This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/society/live/2016/mar/10/a-night-on-the-streets-britains-homeless-crisis-live
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| One night on the street witnessing Britain's homeless crisis – live | One night on the street witnessing Britain's homeless crisis – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 11.56pm GMT | |
| 23:56 | |
| Kate Lyons | |
| Of the 26 people who live at the St Mungo’s shelter in west London, 11 are women. “When you look at our women there’s a very high correlation between domestic violence and homelessness,” says Ophelia Kingshott, development and implementation manager at the shelter.Lisa, 52, is one of these residents who has had a domestically violent partner - “I was beaten with baseball bats,” she says. But after long-term abuse, she was finally prompted to go to the police after she lost her dad. | |
| He was my world and he is my world, so I just walked into a police station and then disappeared from the area.” | |
| Lisa ended up homeless in an area of London she didn’t know with no support network. She stayed in a hostel for a while, but when that fell through ended up rough sleeping for six months, which she likens to an experience she had many years ago, before she became homeless. | |
| One time I had an epileptic fit while riding my bike and I woke up in a park with my leggings removed and my shoes off and it was the most terrifying feeling in the world because I had absolutely no idea what had happened to me. That’s what it feels like to sleep on the streets. | |
| Lisa said rough sleeping was particularly frightening for women and “the area is ripe with men with sexual deviance”. She was assaulted a few times, including being punched in the face by a group of men for stealing their sleeping spot and learnt to be canny to protect herself. | |
| One of her favoured sleeping spots was on a set of steps which were quite public and well-lit by the glow of restaurant lights. | |
| If you lie down to sleep you’re more vulnerable, so if you sit up, like you’re reading a book or waiting for the bus, its safer, you know what I mean?” | |
| Another challenge was holding on to belongings, says Lisa, who said she would aim to keep a spare pair of clothing dry stashed somewhere secret where she could retrieve them later.Those passersby who showed her kindness are still remembered, like the woman who was shopping with her children and when she saw Lisa sent her daughter back into the shop to buy her “everything - a sandwich, drink, crisps, dessert” and then when she was halfway down the street and saw another homeless person sent the child back into the shop to buy the same for them. But others were less kind, yelling at her and spitting at her, which she describes as “psychological trauma”. | |
| 11.47pm GMT | |
| 23:47 | |
| Tonight we met... Trish, David and Radik | |
| Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff | |
| Radik, 38, seems to have his life sorted as much as a homeless person can do. Unlike many other people sleeping rough, he takes all of his worldly possessions around with him - on his bike and trailer. | |
| I have a laptop, a tent because of the Scottish weather, a camping stove to make hot drinks, a sleeping bag, and a chair,” he says. | |
| Radik also has a cork board which he sets up as a makeshift table. “I need a chopping board too,” he adds. | |
| Originally from Poland, he discovered biking after losing his job two years ago. Since then he’s biked all over the country, down to Liverpool, to London and this year, after doing a tour of Scotland, he even wants to head down to Cornwall. | |
| I sleep far away from the city centre so my things don’t get stolen, and I never stay too long in the same place,” he adds. “For now I am happy,” says Radik, “I don’t want to be homeless forever but I need to make the best out of my situation.” | |
| Trish is sitting in the doorway of a typical tenement block in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket, minutes from the Cowgate, an area which was once so busy with homeless people in the 1980s the Guardian’s photographer calls it the ‘the homeless high street’.Her long brown hair is draped over her shoulder and she’s wrapped up in a warm, yellow knitted blanket. It’s past 9pm now and it’s getting colder. | |
| I’ve only been back on the streets for a week,” she says. “I’m sleeping in a bin room behind this building, it stinks but it’s away from the elements.” | |
| Trish first experienced homelessness after the death of her young son, and says that she doesn’t really have any other family to turn to. She’s saving money by begging and adds that while the council hasn’t done much to help her, Edinburgh police are excellent. | |
| The church is a major help too,” she says. “It’s difficult being a woman out on the streets because I don’t like staying in the shelters or hostels. They’re filled with pissed blokes who try and touch you up. It’s safer to take care of yourself.” | |
| Trish shows us round the back of the building where the bin room is. She’s right, it does smell, but the room is quite warm, dry and, I can imagine, a lot safer than some other places where she could spend the night. | |
| Across the road from Trish is a man named David. Similarly, he also become homeless after the loss of a loved one. | |
