hamish1985 Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 I've heard a few pieces about the increase of rough sleepers in the likes of London in certain areas, however I couldn't believe yesterday when I went into southampton the large amount of rough sleepers/areas where they are living in the high street during the day. Looked pretty depressing to be honest. Quite supprise how many cardboard structures in empty shop areas are left up during the day, even piles of sleeping baysetc where homeless have managed to push up the anti vandle shutters and sleeping in the porches. Don't know if other people have seen an increase lately in other parts of the country? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnglishinWales Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 Yes I have noticed. Lots of rough sleepers and lots of properties sitting empty at the same time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flb Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 Yes, noticed an increase in rough sleepers (and beggars, for what it's worth) about 4-6 weeks ago. In the meantime, they've been removed from those streets (police? not sure). There are going to be more and more and they're going to become more visible once spring is here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
999house Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 Indeed, the ladies staying the night have been noticeably uglier than usual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 same in chichester too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conquistador Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 Much more visible homelessness in Exeter. Roving bands during the day too, which was never a thing. Think there has been a clear national uptrend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougless Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 More and more obvious homelessness in the South East. Its part of the impact of our 'trickle up' economy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay1212 Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 From time to time I will spend the day working in libraries, and over the last couple of years had noticed more clearly homeless people in there struggling to stay awake. Something else Im hearing a lot more of is people who are in work but couch surfing or living in hostels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toast Posted January 26, 2017 Share Posted January 26, 2017 On 21/01/2017 at 6:52 PM, hamish1985 said: I've heard a few pieces about the increase of rough sleepers Looks like you are right: homeless.org Numbers increasing dramatically and continuously over the last few years. It also seems to be making the news: Guardian, from yesterday Google has links to a recent BBC article. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toast Posted January 26, 2017 Share Posted January 26, 2017 On 25/01/2017 at 2:40 PM, jay1212 said: From time to time I will spend the day working in libraries, and over the last couple of years had noticed more clearly homeless people in there struggling to stay awake. I tend to look pretty down-at-heel, and it's not unknown for me to be drowsy when I'm in the library on a Saturday morning... Sorry to be flippant, but you are right ... and I think that even in that regard, libraries have an important social function, as a safe, warm place - as well as (from the point of view of our rulers) a dangerous concentration of knowledge. It would be fantastic were a new political movement of the dispossessed to be forged in the heart of our beleaguered network of public libraries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunfight Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 Middlesbrough they are all over, loads more than I've ever seen. Recently went to Newcastle for a night out and went into McDonald's near the monument for a coffee, at the back there must have been 5 to 10 homeless asleep at the tables. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyres Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 true for Cambridge, mind you a bit of local rag sensationalism New figures reveal that 40 people were living rough on the city streets at the end of last year Number of rough sleepers in Cambridge hits record level Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John51 Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 Many more in Liverpool lately. About 3 to 4 timkes more in the city centre shopping areas. Except Liverpool One which is private property so can easily have them move on. Now seeing rough sleepers/homeless in the suburbs where there used to be none, usually close to a supermarket or an ATM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Errol Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 Yes increasing everywhere. London has loads more than it did a few years ago. Apparently Manchester is really bad as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wurzel Of Highbridge Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 The issue stems from Universal Credit taking the unemployable classes housing (landlords) benefit away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeDavola Posted February 3, 2017 Share Posted February 3, 2017 Yep loads in Belfast too, definite increase. Often very young people as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inoperational Bumblebee Posted February 7, 2017 Share Posted February 7, 2017 Cardiff seems to have had a noticeable increase. Used to be just one or two, and the occasional small group but now there are multiple groups and numerous doorways being overtly utilised for living in on the main shopping street. At a rough guess, the numbers are double what they were a couple of years back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeepLurker Posted March 11, 2017 Share Posted March 11, 2017 Just got back from London - I go every few months for work. I had to visit various places: Victoria, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Aldgate. Was shocked by all the homeless, they seem to have massively increased in number in a short span of time. I also noticed that whereas previously there were many East European beggars with the obligatory Big Issue in their hands, these seemed to have simply vanished; instead I saw many people who spoke with a native accent, were in a very poor state (skin scabs, shakes from drug addiction), and had the traditional homeless equipment (sleeping bag, crummy backpack). I formed a general impression of people really in the poo, whereas previously it was almost as if the Big Issue sellers were just regular people doing a job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Economic Exile Posted March 11, 2017 Share Posted March 11, 2017 I worked for a local housing association just over 10 years ago. Loads of funding back then as government had a target to eradicate homelessness by 2012. LOL! But it isn't funny! My laughing is the sarcastic type. There was no chance of it being eradicated back then and even less chance now. A lot of homelessness is hidden. There are many people who have no home getting by through staying with family or friends, couch surfing etc in over crowded circumstances. FFS, a home is a basic human need. It MUST be affordable. I feel ashamed to be human sometimes when I think about the problem in UK and worldwide regarding getting a secure home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamish1985 Posted March 11, 2017 Author Share Posted March 11, 2017 Glad I wasn't just imagining it! Like a previous poster has mentioned, also noticed the homeless on the streets of suberb towns now. There is talk of proffersional beggars etc, but I don't know if this would account for such a huge increase. I also think there is an increase in burglaries, seeing more windows being randomly boarded up etc on houses, plus someone I know had there house broken into and lityetally only took some cash that was sittting around and costume jewlery, which suggest someone desperate for quick money etc. Not sure if anyone else had seen small crimes like this going up aswell? