often becausevof their issues and reluctance to seek help. I never give money. I have bought a sandwich and drink and never had it thrown back at me. Have you ever noticed they have the best behaved dogs in the World?"

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

A real load of shit sprouted on here.

Remember folks we are all only one step away from losing everything none of us are perfect.

A lot of decent men i know of have lost everything in a blink of a eye and probably done more for you then you will ever know.

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By *ophieslutTV/TS
over a year ago

Central

They do have ways and means but their right wing ideology is to dismantle the state as much as possible where aimed as a safety net for the masses. Hence why council houses sold off could not have the resultant money used to fund more homes.

So far less than 20 people have accepted housing offers from the Grenfell tragedy - I'm sure more would do so, if the offers are appropriate etc.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I think its a difficult call, I know someone that basically put themselves on the street thinking they were proving a point, they then used drugs to get onto a programme and into sheltered accommodation, it's awful knowing that he is taking the place of someone that genuinely needs help all because he doesn't want to work, but at least there is a degree of help if only for the ones with drug problems.

I wouldn't like to say what the split is, but there are two categories of homeless people those that could be elsewhere and those that really are at rock bottom. I don't give money but if I've struck up conversation with one I'll happily buy food or drink for them.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

there is an accommodation charity i work 1 day a week on a voluntary basis helping armed forces who have become homeless or on the verge of and for whatever reason it can happen to anyone

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

before passing comments look up the following please

https://www.riverside.org.uk/care-and-support/veterans/spaces/

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Homes for Veterans.

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By *iss_tressWoman
over a year ago

London

"Where I work, they damage property, shit on business door steps, ask for £1, if you give it to them they then ask for more, if you say no they then call you every name under the sun.

They swear at you if you buy them food, they throw food all over the place...

I could go on...

Replace homeless with Muslim, black, young, single mum, council estate tenant etc...there will always be those who tarnish a whole group of people because of the actions of a few.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

you can never band and tar any group with the same tar brush

some of the most cleverest and nicest people i have come acroos have found themselves homeless, its not my place to question/judge why

one thing i do know is it can happen to anyone

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

i will add one thing then leave the thread, imagine f you had no cash for 2 months? what predicament would that leave you in

its estimated at any given time over 1 million people are just one step away from being homeless in one day

yes some may cause their situation but a high number do not

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By *orkie321bWoman
over a year ago

Nottingham

There are some shocking opinions on here.

Not everyone who is homeless has drink, drug or mental health issues - I didn't when I lost everything and ended up homeless.

I was fortunate in that I didn't actually spend a night sleeping rough. I had a little money and was able to find a very cheap hostel for a couple of weeks and then went to stay with someone for a while.

Most people in this country are only a couple of paydays away from losing their home. The majority don't have enough savings to tide them over if they hit a crisis.

Have a little bit of human compassion. IT COULD BE YOU SLEEPING ROUGH IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS IF IT ALL GOES TITS UP!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"There are some shocking opinions on here.

Not everyone who is homeless has drink, drug or mental health issues - I didn't when I lost everything and ended up homeless.

Most people in this country are only a couple of paydays away from losing their home. The majority don't have enough savings to tide them over if they hit a crisis.

Have a little bit of human compassion. IT COULD BE YOU SLEEPING ROUGH IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS IF IT ALL GOES TITS UP!"

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By *yrdwomanWoman
over a year ago

Putting the 'cum' in Eboracum

If you're concerned about someone sleeping rough but don't want to give them money, report them on Streetlink.org and someone will be there to support them.

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By *yrdwomanWoman
over a year ago

Putting the 'cum' in Eboracum

Don't forget to buy them water on a hot day. Its not just the cold that kills.

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By *icketysplitsWoman
over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

The London Rough Sleeping figures came out last month showing only a 7% increase since 2015. 72% of new rough sleepers spent only one night out. London has a no second night out initiative.

11% are over 55 but only four people under 18 were found sleeping rough. It indicates that under 18s are finding places to stay, or at least evading detection.

44% had alcohol dependency and 47% have poor mental health, with an estimate of 500 people living on the streets for two years with no support for their mental health needs.

30% of rough sleepers in London are non-UK nationals from Central and Eastern Europe.

Whatever you do is a personal response. Knowing the stats and what happens in your area can help with that choice. I was shocked to see more visible street homelessness in Manchester than I see in London.

I won't give money but I will buy food, water and juice. I never think to buy coffee as I don't drink it or frequent coffee shops. Some provide a 'suspended coffee' offer where you can pay in advance for someone to come in and get a coffee.

If you're in Scotland (Edinburgh, Glasgow or Aberdeen) have a look at Social Bite. It's a cafe that feeds the homeless from the profits made from selling sandwiches and coffees.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I think this thread might of been a surprise and ease a little what has/remains a volatile situation.

So maybe just maybe some good come out of it and its a start to building a bridge we're see.

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By *ophieslutTV/TS
over a year ago

Central

Disliking all of an unfortunate group because some others have perhaps thoughtlessly emulated them seems silly.