| My partner at the time, Dawn, she lost twins and I never really dealt with the emotional impact of it,” he says, shivering | |
| He talks about his son, who’s 22 and whom he adores, and about how he sometimes comes to visit him. David, who usually sleeps in an alley near a club in the Cowgate, says that his son will come and tap him on the shoulder and ask him to come home with him. | |
| He lives with his girlfriend and I don’t want to disturb their lives,” he says. | |
| I’d love to get a house and a dog, a border collie. I wouldn’t have one out on the streets though, it’s far too cold. Dogs need to be warm, safe and dry,” he says. | |
| Again, like many others have today, David brings up the problem with the definition of “intentionally homeless”. | |
| I left accommodation and ran away to live in the hills for a few weeks because of mental health issues and couldn’t get rehoused because that’s how the council classified me,” he says. | |
| That is just wrong.” | |
| 11.34pm GMT | |
| 23:34 | |
| Steven Morris | |
| It is not just on the national level that homelessness and housing is a hot political potato. It will be a theme of the Bristol mayoral campaign this spring. | |
| Bristol is governed at the moment by independent directly-elected mayor George Ferguson. His Labour rival, Marvin Rees, is intending to make housing the centrepiece of his campaign. | |
| Rees said: | |
| The people on the streets are the tip of the iceberg. There are the invisible homeless – people sofa-surfing or in very unstable accommodation. We dread to think what is really going on out there. It is a homelessness crisis. We need the city to prosper and flourish but you cannot do that while so many people are being left out of it. | |
| The mayor has developed a reputation for getting things done, You’ve got to ask what has he got done. George is the mayor for fun. I’m all for fun. You’ve got to get the basics done. The fun is undermined if you’re having to step over a homeless person to get to the party.” | |
| Here’s what Ferguson said on the issue recently: | |
| Homelessness is growing across the UK as a result of a number of factors, and the high number of rough sleepers in Bristol has become one of our most pressing concerns. | |
| People who are sleeping rough or ’sofa-surfing’ face daily problems that are difficult to understand for those with more comfortable lives. | |
| We must all come together to tackle this growing challenge. There is help out there from a range of organisations, so if you know anyone you think is at risk, make sure they seek advice and support as soon as possible. | |
| We have a duty to help all those struggling to keep a roof over their heads get their lives back on track, and I am grateful to our many partners in helping us to try and tackle this crisis.” | |
| 11.19pm GMT | 11.19pm GMT |
| 23:19 | 23:19 |
| Josh Halliday | Josh Halliday |
| Out on the streets of Birmingham, a little ingenuity can make all the difference. | |
| We make a den here every night. Can you feel it, feel how warm it is? | We make a den here every night. Can you feel it, feel how warm it is? |
| Updated | |
| at 11.37pm GMT | |
| 10.58pm GMT | 10.58pm GMT |
| 22:58 | 22:58 |
| In praise of heroes of the night | In praise of heroes of the night |
| Mark Rice-Oxley | Mark Rice-Oxley |
| Let’s take a quick moment to salute the heroes of the night, all the charities, volunteers, helpers and recovered homeless who give of their time to make a dismal situation not quite so dismal. | Let’s take a quick moment to salute the heroes of the night, all the charities, volunteers, helpers and recovered homeless who give of their time to make a dismal situation not quite so dismal. |
| First stop, Birmingham, and the Choir With No Name again. Here, Josh Halliday speaks to Sally Debiage, who runs the show | First stop, Birmingham, and the Choir With No Name again. Here, Josh Halliday speaks to Sally Debiage, who runs the show |
| They can come with a sad face and leave with a happy face. It’s pretty much guaranteed. | They can come with a sad face and leave with a happy face. It’s pretty much guaranteed. |
| A hundred miles south, Steve Morris has been speaking to Jess Martin, a volunteer on the Bristol Soup Trust run. | A hundred miles south, Steve Morris has been speaking to Jess Martin, a volunteer on the Bristol Soup Trust run. |
| Then there are charities like Nightstop which works with homeless people aged 16-25, placing the bereft with hosts who have spare space in their houses and flats. | Then there are charities like Nightstop which works with homeless people aged 16-25, placing the bereft with hosts who have spare space in their houses and flats. |
| Mohammed, 23, a refugee from Sudan, has been staying with husband and wife Mark and Kate and their lodger Rachel at their home in the Horfield area of Bristol. He does not have a key. One of them has to be there to welcome him in. They feed him and he sleeps in their simple, warm spare room. | Mohammed, 23, a refugee from Sudan, has been staying with husband and wife Mark and Kate and their lodger Rachel at their home in the Horfield area of Bristol. He does not have a key. One of them has to be there to welcome him in. They feed him and he sleeps in their simple, warm spare room. |
