Do you mean people pretending to be homeless or people who are homeless that are 'just lazy'? Personally I consider these kind of statements a race to the bottom (not a personal attack by the way), I'd rather a society where we strive to improve lives rather then cast suspicion because I read something somewhere. Sure you will always get those that take the piddle don't worry about it.
We made similar kits at Crisis, set up various Xmas Hotels using disused Office Blocks (The QVC Building at Chelsea Bridge and The Sweeney Building at Victoria Docks are just two) and also schools that would let us. Word then went out to the homeless community and, like a Zombie movie, "They Came". It was an eerie sight on a cold foggy morning in Docklands as literally hundreds of the most seriously homeless started appearing through the mist. I'll never forget it. Everyone got a pack bag with survival blanket, gloves, hats, socks underwear etc and then showers were provided along with medical care, dental care, hairdressers, podiatrists etc etc. A vast collection of clothing was on offer in a massive warehouse on site, nearly all new and nearly all upmarket or designer stuff. (It is funny later on in the week when you can tell the volunteers from thye 'guests' as the volunteers are the badly dressed ones!) We then provide three meals a day, unlimited snacks, tea coffee etc and of course a bed this goes on for a week then the whole thing stops as quickly as it started. It costs £millions to put this on every year and everybody is a volunteer! There is a fleet of 30 vehicles plus HGV's, all donated. 10 tonnes of bread, a tonne of flour, half a ton of salt, these are the things that I know the numbers for! Something like 3500 people go through the doors in that week. Over 10,000 volunteers are needed.
SOME ONE CAN SPEND 10 K ON A WATCH ETC , BUT NOT A POUND TO HELP . ive been homeless my self , i no what its like , people you no looking down on ye , avoiding ye like the plague , not a nice feeling , but , there are them how want to stay homeless under the radar , fair play to ye for what ye done
I think (personally) as has been mentioned already, it is difficult to know how best to help and so people hold back as they dont want to see it wasted. As I think Para said, give to charity and it dissapears on admin and salaries.... give it to the man on the street and he may not even be homeless. I know a chap who has a drug issue and is in and out of home and work.... he often chooses to sleep rough to avoid the hassle of homeless shelters and even chooses it over living in someones spare room (FOC)... I don't think any "leg-up" he is given will ever have any lasting effect which is a shame. some people are stuck in the life they know and unable to change.
Morning all. There are quite a lot of people doing quite a lot of things which in my opinion is heart warming. I've come across quite a few people in various forms of this over the years and in my various professions. Geordie mate I too have shared a tear although you try to hide it while with them. Something I've been doing for quite a while is clearing out my wardrobe in January and checking do I need or wear this that and the other, jackets jumpers coats etc and I take it with me in the car and I ask people if they need anything I have or if they know anyone that needs anything. I've got friendly with a few and one sells the Big Issue and has a bit of a problem with alcohol but lives in a tent next to a hedge etc etc, his big problem or one of them, is that people like to set fire to his tent just to get rid of him and mostly when he's out working with his papers. It's a crap job but please buy a big issue if you see one, maybe be a little selective because you can't help everyone. Most people living on the streets have friends on the streets and they know what size shoes will fit Bill and what size coat will go around Martin and someone has pinched Esmeralda s hat etc etc. Another little thing someone might like to do, is watch out for clearance stuff at the supermarket now that summer is becoming a memory. In the large co op I bought sleeping bags for a fiver each and tents for the same. I asked the lady to put them to one side as I would take the lot and went and had a chat to the manager, and we came to a bit of an arrangement , so if you see sleeping bags, maybe it's a fiver to you but it could be hypothermia to someone else. Just a couple of ideas for you to help a few locals. Please don't get offended but never tell them where you live, desperation makes people do unexpected things along with other issues. Ozziedog,,,,,,,, watch the clearances at supermarkets
had this discussion at work the other day, got to feel for the "genuine" needy rather than the "professional" beggars doing it for a tax free "job" (call me a cynic but there are such low lifes) i think the idea you had is the best one well played, i've never given money to beggars - i'm programmed by the media to think they'l spend it on cans of 8ace or suchlike just before they climb into the 3 series bmw hiding round the side street.
I recon everyone is a couple of "life" events away from been homeless ,especially with the lack of council/cheap housing... It's a sad world...
