Homeless

Now the cold snap is upon us I would urge everyone to give a homeless person a fiver (give them more if you want) and who cares if they spend it on drugs, alcohol, cigarettes or whatever, they might just might spend it on a hot drink and some food (could you get both for fiver these day's)
When you help someone you don't know, your heart will grow and your skin will glow.

Well said, Jinxer. I agree in every way...

I have in the past bought a cups of tea or butties for someone on the streets. I will not give money as I (this is my belief) to me it is more important to give what may be needed as oppose to give financial support. Sometimes will get aggressive beggars - those I will not contribute to. On the whole though mostly meet genuine people.

Some may blast me for what I write here, but there are "professional" beggars - those that are not really homeless but do it perhaps for kicks. Over 25 years back I knew someone in Oxford Uni doing a degree, went to stay to see what Uni life was like, was warned "watch out for those eccentrics" - people doing it for kicks not because they were genuinely homeless but why, who knows?

How could the difference be seen? Down to appearence, dressed like they were down & out but had expensive shoes or gold rings, too good a  hair cut etc. - bit of a give away! Also the speech or body language, one instinctively knows when something is not quite right.

This is my experience!

I would agree with much of your post LionShare, I would sooner give them a hot drink or food instead of them spending money on drugs, my view is that you are doing something practical, but it is my opinion.

I can relate to what you say about professional beggars but when you see one sitting in the freezing cold shaking like I did last night you just know by instinct there not there for fun. I usually offer to buy food and a hot drink in the past and in the summer I would still probably do just that, but in this weather a tenner can pay for a bed for the night in a hostel. I refuse to give to charities these days as I don't believe enough of the money goes where it's needed and if I give money to someone who buys drugs or drink so be it, but you might be giving to someone who is in real need. A coffee can cost a fiver these days, not that I would ever buy a coffee from Starbucks or costa. I buy aldi Nescafe for myself lol.

The welfare cuts introduced in this
decade, and those planned for
introduction in the coming years, will
cumulatively reduce the incomes of poor
households in and out of work by some
£25 billion a year by 2020/21. This is in
a context where existing welfare cuts,
economic trends, and higher housing
costs associated with the growth of private
renting have already increased poverty
amongst members of working families to
record levels.
https://www.crisis.org.uk/media/236823/homelessness_monitor_england_2017.pdf

How many people sleep rough each night?
According to the latest figures, collected in the autumn of 2016 and published in January 2017, 4,134 people are estimated to be sleeping rough on any one night.
Is rough sleeping on the rise?There was an increase of 16% from 2015 to 2016, while since 2010 rough sleeping estimates show an increase of 134%.
http://www.homeless.org.uk/facts/homelessness-in-numbers/rough-sleeping/rough-sleeping-our-analysis

Number of homeless in Britain expected to double by 2041, Crisis warns
Charity’s research predicts 575,000 people in Britain will have no roof over their heads unless government    takes urgent action
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/aug/10/uk-homeless-expected-double-2041-charity-crisis-warns

Number Of Empty Homes Reaches 20 Year High
https://www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk/news/empty-homes-reaches-20-year-high/
24th July, 2017

Recently released figures have indicated that the number of vacant properties has reached a 20 year high.
The government statistics indicate that 1.4 million homes have been left empty for a period of least six months.

In light of the housing crisis, these figures may be considered alarming, especially given the expense of the measures being implemented to tackle demand. For example, a £2.3 billion investment was the latest move in the ongoing initiative to boost the housing supply, with available stock being a key issue for voters in the recent snap election. It is estimated that in order to keep up with the pace of demand, the government must ensure that each year, 30,000 new homes are built.

Commenting on the impact of properties being left vacant was Mark Scott. The specialist in residential property at law firm Blake Morgan told sellhousefast.uk: “Many homeowners might say that a ‘man’s home is his castle’ and the owner is free to leave their property vacant if they desire.

“However, there are a large number of empty properties in the UK and many would argue they could be put to better use. One possible way would be to encourage owners of vacant properties to make more use of them.

“This could be achieved by offering a tax incentive perhaps for letting the property out, or making it available for use by local authorities or housing associations in emergency situations....."

In my experience lionshare, homeless and on the street types smell of tobacco and cold sweat! One can tell when cash or food is needed.

In v.cold weather, they tend to be slow.

Harsh, but true.

I might also say its in the eyes too, but I have been duped before now.

I think its down to individuals to decide on what to give or not to give, amd anything given is still given.

What riles me is that paying billions in aid budgets to foreign countries when we have our own problems to deal with and our own problems should be dealing with our homeless and not giving huge sums to foreign countries for many years.

Homeless man thrown in prison for begging in Clifton Village after Bristol City Council injunction

The council said they had to do it for his own good

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/homeless-man-thrown-prison-begging-1209300

This is what cops used to do for the down and outs. It was expected.

Homeless people face fines of £100 for accepting food from kind passersby
Homeless people in South Tyneside could be fined £100 if they accept food and drink from passing strangers. Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO) in parts of the borough ban people from drinking in designated streets in a bid to tackle anti-social behaviour. But the rules also means people face a fixed penalty fine or being ordered from the area if they make “verbal, non-verbal or written requests for money, donations, or goods.” Warning notices now appear on lampposts in areas which fall within the terms of an order.


https://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/homeless-people-face-fines-of-100-for-accepting-food-from-kind-passersby-1-8278901