| Mohammed does not go into detail about why he left Sudan. “There is war in my country,” is his simple explanation. “This is the best country in the world for human rights.” He was a mechanic in Sudan and now plans to study English at college and get a job in a similar field. And he wants security. “I want a nice life, I want to feel safe.” | Mohammed does not go into detail about why he left Sudan. “There is war in my country,” is his simple explanation. “This is the best country in the world for human rights.” He was a mechanic in Sudan and now plans to study English at college and get a job in a similar field. And he wants security. “I want a nice life, I want to feel safe.” |
| Nightstop’s motto is: “A community response to a community problem.” Mohammed arrives at Mark and Kate’s house and is chivied into taking his coat off and making himself at home. | Nightstop’s motto is: “A community response to a community problem.” Mohammed arrives at Mark and Kate’s house and is chivied into taking his coat off and making himself at home. |
| Mark said: | Mark said: |
| You do it because it needs doing. The need is there, we have a spare room so why not?” | You do it because it needs doing. The need is there, we have a spare room so why not?” |
| It isn’t always easy. | It isn’t always easy. |
| You don’t get many compliments in this job,” laughs Liz Hancock, manager of the Harrogate Homeless Project. “But everything it throws at you, you have to handle with good will and humour, even when it’s really, really sad.” | You don’t get many compliments in this job,” laughs Liz Hancock, manager of the Harrogate Homeless Project. “But everything it throws at you, you have to handle with good will and humour, even when it’s really, really sad.” |
| In the decade that has passed since Hancock swapped her corporate job (and salary) to work for Harrogate Homeless project, she had noticed the homeless population getting younger. | In the decade that has passed since Hancock swapped her corporate job (and salary) to work for Harrogate Homeless project, she had noticed the homeless population getting younger. |
| There’s a lot of youth homelessness, people in their early twenties who have left because of bad family circumstances and have been sofa surfing. And the drugs are changing too, before the main problems were heroin and alcohol. Legal highs are bigger problem now.” | There’s a lot of youth homelessness, people in their early twenties who have left because of bad family circumstances and have been sofa surfing. And the drugs are changing too, before the main problems were heroin and alcohol. Legal highs are bigger problem now.” |
| There’s always people who really get under your skin who you worry about, you hope they’re doing well, you root for them because you know they really want to turn it around. This job is never just about finding people housing. They may have health problems, emotional issues, addiction, family and relationship breakdown. Housing is just one part of it.” | There’s always people who really get under your skin who you worry about, you hope they’re doing well, you root for them because you know they really want to turn it around. This job is never just about finding people housing. They may have health problems, emotional issues, addiction, family and relationship breakdown. Housing is just one part of it.” |
| When people complain that Britain is broken, and that everything is rubbish, remember people like these, and others mentioned earlier in the blog. Let’s join them, and make a difference. | When people complain that Britain is broken, and that everything is rubbish, remember people like these, and others mentioned earlier in the blog. Let’s join them, and make a difference. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.23pm GMT | at 11.23pm GMT |
| 10.57pm GMT | 10.57pm GMT |
| 22:57 | 22:57 |
| Steven Morris | Steven Morris |
| Another woman who became homeless after problems with her partner is Hannah. She was the grateful recipient of a plastic cup of vegetable soup and some sandwiches from the good people of the Bristol Soup Trust at Redcliffe bridge. Late as it was, she still did not know where she was going to sleep. The shelter she usually uses closes on a Thursday night so her options were limited. | Another woman who became homeless after problems with her partner is Hannah. She was the grateful recipient of a plastic cup of vegetable soup and some sandwiches from the good people of the Bristol Soup Trust at Redcliffe bridge. Late as it was, she still did not know where she was going to sleep. The shelter she usually uses closes on a Thursday night so her options were limited. |
| “I feel let down,” she said. “There are so many empty buildings in this city. Why can’t they open them up so that everyone can get a bed. There should be a place for everyone to stay.” | “I feel let down,” she said. “There are so many empty buildings in this city. Why can’t they open them up so that everyone can get a bed. There should be a place for everyone to stay.” |
| Yes, indeed Hannah. As we’ve been saying, there are more than 600,000 empty buildings in England alone. | Yes, indeed Hannah. As we’ve been saying, there are more than 600,000 empty buildings in England alone. |
