homeless people

[Tin Pot]

In my old line of work I met hundreds of rough sleepers, and almost all were in that situation because of their own behaviour. When you did manage to help them access a support service the majority would misbehave in some way and get booted out.

There were some people I met in that situation though genuine happenstance, or (non self inflicted) mental health issues, but they were so exceptional as to be virtually extinct.

My understanding is that the majority of rough sleepers are with mental health issues or drug addiction, or both - and that it's hard to tell where one ends and the other begins.

@Racing roadkill
I think it's relatively easy to spot the difference between rough sleepers and gang/scammers - although again there can be cross over.
The mentally ill generally will not want to talk to you at all, and the junkies you can tell the desperation.
Coordinated beggars are more able to interact like regular people.

@OP
If you feel safe, stop ask how they're doing and wish them well. If the reaction or lack of continues to concern you, contact the authorities as suggested upthread.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Its difficult to hold out the helping hand, a few are homeless by misfortune and would welcome help, some are homeless by choice and don't want to be helped, some are suffering from mental health issues and there's no way of knowing how they are going to react to your enquiries. I was homeless for a short time many years ago and managed to quickly sort myself out, got myself in a hostal and started again.

 

[steve292]

Not joking mate. I appreciate there are cases of genuine hardship out there, but having worked professionally with such people I can only speak as I find, and that is that the majority were that way because of either persistent criminality or drug use, and when you did try to help a good 8 out of 10 would then get themselves excluded .

It may be politically incorrect to speak the truth, but there it is, two different large towns in two different counties. The few cases of genuine, unwarranted hardship I met had my full support and sympathy.

I don't doubt your experience at all, but could it be that because you came across them in your professional capacity, you would be much more likely to encounter persistent offenders or drug users?

 

[TrishE]

How do you know? Have you asked them? All of them?

Homelessness is dreadful, and a direct consequence of government policy. It's utterly implausible that any more than a tiny minority choose it willingly.

Yes like I said the three examples I gave are known. The first man worked in a factory and one day thought sod this and walked away to live the life he does now. When I said these people I meant the examples I gave not every person in the world that lives outside.

 

[User482]

Not joking mate. I appreciate there are cases of genuine hardship out there, but having worked professionally with such people I can only speak as I find, and that is that the majority were that way because of either persistent criminality or drug use, and when you did try to help a good 8 out of 10 would then get themselves excluded .

It may be politically incorrect to speak the truth, but there it is, two different large towns in two different counties. The few cases of genuine, unwarranted hardship I met had my full support and sympathy.

Rough sleeping has more than doubled since 2010.

 

[Starchivore]

A very eye-opening article here, about people who are in work but still homeless:

https://www.theguardian.com/comment...eless-britain-economy-minimum-wage-zero-hours

"Figures like these, and shelters like Scott’s, neatly puncture many of the official boasts about work in post-crash Britain. The ministerial bragging about record employment? That economic miracle would include a third of the people dossing down at Scott’s place. The smugness with which David Cameron talked about the high-tech sharing economy? The Uber driver in that bunk over there might put him right on a few things. All the blether about how strong unions will destroy the economy? The casualised workforce in these improvised dormitories make a good argument for labour protection."

 

[srw]

A very eye-opening article here, about people who are in work but still homeless:

https://www.theguardian.com/comment...eless-britain-economy-minimum-wage-zero-hours

"Figures like these, and shelters like Scott’s, neatly puncture many of the official boasts about work in post-crash Britain. The ministerial bragging about record employment? That economic miracle would include a third of the people dossing down at Scott’s place. The smugness with which David Cameron talked about the high-tech sharing economy? The Uber driver in that bunk over there might put him right on a few things. All the blether about how strong unions will destroy the economy? The casualised workforce in these improvised dormitories make a good argument for labour protection."

Yes - that article was my first thought when I was reading some of the comments on this thread. And it points to some practical things people can do to help alleviate the problem. Make sure that, as far as possible, your spending doesn't go to support companies like Uber* and Deliveroo which have a cavalier attitude to workers' rights. Focus your spending on owner-managed businesses as far as possible, and where not, look to the big companies with good reputations, like John Lewis and Sainsbury's, where employment rights are more likely to be respected.

*As a cylist, a passenger or another driver, would you really want a cab driven by someone who was bunking down in a homeless shelter each night he or she managed to get in?

 

[S-Express]

There's usually someone walking along a canal towpath no matter what time of the day it is. I wouldn't worry too much. They're used to the cold and the booze,so they'll live to fight another day. If you ask them about their well being they might take it the wrong way.

Citizen of the year.

 

[Tin Pot]

A
"Figures like these, and shelters like Scott’s, neatly puncture many of the official boasts about work in post-crash Britain. The ministerial bragging about record employment?

God I hate political gaming nonsense.

The 'claim'/fact that "...the employment rate remains at a record high with more than 31.8 million men and women in work,” is NOT punctured by the claim that there are ~80 thousand working homeless.

 

[MontyVeda]

This may be a stupid ignorant question, but why were the "eco warriors" there and what was their purpose?

They're protesting against the proposed Mancunian Way bypass... but have been so busy making placards and devising their catchy protest chants that they failed to realise that it's been built around them.

 

[Accy cyclist]

This comes across as a very sad ( to my way of thinking) , very selfish and uncaring attitude towards a fellow human.

What a sad world it would be if everyone ignored fellow human beings potential needs

Yes, i suppose i've become hardened to human "suffering". On the other hand, animal suffering does upset me! If i saw an animal or a bird in distress i definitely would stop to help.

 

[steveindenmark]

As an ex copper I got to know a lot of homeless people and most of them are not there by choice.

I always had a pocket of sweets I would give them. A bar of chocolate is good. But I would not give them money.

 

[Noru]

As an ex copper I got to know a lot of homeless people and most of them are not there by choice.

I always had a pocket of sweets I would give them. A bar of chocolate is good. But I would not give them money.

I agree I tend to buy them a hot drink / some food instead of cash. Most are very happy with this.

I also collect McDonald's Monopoly stickers winning free food, completed coffee shop loyalty cards and any food promo workers are handing out in city centres as they seem to be gratefully received.

 

[Tin Pot]

Yes, i suppose i've become hardened to human "suffering". On the other hand, animal suffering does upset me! If i saw an animal or a bird in distress i definitely would stop to help.

You really are an enigma, wrapped in a conundrum, wrapped in a sandwich bag.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Citizen of the year.

Ok i was going to ignore this but i'll take the bait. The OP was asking about cycling along towpaths and coming across down and outs. Around here there are plenty of them, and many do tend to congregate on the Leeds to Liverpool canal, especially when you reach Blackburn and Burnley. If you were to stop to ask everyone of them if they were ok you'd never complete your ride/journey! Also, some are quite aggressive. In the summer i cycled to St Annes near Blackpool. I went through Preston, stopping at parts of the old docks. There was a group of "winos" sat nearby. I asked them for directions. Some were ok but one or two started saying stuff like "I bet his bike's worth a few quid" and asking if i carried money with me. I decided to leave asap, having a near full tin of cider thrown at me as i quickly rode off. Leave looking after them to those who's job it is to do so. If you want to play the wannabe social worker that's fine by me.