I've discussed this lots with people. Homeless people drink and take drugs to make living in doorways more bearable. Yes a good few have drugs and mental issues in the first place it's true, but in all honesty if I was homeless I would be drinker to numb the pain A gregs pastie and a hot coffee can go a long way to make some feel human again.
nice one @Geordie better than giving money ps you didnt need to cry im sure they would have changed it for the one you wanted
I do look like I'm on the street with my work gear on! Smell of wood and like my appearance calls it MDEMF! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quite true and as we approach remembrance day a reminder that there are a load of bogus charities who say they support veterans but pocket almost all the money themselves. There's also people who claim to be homeless ex service personnel who aren't. My view is that most of us avoid giving to homeless on the streets for fear that the money is used for drugs and alcohol, there are also the professional beggars and conmen, all this puts people off.
My uncle Bill wasn't the full shilling. He was born in 1939 while his dad was away fighting the war. My dad was born a year later and a sister was born just after the war. When my grandad came home to the black country from 6 years of war he had been through the conflicts in Africa, Monte casino, and finally got blown up by a landmine while his jeep was being driven through France which resulted in him having a plate in his head and being pensioned out of the army. Needless to say he was shellshocked and hit the drink. Adapting to home life, with a very trying eldest son and a new borne daughter with very little money, but a chest full of medals never really went well. It was worsened when when his wife died of cancer just 5 years later. He hit the bottle and never coped. My aunt was put into a care home and my dad ran off to work in the fields, taking his older bro with him. They did this to survive and avoid the beatings. They lived in barns, caravans and even under hedge rows while working in the fields to feed themselves. Eventually my dad met a girl ( my mum ) and Bill was left to find his own way in life. He was called up for national service. My dad tried to tell them he wasn't right for army life, but he was drafted in anyway. He didn't do well. Within a short while he was AWOL and then locked up. He came out and hit the bottle. He tramped because he didn't want to be a burden on my dad and his new family. He did come and stay occasionally, but never settled, Dad got him his own place, but he couldn't cope and went back to the road. We lost track of him in the early 70's and presumed he was in prison or dead. Dad tried to find him, but he was long gone. In about 2007 me and my godmother ( dad's cousin ) put a advert out with Bill's name and asked if anyone had any info. In 2008 a lady from a nursing home in Brum contacted us to say she had someone of that name in her care. He was quite ill and had been transferred there from the hospital after being beaten up in the streets. It turned out to be Bill and in 2009 my dad, his sister and Bill were reunited. Dad brought him back to our town and nursed him until his death in 2014. He walked him miles in his wheelchair and they were reunited some 40 years later. Bill had drawn one of life's short straws. He had tramped for most of his life, been in and out of nick and hospitals for 50 years. ( Only offence he ever committed was drunkenness and vagrancy ) All because there was no understanding or care for people like him during the time of his birth and childhood. Coincidentally. My grandad threw his medals in the bin saying they wouldn't feed his f' ing family or pay his wife's doctors bills or for medicine needed to keep her alive. He was right. He fought for 6 years to see his wife die for lack of medicine and his children nearly starve because he was too ill to work. Bill bore the brunt of all this. dad and his sister went on to have good lives. Bill didn't see any luxury until his 70's. The first reunion. Bill centre in wheelchair. Dad and Bill. It wasn't his fault!
Sorry for that personel insight there. This is the reason I do a bit for the homeless ( and it is a bit ) There are others out there that do so much more, people with less time than me, less money and more problems. They do it daily and are committed. I hold my hat up to them. Bill was helped by a lot of organisations and charities that seem to be bear the brunt of people's loathing or at best humour. The salvation army being one. Then there are companies like TBR's and some of my friends companies that put their hand in their pocket constantly and without care for reward. My company does not. More should.
in fairness lots drink but i drink in the house because i can , they can t or won t , friend of mine used to say with 12 CANS OF CHEAP BEER CIDER IN YE , OR AS HE LIKED TO CALL IT CANS OF ANTIFREEZE , if he was drunk ,he could sleep even if frozen ,
Go on then Geordie, I'll bite,, what does that MDEMF ! Stand for ??? Ozziedog,,,,,,, will I regret this ??? Nah!