| Hannah had a hug with Patrick, 67, a veteran of the homelessness scene in Bristol – and a poet. He has seen huge changes since he became homeless on 14 February 2003. | Hannah had a hug with Patrick, 67, a veteran of the homelessness scene in Bristol – and a poet. He has seen huge changes since he became homeless on 14 February 2003. |
| There was a time when I knew 80% of the people on the streets. Now I probably only know 10%. The scene has changed – there are more people from Eastern Europe, more refugees. | There was a time when I knew 80% of the people on the streets. Now I probably only know 10%. The scene has changed – there are more people from Eastern Europe, more refugees. |
| Patrick has a roof over his head for the moment – a place in north Somerset but is still so impoverished he comes into the city for food and drink. | Patrick has a roof over his head for the moment – a place in north Somerset but is still so impoverished he comes into the city for food and drink. |
| Bristol is popular with homeless people because they can get plenty to eat and drink. I once worked out there were 70 places where you could get free food in the city. | Bristol is popular with homeless people because they can get plenty to eat and drink. I once worked out there were 70 places where you could get free food in the city. |
| 10.41pm GMT | 10.41pm GMT |
| 22:41 | 22:41 |
| Tonight we met... Terry Stott | Tonight we met... Terry Stott |
| Jessica Elgot | Jessica Elgot |
| “Some people call me the intellectual,” laughed Terry Stott, as he finished his evening meal at the Harrogate Springboard centre at the Wesley chapel. The 56-year-old recently spent his first night at the theatre, watching a play at the Harrogate Theatre about homelessness called Parallel, having met the cast before opening night. | “Some people call me the intellectual,” laughed Terry Stott, as he finished his evening meal at the Harrogate Springboard centre at the Wesley chapel. The 56-year-old recently spent his first night at the theatre, watching a play at the Harrogate Theatre about homelessness called Parallel, having met the cast before opening night. |
| I write poetry, I read so many books, I write songs, I go to Knaresborough to play guitar in the studio when I can. I want to learn about theatre, art, poetry and culture. I want to know about the renaissance. But, to be honest, at the moment, my circumstances are really dire. | I write poetry, I read so many books, I write songs, I go to Knaresborough to play guitar in the studio when I can. I want to learn about theatre, art, poetry and culture. I want to know about the renaissance. But, to be honest, at the moment, my circumstances are really dire. |
| Stott came out of prison six weeks ago. | Stott came out of prison six weeks ago. |
| I served three years after a five year sentence,” he said. “I was doing methadone, heroin, crack cocaine, you name it. I was eight stone and nearly dead. I’ve spent 30 years of my life in prison. But this time I got fit and strong, and I was clean and fresh. I wanted to start again. And then you come out, and I spent my first two nights in the emergency shelter, with people who are falling about drunk. And it was sheer hell. | I served three years after a five year sentence,” he said. “I was doing methadone, heroin, crack cocaine, you name it. I was eight stone and nearly dead. I’ve spent 30 years of my life in prison. But this time I got fit and strong, and I was clean and fresh. I wanted to start again. And then you come out, and I spent my first two nights in the emergency shelter, with people who are falling about drunk. And it was sheer hell. |
| Stott has come for hot food before setting out to sleep on the streets. | Stott has come for hot food before setting out to sleep on the streets. |
| I could stay with friends but they will be using. I really, really don’t want to be around them but it’s hard. This is the reality though. | I could stay with friends but they will be using. I really, really don’t want to be around them but it’s hard. This is the reality though. |
| The town has changed in the years Stott has been spending on the street. | The town has changed in the years Stott has been spending on the street. |
| There’s so many more people. It’s like the programmes about the Night of the Living Dead. If you’re looking, you’ll see the same people, 20 or 30, just walking around like zombies, walking because there’s nowhere to go. It could be homelessness, it could be drugs, it could be depression. I suffer from anxiety myself. And it’s so sad because this is a beautiful town, with the gardens and the architecture and the tea rooms. Why doesn’t society care? I would love there to just be some recognition. | There’s so many more people. It’s like the programmes about the Night of the Living Dead. If you’re looking, you’ll see the same people, 20 or 30, just walking around like zombies, walking because there’s nowhere to go. It could be homelessness, it could be drugs, it could be depression. I suffer from anxiety myself. And it’s so sad because this is a beautiful town, with the gardens and the architecture and the tea rooms. Why doesn’t society care? I would love there to just be some recognition. |
| 10.39pm GMT | 10.39pm GMT |
| 22:39 | 22:39 |
| Kate Lyons | Kate Lyons |
| Homelessness and rough sleeping are principally male preserves, but growing numbers of women are being affected. | Homelessness and rough sleeping are principally male preserves, but growing numbers of women are being affected. |
