What is your view on this story?

[Guest MattP]

There once was a homeless man named Martin

Who in the day found his food in a dustbin

After something to eat

He would sleep on the street

But then MattP covered him with urine

I like it.

I'll be warming someone up next weekend, looking forward to it.

[Asha]

I walk through junkie's tunnel everyday and there's nearly always a homeless person sitting down there.

 

Really feel for them, it must be a grim place to spend longer than about 20 seconds at a time.

[cambridgefox]

Is that the one that died?

That's the one.Still on catch up.

[The People's Hero]

I walk through junkie's tunnel everyday and there's nearly always a homeless person sitting down there.

Really feel for them, it must be a grim place to spend longer than about 20 seconds at a time.

But there is no reason for anyone to be homeless. Why not go to one of many of the charities or council run centres which can help, fill out a form and get a place to live? I can understand being homeless is not pleasant but surely they are choosing it by not pursuing the opportunities on offer for housing/shelter?

[cambridgefox]

But there is no reason for anyone to be homeless. Why not go to one of many of the charities or council run centres which can help, fill out a form and get a place to live? I can understand being homeless is not pleasant but surely they are choosing it by not pursuing the opportunities on offer for housing/shelter?

Tend to agree for a lot.This afternoon play I heard on radio 4 yesterday was based on fact from the people recording this reporter living on the streets.one of the characters even admitted he didn't want to go in a house as selling drugs on the streets to the other homeless people was lucrative and as he was " one of them" sold all of his drugs to them.one of the other guys stories was quite sad and floated between streets and hostels,but as you say why isn't he A) always in the hostel B) housed permanently .

Perhaps I'm being ignorant because of my lack of knowledge.

[RobHawk]

But there is no reason for anyone to be homeless. Why not go to one of many of the charities or council run centres which can help, fill out a form and get a place to live? I can understand being homeless is not pleasant but surely they are choosing it by not pursuing the opportunities on offer for housing/shelter?

 

You really think it is that easy? Are you actually for a real?

[Rincewind]

Before getting a place there are a lot of forms to fill out, a landlord willing to delay a deposit, rules regarding where your home town is and you have to be able to understand the forms and read and write. There are other things too which I do not have time to go into..

The other week a colleague spent nearly all day with a client going from council housing to various places trying to find somewhere. Some of the staff at housing options can be downright rude to the applicant treating them no more than nobodys.

It really is not that straight forward.

[Rincewind]

Would you expect a woman with a young child who has been subjected to domestic violence to have to take a place that has drug users and alcoholics as neighbours?

[Strokes]

Before getting a place there are a lot of forms to fill out, a landlord willing to delay a deposit, rules regarding where your home town is and you have to be able to understand the forms and read and write. There are other things too which I do not have time to go into..

The other week a colleague spent nearly all day with a client going from council housing to various places trying to find somewhere. Some of the staff at housing options can be downright rude to the applicant treating them no more than nobodys.

It really is not that straight forward.

We should fill these spare rooms in council houses with homeless people, no more street folk, no more 'bedroom tax', now wheres my prize?

[Thracian]

Matt spend a couple of nights on the street during tempatures in the minus and then come back and say how wonderful it is.

 

Give over Ken. I've spent months living on the streets and even now approaching pension age I spend every working week in winter working in seriously cold temperatures sometimes way below zero.

It sure beats being beholden to others and there's plenty of stalls available for anyone else as I've told you more than once. 

It also stops a man sympathising with wasters who expect to use other people's hard earned income so they can sit on their arses or with the endless excuses made for them. And they do sit around, because I see it first hand, week in, week out.

You're a supposedly creative person - an aspiring writer. Invent your own job. Make yourself chairman of the nations "Pisstaking Club" and write a periodical based on how many excuses people can make to feel sorry for themselves and whether they are really justified.

Perhaps the Royal Infirmary would let you distribute it outside the Childrens Cancer ward.

The attack on that down-and-out was indefensible but so too was the fact that he was there at all.

Society has a duty. Not to pay unearned benefits which only make situations worse in the end. But to give/help people find a purpose and to make sure they have the opportunity to fulfil that purpose if they can't/won't find their own. 

[Guest MattP]

You really think it is that easy? Are you actually for a real?

Yes it is. No shelter will kick you out.

