It can happen to anyone

[Rincewind]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20696458

 

Video link

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01pc1qb/Panorama_Britains_Hidden_Housing_Crisis/

 

 

[Charl91]

I'm sceptical

 

When Patricia was shown to her temporary accommodation - a room with a shared kitchen and bathroom - she told the agent showing her the room that she did not feel safe there and did not want to move in.

 

I would have liked more details on this to be honest. It's not as if she wasn't offered a home!

[MooseBreath]

£9,000 arrears on a £50k mortgage, that is years and years of non-payment before she got evicted. Followed by the offer of a free room. It is indeed a good example of the provision of an extremely generous safety net.

[Guest MattP]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20696458

 

Video link

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01pc1qb/Panorama_Britains_Hidden_Housing_Crisis/

 

And yet you openly admit to wanting more immigration to the UK?

[danny.]

A mortgage, even for the full £54k at say 6% would be £350/mo. To rack up £9k of arrears she would have had to not pay for over 2 years.

[danny.]

Watching the video now. So the guy with a £2k/mo mortgage lost his company. Then didn't get another job and to get money sold a car, but then spent all that on christmas?

 

Surely if you have no money, everyone who is of a working age should get a job immediately (even if stacking shelves or working in a warehouse, there are always jobs like this going), sell whatever assets you can as a buffer, get the house on the market asap (even if it sells for less than worth, the deposit amount + whatever has been repaid can be salvaged as long as not in negative equity). And if you sell a car, don't blow it all immediately on christmas presents?

[Jon the Hat]

Well it can happen to lots of people, but it certainly cannot happen to anyone.  Lots of people have family who can and would help them in this situation, so they would never be homeless.  I cannot imagine for a minute ever finding myself in this situation, and I would not let it happen to anyone in my family either.  This is a position which I am fortunate to be in, but I am not alone, so silly statements like this are not really helpful.  Finding people who are overstretched and not able to manage their finances after redundancy is not hard though.

[Rincewind]

 Maybe the wording for the thread title was wrong but circumstances can always change for anyone. I posted the story to show that homeless people are not the druggie/alchy type portrayed by some of the media. In fact some of the people I have met have been university, have had good jobs but for various reasons hit hard times.

If anyone wants to come to the radio station and tell invited guests who have experienced homelessness and life in hostels, shared accommodation all you know on the subject you would be most welcome. It could be an interesting discussion.

 

One story I can relate is from someone from a couple of weeks ago. He's had a good education, went university and had a good job. He lost the job and admits it was his own fault. Young and thinking he could handle anything. He fell behind with rent payments, relationship break down and came down with depression mental issues. Lost his home and found himself on the streets. He did it for seven years until one day he thought 'what am I doing? I don't want to be like this. Walked into the Dawn Centre and asked for help. He has now found a place to live and hishelps others and campaigns via media type work.

 

It may be true a lot of people will be able to turn to family and friends but for many that help is not there or they do not realise they need help until it is too late.

[danny.]

I do wonder how many times it is down to people not really helping themselves. Admittedly, I know **** all about this as I've never been homeless, but after watching that Panorama documentary, with the exception of the guy in the park, all of them seemed to bring it on themselves - in every situation there were multiple opportunities to avoid ever becoming homeless.

[MooseBreath]

I do wonder how many times it is down to people not really helping themselves. Admittedly, I know **** all about this as I've never been homeless, but after watching that Panorama documentary, with the exception of the guy in the park, all of them seemed to bring it on themselves - in every situation there were multiple opportunities to avoid ever becoming homeless.

It's always someone else's fault. A lot of the homeless have been conditioned to believe that they are never at fault and therefore have never learned to be accountable and take responsibility for their own decisions.

[Jon the Hat]

If you have multiple incidences of failing to take pretty simple actions to help yourself, then that sound an awful lot like depression.  It is hard to understand if you have never suffered from it, and it can alienate family and friends as you tend to cut yourself off from them.  I was maybe not in the best of moods earlier   Depression can certainly happen to anyone.

[Rincewind]

It's always someone else's fault. A lot of the homeless have been conditioned to believe that they are never at fault and therefore have never learned to be accountable and take responsibility for their own decisions.

How many homeless people do you know? How many have you spoken to? Would you like to come on raDNO to air your views and educate us?

[MooseBreath]

How many homeless people do you know? How many have you spoken to? Would you like to come on raDNO to air your views and educate us?

Current homeless, none.

I can recall speaking to three people who either were homeless at the time or had been homeless before.

No not really.

[Rincewind]

Current homeless, none.

I can recall speaking to three people who either were homeless at the time or had been homeless before.

No not really.

 

Current homeless, none.

I can recall speaking to three people who either were homeless at the time or had been homeless before.

No not really.

Pity we would welcome somebody with your viewpoint and interested in the stats that you have got to back it up.

[Guest]

Where's that rap poem thread that Moosey put up?

[Jon the Hat]

Where's that rap poem thread that Moosey put up?

 

I am starting to suspect Ken was wrong when he said he had few skills to offer employers.  He seems quite able to protect his copyright!!

[Guest]

I am starting to suspect Ken was wrong when he said he had few skills to offer employers.  He seems quite able to protect his copyright!!

 

Though his marketing skills leave a little to be desired.

[MooseBreath]

Thread was deleted for unknown reasons but it's still up on soundcloud. Ken has added a comment on there with a link to his original reading. He did say he's ok with it as long as his work was referenced, so maybe it's ok to post the link again...