| Katharine Sacks-Jones, director of the Agenda alliance for women and girls at risk Director, wrote to us: | Katharine Sacks-Jones, director of the Agenda alliance for women and girls at risk Director, wrote to us: |
| One thing that’s often missed in the conversation about homelessness and rough sleeping is women’s homelessness, and its links with childhood and adulthood abuse. Research by Agenda shows that one in five women who have experienced extensive physical and sexual violence as both a child and an adult have been homeless at some point in their lives. | One thing that’s often missed in the conversation about homelessness and rough sleeping is women’s homelessness, and its links with childhood and adulthood abuse. Research by Agenda shows that one in five women who have experienced extensive physical and sexual violence as both a child and an adult have been homeless at some point in their lives. |
| For these women, mixed-gender hostels or day centres can be hugely intimidating and sometimes unsafe. Women who rough sleep are more likely to hide themselves away or stay on the move, on busses for example, because of concerns for their safety. Many get involved in prostitution, or enter into violent and unwanted sexual relationships simply to get a roof over their heads. | For these women, mixed-gender hostels or day centres can be hugely intimidating and sometimes unsafe. Women who rough sleep are more likely to hide themselves away or stay on the move, on busses for example, because of concerns for their safety. Many get involved in prostitution, or enter into violent and unwanted sexual relationships simply to get a roof over their heads. |
| At the St Mungo’s homeless project in west London, one homeless woman, Anna, proudly opens the doors of the oven to show parsnips, carrots, potatoes and “something for vegetarians” roasting. Two chickens are resting on the counter, though one St Mungo’s staff comes running out later to ask where the third bird is. | At the St Mungo’s homeless project in west London, one homeless woman, Anna, proudly opens the doors of the oven to show parsnips, carrots, potatoes and “something for vegetarians” roasting. Two chickens are resting on the counter, though one St Mungo’s staff comes running out later to ask where the third bird is. |
| “It flew out the window!” says Anna, laughing. It turns up in a cupboard later, though even after it reappears staff are still unsure how or why it ended up there.Anna came to London in 2003 to learn English. The Ethiopian-Italian became pregnant and had a daughter, whom she raised as a single mother for nine years. She got involved in crime and was sent to prison. | “It flew out the window!” says Anna, laughing. It turns up in a cupboard later, though even after it reappears staff are still unsure how or why it ended up there.Anna came to London in 2003 to learn English. The Ethiopian-Italian became pregnant and had a daughter, whom she raised as a single mother for nine years. She got involved in crime and was sent to prison. |
| While I was in prison I lost my house, my daughter went into foster care. I’ve been homeless for two years.” | While I was in prison I lost my house, my daughter went into foster care. I’ve been homeless for two years.” |
| Anna considers herself lucky. She has never slept rough. The day she was released from prison and tried to get in contact with her daughter, a social worker told her that due to her homelessness her daughter couldn’t be released to her custody. | Anna considers herself lucky. She has never slept rough. The day she was released from prison and tried to get in contact with her daughter, a social worker told her that due to her homelessness her daughter couldn’t be released to her custody. |
| So I said, OK you’ve got to help, tell me what to do. | So I said, OK you’ve got to help, tell me what to do. |
| The social worker put her in touch with St Mungo’s and she has lived in their accommodation. The St Mungo’s accommodation has 27 rooms, 26 of which are currently occupied by medium to long-term clients, men and women. The youngest current resident is 24, the oldest is 57 and residents can stay for up to four years. | The social worker put her in touch with St Mungo’s and she has lived in their accommodation. The St Mungo’s accommodation has 27 rooms, 26 of which are currently occupied by medium to long-term clients, men and women. The youngest current resident is 24, the oldest is 57 and residents can stay for up to four years. |
| The shelter is specifically designed for those with complex needs, mostly substance abuse, but it also caters to people with mental health issues and criminal histories.Since she’s been out of prison and homeless, Anna is deemed unfit to have custody of her daughter who is now 11 and in foster care. Anna is allowed to see her daughter four times a year. | The shelter is specifically designed for those with complex needs, mostly substance abuse, but it also caters to people with mental health issues and criminal histories.Since she’s been out of prison and homeless, Anna is deemed unfit to have custody of her daughter who is now 11 and in foster care. Anna is allowed to see her daughter four times a year. |