As I've said before, if these funded charities starting getting out on the street and getting their hands dirty rather than reading self serving poems and engagin in anti cuts campaigns that are nothing to do with them we'd see people getting off the street.

But we don't want that really do we, higher the numbers the more easy it is to argue for funding. The less money in the less they can advance their own careers.

I've asked ken about ten times now to pitch an idea that gets the volunteers out there and getting people to do these things you are claiming isn't easy, even offering to come out and help with it. The fact I've been given no acknowledgement let alone a response says all you need to know.

[Zingari]

Give over Ken. I've spent months living on the streets and even now approaching pension age I spend every working week in winter working in seriously cold temperatures sometimes way below zero.

It sure beats being beholden to others and there's plenty of stalls available for anyone else as I've told you more than once. 

It also stops a man sympathising with wasters who expect to use other people's hard earned income so they can sit on their arses or with the endless excuses made for them. And they do sit around, because I see it first hand, week in, week out.

You're a supposedly creative person - an aspiring writer. Invent your own job. Make yourself chairman of the nations "Pisstaking Club" and write a periodical based on how many excuses people can make to feel sorry for themselves and whether they are really justified.

Perhaps the Royal Infirmary would let you distribute it outside the Childrens Cancer ward.

The attack on that down-and-out was indefensible but so too was the fact that he was there at all.

Society has a duty. Not to pay unearned benefits which only make situations worse in the end. But to give/help people find a purpose and to make sure they have the opportunity to fulfil that purpose if they can't/won't find their own. 

Just a minor point, but floggin stuff on the market during the day and then going home  isn't quite the same as sleeping out at night .

( Or have you actually been homeless for months ? when was it ?)

 

I'm not sure if homeless people can automatically get shelter just by "filling in a few forms", but it sounds highly unlikely that it's that easy .

And if it is , the question needs to be asked why people choose to live rough on the streets rather than take this supposed easy option .

[RobHawk]

Yes it is. No shelter will kick you out.

As I've said before, if these funded charities starting getting out on the street and getting their hands dirty rather than reading self serving poems and engagin in anti cuts campaigns that are nothing to do with them we'd see people getting off the street.

But we don't want that really do we, higher the numbers the more easy it is to argue for funding. The less money in the less they can advance their own careers.

I've asked ken about ten times now to pitch an idea that gets the volunteers out there and getting people to do these things you are claiming isn't easy, even offering to come out and help with it. The fact I've been given no acknowledgement let alone a response says all you need to know.

I volunteered for a homeless shelter many moons ago, even then there was only x amount of people they could let in. If we had more than that we had to turn people away back onto the streets, yes we'd given them some food and a warm drink but its not just turn up, sign a form and your sorted!

 

I imagine its worse now than it was back then. In regards to funding, every charity is fighting for the small amounts of funding that are out there!

 

Cameron's big society expects us all as individuals to go out and get involved so If you can get out there and help some homeless people, see what they have to face, see their challenges and struggles first hand then i suggest you do it, although i'm not sure why you can't just volunteer for any homeless charity and need Ken to set it all up for you!

 

Ken has an agenda, we all are aware of it and there's no problem with that, but lets be honest, he's a DNO volunteer, he's not a trustee, he's just one bloke doing his bit, and fair play to him for that!

[Zingari]

I volunteered for a homeless shelter many moons ago, even then there was only x amount of people they could let in. If we had more than that we had to turn people away back onto the streets, yes we'd given them some food and a warm drink but its not just turn up, sign a form and your sorted!

 

I imagine its worse now than it was back then. In regards to funding, every charity is fighting for the small amounts of funding that are out there!

 

Cameron's big society expects us all as individuals to go out and get involved so If you can get out there and help some homeless people, see what they have to face, see their challenges and struggles first hand then i suggest you do it, although i'm not sure why you can't just volunteer for any homeless charity and need Ken to set it all up for you!

 

Ken has an agenda, we all are aware of it and there's no problem with that, but lets be honest, he's a DNO volunteer, he's not a trustee, he's just one bloke doing his bit, and fair play to him for that!

amen to that 

[MooseBreath]

Housing benefit, JSA, nothing stopping homeless charity workers like Ken going out and helping to set up homeless people with the handouts they are entitled to. And who better to show them the system than fellow claimants?

But of course it might take "nearly all day" so to hell with that. Most of them will be rattling like hell having to go that long without a shot.