As others say, compassion is a wonderful trait to have. I've generally not given money except for the Big Issue, but sharing some food etc or time to check that they are OK is the right thing to do.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

[Removed by poster at 20/07/17 17:41:20]

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I am a homeless officer ..... and could reply with a mile long post ..I'll refrain

Some not factually correct comments made .... :/

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Thoughts? Answers? Comments?

It's a lie. They are given help for one night but after that they are on their own. "

Ermmmmmmmmm ... don't know wether to write LOL or B.S

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Thoughts? Answers? Comments?

It's a lie. They are given help for one night but after that they are on their own.

Ermmmmmmmmm ... don't know wether to write LOL or B.S "
might be best to ignore or they will rile your back and you get a ban

if reply reply as in general

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

There was a case a good few years ago of a man who spent his days selling the big issue in chorlton town centre, then someone noticed he was driving in every morning and driving away every night...

One of my colleagues decided to investigate (I was working for the fraud dept of the benefits agency at the time) and it turned out he had a house and mortgage as well as a wife who had no clue what he was up to...

I think he got a custodial sentence and had to repay all the money he had earned

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I had 1 demand a quid a few weeks back that was his 1st mistake

"
really? If he was a genuine rough sleeper I think he'd already made some mistakes?new levels of stooping low if bs about being a tough guy v's a homeless person passes for banter on here?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Thing is I've seen a lot of people with dogs,n given money to some,wonder what happens to the animal if they take up what councils may be offering?perhaps they choose to keep the animal n sleep rough?

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By *icketysplitsWoman
over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

If you didn't see it, have a look at the Countryfile report on rural homelessness. It's very enlightening on why some won't stay in housing.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08y72pv

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By *icketysplitsWoman
over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

"Thing is I've seen a lot of people with dogs,n given money to some,wonder what happens to the animal if they take up what councils may be offering?perhaps they choose to keep the animal n sleep rough?"

Some do.

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By *ngel n tedCouple
over a year ago

maidstone

"I had 1 demand a quid a few weeks back that was his 1st mistake

I know a street begger. He makes £60 an hour on a good day.

And fuck all on a rainy Tuesday in January"

Well i imagine it is seasonal work.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"It varies feom area to area. Where i currently work there are plenty of people that sleep on the streets through choice. There isnt one that doesnt have a flat or a house, but they prefer to sleep on the street.

Another guy had been a fellow Officer in my regiment but PTSD had messed him up so bad he couldnt cope with the quietness of a house!

THESE ARE HUMANS AT THE END OF THE DAY. WE ALL HAVE OUR PROBLEMS TO LESSER OR GREATER DEGREES.

IF YOU DONT WANT TO GIVE MONEY. GIVE THEM AN HELLO SHOW THEM THEY ARENT INVISIBLE. "

I totally agree with this.

I wasn't going to post my personal story on here, but some of you really do not have a clue as to the reality of the situation.

First of all, I come from what would be thought of as a good, middle class family (on the outside) I had a good education and on the face of it, I was a child that was well cared for.

I have NEVER taken any illegal substances, I do not even smoke! I like a few glasses of wine, but I am a long way from being an alcoholic or having any dependency issues.

I never thought that I would be in the situation I found myself in, never..

I have worked hard all of my life, like i say, I had a good education and I made the most of all the opportunities I was presented with.

Approx 6/7 years ago now, I rented a home from a family member. She owned the house. A gorgeous house that I loved. Felt like my own.

I don't want to go into the details or reasons as it's not relevant and it's too upsetting, but after a particularly bad disagreement with her, she commenced legal proceedings to get me evicted.

Even with all the help from Shelter, she was successful and I was evicted.

At the time, I was off work on long term sick due to a particularly severe back problem (prolapsed discs) and depression so finding the money for a new home was extremely difficult to say the least.

Throughout the entire process, I communicated with my local authorities and kept them informed and they continued to stipulate that they are not able to help until I am actually homeless.

So on the day of eviction, I went to the council and they initially housed me in bed and breakfast accommodation until they were able to assess my needs.

I was in the b&b for less than three weeks and despite a letter from my consultant confirming my problems with my back and a 12 page letter from my GP, I was told that I am not 'priority need'.

I was stuck and totally and utterly dejected. Fortunately a great friend stepped in and allowed me to stay with her for a short while, I was able to get a rather large loan and found myself a small flat. (It was not ideal as it was not in an ideal area, it was cold and never really home, but it was a roof over my head.

I have worked extremely hard to get back on my feet again and have now moved on from there to somewhere I am happier.

So please do not judge homeless people and think that they are all d*unks that have put themselves there.

As I said, I have worked extremely hard all my working life (35 years + at that time), I had a university education.... but it all meant nothing, because when I reached out to the authorities that are meant to support you and provide help etc, they are not concerned in the slightest.

If it wasn't for my amazing friend, I would have likely been street homeless through no fault of my own and i would not have survived, so think before you judge anyone.

It is an absolute scandal that people sleep on the streets. Everyone deserves to have somewhere to call home.