| She’s big now. I was a single mother for eight years, but now I’m homeless, I don’t have a flat, I’m not a good mum, in the eyes of the social worker. I’m fighting every day with the social worker, she’s the reason I can’t see her.” | She’s big now. I was a single mother for eight years, but now I’m homeless, I don’t have a flat, I’m not a good mum, in the eyes of the social worker. I’m fighting every day with the social worker, she’s the reason I can’t see her.” |
| Anna spends every day volunteering to help others around the shelter, cooking meals - like the roast chicken - and applying for jobs. Anna says she would take “a job, any job - to look after disabled people, old people, mad people, painting and decorating, cooking, cleaning” - but because of her criminal record, finding work is difficult. | Anna spends every day volunteering to help others around the shelter, cooking meals - like the roast chicken - and applying for jobs. Anna says she would take “a job, any job - to look after disabled people, old people, mad people, painting and decorating, cooking, cleaning” - but because of her criminal record, finding work is difficult. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 10.39pm GMT | at 10.39pm GMT |
| 10.34pm GMT | 10.34pm GMT |
| 22:34 | 22:34 |
| Caroline Bannock | Caroline Bannock |
| We’ve been hearing from readers who’ve been sharing their stories about supporting homeless people. | We’ve been hearing from readers who’ve been sharing their stories about supporting homeless people. |
| Fran Hughes has told us there just aren’t enough shelters for young homeless people she works with in Bristol: | Fran Hughes has told us there just aren’t enough shelters for young homeless people she works with in Bristol: |
| One of the toughest parts of my work with young homeless people is spending a day or often several days desperately trying to help them find a bed somewhere, anywhere that is relatively safe and warm and away from the harsh winter weather and then having to give them a sleeping bag and personal safety advice in the knowledge they will be sleeping rough. There are not enough beds let alone warm comfortable homes for those that find themselves on the street. | One of the toughest parts of my work with young homeless people is spending a day or often several days desperately trying to help them find a bed somewhere, anywhere that is relatively safe and warm and away from the harsh winter weather and then having to give them a sleeping bag and personal safety advice in the knowledge they will be sleeping rough. There are not enough beds let alone warm comfortable homes for those that find themselves on the street. |
| For the last three years Mark Bryant and his wife have been involved with Nightstop, a scheme in the north east that provides young homeless people with an emergency bed for the night. | For the last three years Mark Bryant and his wife have been involved with Nightstop, a scheme in the north east that provides young homeless people with an emergency bed for the night. |
| What I love about it, is that it is so simple. We simply offer a bed and a meal. I know it is only temporary but it buys time for somebody. In the NE Nightstop is run by DePaul and they are amazing in the way they work to find permanent accommodation for people. Inevitably I think that we are the main beneficiaries as we meet people who we would otherwise never meet and that enriches our lives.” Read more ... | What I love about it, is that it is so simple. We simply offer a bed and a meal. I know it is only temporary but it buys time for somebody. In the NE Nightstop is run by DePaul and they are amazing in the way they work to find permanent accommodation for people. Inevitably I think that we are the main beneficiaries as we meet people who we would otherwise never meet and that enriches our lives.” Read more ... |
| The director of the Simon Community, Jamie Nalton has got in touch. The charity has been working with London’s street homeless for more than 50 years. This is what he has to say about current situation: | The director of the Simon Community, Jamie Nalton has got in touch. The charity has been working with London’s street homeless for more than 50 years. This is what he has to say about current situation: |
| The numbers we are supporting on the streets is steadily increasing month to month. It’s also worth noting that over 20 London boroughs have Church shelters running through the cold months, many people using this service will return to the streets once the season is over.” Read more ... | The numbers we are supporting on the streets is steadily increasing month to month. It’s also worth noting that over 20 London boroughs have Church shelters running through the cold months, many people using this service will return to the streets once the season is over.” Read more ... |
| You can share your experiences by clicking on the ‘Contribute’ button on this article. | You can share your experiences by clicking on the ‘Contribute’ button on this article. |
| 10.18pm GMT | 10.18pm GMT |
| 22:18 | 22:18 |
| Tonight we met... Stephen | Tonight we met... Stephen |
| Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff | Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff |