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisisthisitmaybe Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 19 hours ago, Economic Exile said: I worked for a local housing association just over 10 years ago. Loads of funding back then as government had a target to eradicate homelessness by 2012. LOL! But it isn't funny! My laughing is the sarcastic type. There was no chance of it being eradicated back then and even less chance now. A lot of homelessness is hidden. There are many people who have no home getting by through staying with family or friends, couch surfing etc in over crowded circumstances. FFS, a home is a basic human need. It MUST be affordable. I feel ashamed to be human sometimes when I think about the problem in UK and worldwide regarding getting a secure home. A huge percentage of homeless people have severe drug and alcohol problems. They wouldn't be able to maintain a home no matter how cheap. It's a shame but I think the general despair in the UK (crap jobs, ridiculous house prices, destruction of the family, insecurity all round) is pushing people to developing those drug and booze issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Economic Exile Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 4 hours ago, thisisthisitmaybe said: A huge percentage of homeless people have severe drug and alcohol problems. They wouldn't be able to maintain a home no matter how cheap. It's a shame but I think the general despair in the UK (crap jobs, ridiculous house prices, destruction of the family, insecurity all round) is pushing people to developing those drug and booze issues. Agreed. I worked in the homeless sector roughly about ten years ago...young people. I done it for about 5 years or so but had to quit because I realised no amount of support work could mitigate the issues you state. What lead me to me work in that sector was my own recovery from alcohol addiction. I was helped as an out patient with Librium for a couple of weeks to get over the worst of quitting but after that I attended alcoholic anonymous meetings for a couple of years. Very enlightening! I started learning about life in those meetings. Ultimately I found it humbling listening to real life accounts of how life f**ks people up. I feel privileged to have encountered that period in my life. It helped me to count my blessings. Terrible what some humans have to experience in life! Regarding homelessness, IMO, care in the community has been a disaster for many. Like you say no matter how cheap a home is many just can't cope. If a person has no hope, no family and extremely limited prospects then they will self medicate which ultimately limits their prospects in life. I fear this problem is lIkely to increase as living standards and general hope in life declines. Very sad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CunningPlan Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 Hope. It is an extremely powerful word. Without hope, there is despair. Hope can be found in religion, family, even lottery tickets. But it must exist. TPTB know that without hope we will have anarchy. However I fear that for many the concept of hope has been destroyed. I have had some pretty tough times but I have always had hope. I really feel for those that do not have it. Hope is both wealth but at the same time free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisisthisitmaybe Posted March 13, 2017 Share Posted March 13, 2017 11 hours ago, Economic Exile said: Agreed. I worked in the homeless sector roughly about ten years ago...young people. I done it for about 5 years or so but had to quit because I realised no amount of support work could mitigate the issues you state. What lead me to me work in that sector was my own recovery from alcohol addiction. I was helped as an out patient with Librium for a couple of weeks to get over the worst of quitting but after that I attended alcoholic anonymous meetings for a couple of years. Very enlightening! I started learning about life in those meetings. Ultimately I found it humbling listening to real life accounts of how life f**ks people up. I feel privileged to have encountered that period in my life. It helped me to count my blessings. Terrible what some humans have to experience in life! Regarding homelessness, IMO, care in the community has been a disaster for many. Like you say no matter how cheap a home is many just can't cope. If a person has no hope, no family and extremely limited prospects then they will self medicate which ultimately limits their prospects in life. I fear this problem is lIkely to increase as living standards and general hope in life declines. Very sad. Thank you for your response and my warmest congratulations on turning your life around. I used to volunteer at a homeless shelter in the middle of Oxford. I would only be on reception, I didn't have the stomach to go in the rooms. As Cunning Plan says, the problem is a basic lack of Hope, combined with a lack of willpower to fight for the good. My own experiments with alcohol led me to conclude that it was one of the nastiest drugs out there, which can have a strange, hypnotic pull on people. It also preys on people at their weakest. I've replaced socialising down the pub with volunteering activities, mainly at church; it's a shame that a lot of the people are much older than me, but we are putting on new activities to try and attract younger people and giving young people to socialise away from drink, which is hard to do after you leave school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyres Posted March 13, 2017 Share Posted March 13, 2017 (edited) 18 hours ago, thisisthisitmaybe said: A huge percentage of homeless people have severe drug and alcohol problems. They wouldn't be able to maintain a home no matter how cheap. It's a shame but I think the general despair in the UK (crap jobs, ridiculous house prices, destruction of the family, insecurity all round) is pushing people to developing those drug and booze issues. surprisingly, the problem isn't as bad, if they are given a home, no strings attached, also works out cheaper in the long run, as these people are the biggest burden for healthcare Quote In 2015, Medicine Hat declared it had ended chronic homelessness in the southern Alberta city. Two years later, the program responsible is finding more success than its representatives could have imagined. more here... Edited March 13, 2017 by tyres Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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