We’re within the midst of a homelessness disaster.
For the second yr in a row, England reported a rise in tough sleeping. An estimated 3,898 folks had been residing with out shelter on a single evening in autumn 2023 – an increase of 27% on the earlier yr.
The variety of folks sleeping tough is 61% larger than it was 10 years in the past, and 120% larger than when knowledge assortment started in 2010.
And whereas most individuals are conscious of the tough realities going through tough sleepers – particularly because the colder months attract – there stays confusion about learn how to assist.
Some individuals are involved giving money instantly will present solely non permanent aid; others argue there’s nothing fallacious with providing some respite.
One other argument towards giving cash instantly is that it may gas habit – however is that threat overstated?
Even charities are break up on one of the best ways to assist.
The Salvation Military has beforehand stated handing money instantly dangers “trapping” folks within the “endless cycle” of homelessness and tough sleeping.
The charity’s director of homeless providers, Nick Redmore, stated the foundation causes of homelessness had been advanced however that they had been typically the results of a relationship breakdown, psychological well being points, habit or childhood abuse.
“Members of the public are right to be concerned and we applaud anyone who tries to help when they see another person in distressing circumstances,” he stated.
“Giving money to someone sleeping rough is a personal choice, but this will only ever help ease their immediate need. Sadly, it won’t end their rough sleeping.”
In researching this text, we performed a ballot of hundreds of followers on LinkedIn – and the outcomes counsel the general public are reluctant at hand over money…
‘I have been there – that is why it’s best to give money instantly’
Leigh Fontaine, service supervisor on the homeless charity St Mungo’s, discovered himself homeless for about 4 months after he was evicted with quick discover from a property he had been renting.
Now, a decade later, the 38-year-old stated giving cash to a homeless particular person was a alternative, however it was a “really great opportunity to have a human interaction”.
He stated: “I don’t think that giving somebody £2 or £3 is going to solve homelessness but it does give an opportunity for somebody to have respite and comfort in a period that’s really difficult.
“Typically giving somebody cash right here or there may help alleviate the pressures of residing on the road.
“I don’t think people always comprehend how difficult it is to live on the streets.
“After I was homeless, I spent quite a few nights out earlier than I may strategy a member of the general public. If you’re experiencing homelessness, you are feeling undignified and it strips away your humanity. It is actually embarrassing to must ask for assist.
“Quite a lot of the time I got here throughout those that had been impolite or dismissive and possibly put a few of these judgements about drug and alcohol on you.
Picture:
Leigh Fontaine
“For those few people that did give me money and did engage with me in conversation, it was really humanising.”
Leigh stated that whereas it was not a delusion that homeless folks may use money for drink and medicines, these involved about how their cash could be spent may as an alternative donate to a regulated homelessness charity.
He added: “I think it would be a lie to ignore the fact that a large population of homeless people are still struggling with drug and drunk addiction, but it’s an addiction, it’s an illness and it’s a support need.
“And any person having habit wants shouldn’t be a barrier to serving to folks which can be in want.”
Geoff Hawkins, 56, became homeless 11 years ago and now lives in a Salvation Army lifehouse in Warrington.
He said the idea that giving money to homeless people fuelled their drink and drug use was not fair.
“I am not saying that there weren’t individuals who had been doing it… however the folks I met on the streets had been simply within the worst predicament of their lives,” he stated.
Picture:
Geoff Hawkins
‘Giving meals, or to a charity, is one of the best ways to assist’
Claire Sullivan, from Trinity Homeless Tasks in London, stated there was “no right or wrong” when it got here to selecting whether or not to offer cash on to homeless folks on the road.
“If you want to buy someone food – buy them food,” she stated.
Ms Sullivan stated it was additionally price asking the tough sleeper in the event that they had been receiving any assist.
“You might be their first conversation of the day and you might be their biggest support network just by offering to help,” she added.
“With money, it is a controversial conversation and my answer is if you are going to give money to someone who is homeless, give it to a charity like ours because £10 goes a long way.”
Ms Sullivan stated £10 may present 10 folks with a meal, new pillows or bedding.
With regards to different prices, an emergency hostel was round £400 every week and supportive residing lodging was round £250 every week, she added.
‘It actually could possibly be you’
Geoff and Leigh shared their very own tales of homelessness within the hope folks will realise it may occur to anybody.
Geoff stated he had been an “everyday man” earlier than he misplaced his job and all of it “went pear shaped”.
The daddy-of-five, who suffers from persistent obstructive pulmonary illness and arthritis, was a council employee for greater than 35 years.
After a medical at work, his well being was deemed too poor and he needed to depart his job. This led to the breakdown of his 20-year marriage and psychological well being struggles.
With no financial savings, Geoff was all of a sudden “homeless and sleeping in a tent”, earlier than finally discovering a spot on the Salvation Military’s hostel.
“I went out to work and then came home and that’s when it happened,” he stated. “It can all go downhill in a heartbeat.”
Recalling life on the road, Geoff stated: “It is one of the worst things you can be in. Walking around every night worrying who’s at the back of you and who’s at the front of you.
“You suppose it is horrible by means of the day however then the evening comes and also you’re strolling by means of the streets freezing to demise.”
Geoff said he was now in a better place and taking it “day-to-day”.
“I am getting there slowly and issues are trying higher,” he added. “I am doing volunteering now within the kitchen right here and I am placing in for different jobs like litter selecting too.”
Leigh said rough sleepers often faced barriers by not having an ID card, basic documents, a bank account or an address.
“As soon as you’re in that cycle of tough sleeping, you’re entrenched in it,” he said.
“It’s fairly tough to get your self out of that.”
Leigh tells a story of “dangerous timing and dangerous luck”.
“I had simply completed college on the time and I used to be on jobseeker’s allowance so I did not have cash for a deposit,” he said.
“I am positive folks studying it will suppose they are not going to seek out themselves homeless however it was actually a three-month interval of only one dangerous occasion after the opposite.
“I come from a working class background and my family is not wealthy. At the time I was estranged so there wasn’t a lot of other support for me to fall back on.”
Leigh stated for almost all of this time he was “hidden homeless”, couch browsing with pals and crashing at warehouse events simply to keep away from the streets.
It solely ended for him when he grew to become unwell and needed to go to hospital.
What assistance is there for tough sleepers day-to-day?
Leigh stated an area day centre in your space was one choice and one other was to contact StreetLink, however assist just isn’t instant.
At St Mungo’s, £65 may assist a frontline employee attain somebody sleeping tough and £29 may assist present necessities for somebody at a St Mungo’s hostel.
“I think homelessness is 100% solvable,” he stated.
“I think what happened during the pandemic was a testament to that.
“It was actually unhappy to see a few of the superb issues like COVID response inns dissolve as soon as the pandemic was over. Quite a lot of these folks needed to go on to the road.”