| Stephen is another ex-army man in precarious circumstances. He has been sleeping rough in Balerno, just outside Edinburgh, for some weeks. He describes an almost picturesque scene — his spot in a wooded forest, a secluded area underneath evergreen foliage where he sets up his £3 windbreaker each night. | Stephen is another ex-army man in precarious circumstances. He has been sleeping rough in Balerno, just outside Edinburgh, for some weeks. He describes an almost picturesque scene — his spot in a wooded forest, a secluded area underneath evergreen foliage where he sets up his £3 windbreaker each night. |
| It’s nice, it’s quiet, it’s a way out of everywhere,” he says, explaining why he often chooses to sleep rough. “It’s a hidey-hole off a path. But the other night I lost my bus-pass so I can’t get out there at the moment.” | It’s nice, it’s quiet, it’s a way out of everywhere,” he says, explaining why he often chooses to sleep rough. “It’s a hidey-hole off a path. But the other night I lost my bus-pass so I can’t get out there at the moment.” |
| Stephen is another user of Streetwork’s storage facilities, and has been registered as homeless to Edinburgh Council since 2012 when his wife kicked him out of their home in Devon. He was in the army for 18 years until he was medically discharged due to his mental health issues, including self harm and alcohol abuse. | Stephen is another user of Streetwork’s storage facilities, and has been registered as homeless to Edinburgh Council since 2012 when his wife kicked him out of their home in Devon. He was in the army for 18 years until he was medically discharged due to his mental health issues, including self harm and alcohol abuse. |
| My wife hasn’t spoken to me since we split up,” he says. “My behaviour, my drinking, it became worse. I became argumentative, abusive - not physically but certainly verbally - and she just, quite rightly, had enough. She went to the police and got me physically removed.” | My wife hasn’t spoken to me since we split up,” he says. “My behaviour, my drinking, it became worse. I became argumentative, abusive - not physically but certainly verbally - and she just, quite rightly, had enough. She went to the police and got me physically removed.” |
| Stephen visits Streetwork and his community psychiatric nurse often, and is eloquent, polite, smiley even. It’s hard to imagine him being abusive to anyone. But his difficulties reared their head when he was put into permanent accommodation just under a year ago. Sadly, it didn’t work out. | Stephen visits Streetwork and his community psychiatric nurse often, and is eloquent, polite, smiley even. It’s hard to imagine him being abusive to anyone. But his difficulties reared their head when he was put into permanent accommodation just under a year ago. Sadly, it didn’t work out. |
| I got my own flat on June the 27th last year until November. I couldn’t cope. The only person I spoke to on a regular basis was the guy at the corner shop who sold me my little bottles of vodka,” he says. | I got my own flat on June the 27th last year until November. I couldn’t cope. The only person I spoke to on a regular basis was the guy at the corner shop who sold me my little bottles of vodka,” he says. |
| Stephen prefers his life on the streets in many ways. | Stephen prefers his life on the streets in many ways. |
| On the streets I’m still quite lonely but there’s always someone to talk to,” he says. | On the streets I’m still quite lonely but there’s always someone to talk to,” he says. |
| He spends a lot of time at local libraries. He recommends the final book in the Disc-world series by Terry Prachett. | He spends a lot of time at local libraries. He recommends the final book in the Disc-world series by Terry Prachett. |
| He is one of the many people Streetwork identifies as needing some sort of supported accommodation, rather than being dumped in isolated flats on the outskirts of Edinburgh. Sadly, there’s not much of it on offer in the heavily owner-occupied city, which is clearly struggling to look after its homeless citizens. | He is one of the many people Streetwork identifies as needing some sort of supported accommodation, rather than being dumped in isolated flats on the outskirts of Edinburgh. Sadly, there’s not much of it on offer in the heavily owner-occupied city, which is clearly struggling to look after its homeless citizens. |
| 10.05pm GMT | 10.05pm GMT |
| 22:05 | 22:05 |
| Mark Rice-Oxley | Mark Rice-Oxley |
| Of course, rough sleepers are just the tip of the iceberg. Thousands more find themselves one step away from the streets, still homeless but nudged around by authorities from pillar to temporary post. | Of course, rough sleepers are just the tip of the iceberg. Thousands more find themselves one step away from the streets, still homeless but nudged around by authorities from pillar to temporary post. |
| For many of it may be hard to imagine how this happens. But we’re probably all of us just two or maybe three really bad strokes of luck away from destitution. | For many of it may be hard to imagine how this happens. But we’re probably all of us just two or maybe three really bad strokes of luck away from destitution. |
| Former soldier David Watts told me his story, which again emphasises that homelessness can be as much about bureaucratic bungling, bewildering benefits and bad timing as about anything self-inflicted. | Former soldier David Watts told me his story, which again emphasises that homelessness can be as much about bureaucratic bungling, bewildering benefits and bad timing as about anything self-inflicted. |