The only people I can see who you wouldn't be able to help are foreigners who haven't paid anything into their NI contribution pot and so don't qualify for conventional hand outs, and even then you can be pretty sure there's a way to get a house, otherwise all the thousands of Somalian and middle-eastern refugees would be on the streets as well.

The fact is you barely need to do anything in this country to be given a free house and spending money paid for by the tax payer. Ken himself was living just such a charmed life before taking early retirement (tax-payer funded of course). There's no difference between him and the tramps under the bridge except a willingness and knowledge of how to fill out a few forms. If they aren't willing, they're off my moral compass and good luck to them, if they aren't able, it will only take a benefit claiming expert like ken and his friends to guide him into a nice warm flat.

[purpleronnie]

Housing benefit, JSA, nothing stopping homeless charity workers like Ken going out and helping to set up homeless people with the handouts they are entitled to. And who better to show them the system than fellow claimants?

But of course it might take "nearly all day" so to hell with that. Most of them will be rattling like hell having to go that like without a shot.

The only people I can see who you wouldn't be able to help are foreigners who haven't paid anything into their NI contribution pot and so don't qualify for conventional hand outs, and even then you can be pretty sure there's a way to get a house, otherwise all the thousands of Somalian and middle-eastern refugees would be on the streets as well.

The fact is you barely need to do anything in this country to be given a free house and spending money paid for by the tax payer. Ken himself was living just such a charmed life before taking early retirement (tax-payer funded of course). There's no difference between him and the tramps under the bridge except a willingness and knowledge of how to fill out a few forms. If they aren't willing, they're off my moral compass and good luck to them, if they aren't able, it will only take a benefit claiming expert like ken and his friends to guide him into a nice warm flat.

Housing benefit, JSA, nothing stopping homeless charity workers like Ken going out and helping to set up homeless people with the handouts they are entitled to. And who better to show them the system than fellow claimants?

But of course it might take "nearly all day" so to hell with that. Most of them will be rattling like hell having to go that like without a shot.

The only people I can see who you wouldn't be able to help are foreigners who haven't paid anything into their NI contribution pot and so don't qualify for conventional hand outs, and even then you can be pretty sure there's a way to get a house, otherwise all the thousands of Somalian and middle-eastern refugees would be on the streets as well.

The fact is you barely need to do anything in this country to be given a free house and spending money paid for by the tax payer. Ken himself was living just such a charmed life before taking early retirement (tax-payer funded of course). There's no difference between him and the tramps under the bridge except a willingness and knowledge of how to fill out a few forms. If they aren't willing, they're off my moral compass and good luck to them, if they aren't able, it will only take a benefit claiming expert like ken and his friends to guide him into a nice warm flat.

You're always repeating yourself.

[MooseBreath]

You'r e always repeating yourself.

You'r e by gum.

[purpleronnie]

You'r e by gum.

[ADK]

I really don't like the way Moosebreath refers to Ken as if he is some sort of career benefit claimant. Is there any need? Ken has shared his experiences and frustrations in being out of work at near retirement age. He's worked most of his life. It doesn't need to be brought up all the time.

[RobHawk]

Housing benefit, JSA, nothing stopping homeless charity workers like Ken going out and helping to set up homeless people with the handouts they are entitled to. And who better to show them the system than fellow claimants?

But of course it might take "nearly all day" so to hell with that. Most of them will be rattling like hell having to go that long without a shot.

The only people I can see who you wouldn't be able to help are foreigners who haven't paid anything into their NI contribution pot and so don't qualify for conventional hand outs, and even then you can be pretty sure there's a way to get a house, otherwise all the thousands of Somalian and middle-eastern refugees would be on the streets as well.

The fact is you barely need to do anything in this country to be given a free house and spending money paid for by the tax payer. Ken himself was living just such a charmed life before taking early retirement (tax-payer funded of course). There's no difference between him and the tramps under the bridge except a willingness and knowledge of how to fill out a few forms. If they aren't willing, they're off my moral compass and good luck to them, if they aren't able, it will only take a benefit claiming expert like ken and his friends to guide him into a nice warm flat.

I'm glad its that easy!! Only its not! you cannot get HB unless you have a property to live in! Demand on council properties is higher than ever and most of these go to single parents, victims of abuse etc. Being homeless doesn't give you that greater advantage. Private landlords are unlikely to want to rent to someone who is homeless when they have a choice as to who they can rent to.

[MooseBreath]

I'm glad its that easy!! Only its not! you cannot get HB unless you have a property to live in! Demand on council properties is higher than ever and most of these go to single parents, victims of abuse etc. Being homeless doesn't give you that greater advantage. Private landlords are unlikely to want to rent to someone who is homeless when they have a choice as to who they can rent to.

I don't believe that there are people who have failed to find somewhere to live after putting in adequate effort. If people were really spilling out on to the streets due to a lack of properties then you'd never hear the last of it from the likes of down and out.

[Rincewind]

With Universal Credit coming in private landlords are even less likely now to offer rooms to anyone receiving benefits because understanerbly they want to be assured of their rent instead of the tenant spending it on frivalous things like food and heating.

 

A scheme was launched last week NSNO (No second night out) If anyone sees a person sleeping rough they can phone a hotline free number 0300 500 0914 to get through to Street Link or they can direct the person to the Dawn Centre (Conduit Street) where they will be given a temporary bed for the night. Website www.street.org.uk

 

I see no point in  responding to some posters as I'd only be going over the same ground. Suffice to  say the number of WORKING low paid families  now claiming benefits is rising  costing millions.

 

Moose I was receiving £71pw Hardly a charmed life. I had to pay electric, gas food, bus fairs phone bills water rates. I now receive about double and just about manage. I do not have SKy, Xbox games ga season ticket to city because I cannot afford them. I have no complaints though because I know things could be worse.

For some people who are used to these things then find their income drop by two thirds it would not be easy to adjust which is why more and more low paid workers are falling into the trap.

[Guest MattP]

I volunteered for a homeless shelter many moons ago, even then there was only x amount of people they could let in. If we had more than that we had to turn people away back onto the streets, yes we'd given them some food and a warm drink but its not just turn up, sign a form and your sorted!

 

I imagine its worse now than it was back then. In regards to funding, every charity is fighting for the small amounts of funding that are out there!

 

Cameron's big society expects us all as individuals to go out and get involved so If you can get out there and help some homeless people, see what they have to face, see their challenges and struggles first hand then i suggest you do it, although i'm not sure why you can't just volunteer for any homeless charity and need Ken to set it all up for you!

 

Ken has an agenda, we all are aware of it and there's no problem with that, but lets be honest, he's a DNO volunteer, he's not a trustee, he's just one bloke doing his bit, and fair play to him for that!

 

The fella I know who works with the homeless says he has never and will never turn anyone away from the shelter. Fact is you wont be turned down for property, so why not help them do it?

 

As for me? I've offered to help and put some ideas forward, I haven't got time to go on radio stations at 2pm on a Wednesday afternoon moaning about the under occupency charge to prove I care about the homeless.

 

Moosebreath makes an excellent point, look at the amount of asylum seekers that turned up here in recent past, dont think I've ever seen one homeless and considering people like me are always told that these people dont go to the top of the housing list and are treated exactly the same as the natives then whatever paperwork needs to be completed to get some accomodation cant be too taxing if a probable non English speaker can complete it.

 

A scheme was launched last week NSNO (No second night out) If anyone sees a person sleeping rough they can phone a hotline free number 0300 500 0914 to get through to Street Link or they can direct the person to the Dawn Centre (Conduit Street) where they will be given a temporary bed for the night. Website www.street.org.uk

 

If only we could do something to get these homeless people to the Dawn Centre, something like asking them, telling them, walking with them or encouraging them. Something like getting volunteers out there to round them up one by one, if only we had transport or something like that could ferry people, something likes cars or a bus, if only they had been invented.

 

Give up, I'm out of ideas. Are they on Twitter or have radios?

[Webbo]

With Universal Credit coming in private landlords are even less likely now to offer rooms to anyone receiving benefits because understanerbly they want to be assured of their rent instead of the tenant spending it on frivalous things like food and heating.

 

What else are they going to do with them, how are they going to pay the mortgage with nobody paying rent?

[Guest MattP]

A scheme was launched last week NSNO (No second night out) If anyone sees a person sleeping rough they can phone a hotline free number 0300 500 0914 to get through to Street Link or they can direct the person to the Dawn Centre (Conduit Street) where they will be given a temporary bed for the night.

 

Website www.street.org.uk

 

What's the actual link to the website? I need to send it to someone.