| In December 2015 my contract came to an end and I decided to become self employed. I am a qualified sports therapist studying to obtain my personal trainer qualification. I set up my own business in January. | In December 2015 my contract came to an end and I decided to become self employed. I am a qualified sports therapist studying to obtain my personal trainer qualification. I set up my own business in January. |
| On 4th January 2016 I attended the Margate Gateway Services Centre to ask for help in paying my rent. I was told I couldn’t apply for housing benefit and had to apply for universal credit on line. | On 4th January 2016 I attended the Margate Gateway Services Centre to ask for help in paying my rent. I was told I couldn’t apply for housing benefit and had to apply for universal credit on line. |
| I applied on line and was informed that I would be contacted to attend an appointment. | I applied on line and was informed that I would be contacted to attend an appointment. |
| I hadn’t heard anything from for a week so I phoned the help line to which the recorded message tells you if this is a new claim it will take 5 weeks to be processed. | I hadn’t heard anything from for a week so I phoned the help line to which the recorded message tells you if this is a new claim it will take 5 weeks to be processed. |
| Watts had heard nothing by the end of January, so he spent 2 hours trying to get someone on the phone only to be told there had been an error with his application. He needed to start again. | Watts had heard nothing by the end of January, so he spent 2 hours trying to get someone on the phone only to be told there had been an error with his application. He needed to start again. |
| I phoned them again the following day and eventually spoke to someone and made the application over the phone. Halfway through the application he informed me that as a student and as a self employed person I was not eligible to claim universal credits and had to claim JSA (job seeker’s allowance) and this had to be made online. | I phoned them again the following day and eventually spoke to someone and made the application over the phone. Halfway through the application he informed me that as a student and as a self employed person I was not eligible to claim universal credits and had to claim JSA (job seeker’s allowance) and this had to be made online. |
| I went online to make the application for JSA and on answering the qualifying questions I was informed I was not eligible to claim JSA and that I had to claim Universal credits. | I went online to make the application for JSA and on answering the qualifying questions I was informed I was not eligible to claim JSA and that I had to claim Universal credits. |
| I phoned Job Centre Plus and made an appointment to speak to someone about what I could and couldn’t claim. | I phoned Job Centre Plus and made an appointment to speak to someone about what I could and couldn’t claim. |
| I attended the appointment the following week only to be told that because I earned more than £102 a week I wasn’t eligible for income related JSA and that as I was self employed I wasn’t eligible for Universal Credit and that I needed to attend the Gateway Service Centre in Margate to make a claim for housing benefit. | I attended the appointment the following week only to be told that because I earned more than £102 a week I wasn’t eligible for income related JSA and that as I was self employed I wasn’t eligible for Universal Credit and that I needed to attend the Gateway Service Centre in Margate to make a claim for housing benefit. |
| After two months of Kafkaesque toing and froing, Watts was back where he started. Only by now he was nine weeks in arrears. | After two months of Kafkaesque toing and froing, Watts was back where he started. Only by now he was nine weeks in arrears. |
| My landlord had been understanding but now I’ve been told it will take up to two more weeks for the claim to be processed - and there is no guarantee it will be backdated. By then I will be 11 weeks in arrears. | My landlord had been understanding but now I’ve been told it will take up to two more weeks for the claim to be processed - and there is no guarantee it will be backdated. By then I will be 11 weeks in arrears. |
| I informed the housing office that I am already 9 weeks behind and now facing the real possibility of being evicted in two weeks due to non payment of rent. I was told if I was made homeless, as a fit healthy male I am not a priority and that if I were made homeless I would just have to deal with it as there was no help available to me. Council housing teams no longer deem homelessness for males who are fit and healthy and able to work as a vulnerability. | I informed the housing office that I am already 9 weeks behind and now facing the real possibility of being evicted in two weeks due to non payment of rent. I was told if I was made homeless, as a fit healthy male I am not a priority and that if I were made homeless I would just have to deal with it as there was no help available to me. Council housing teams no longer deem homelessness for males who are fit and healthy and able to work as a vulnerability. |
| So... having joined the army at the age of 16 and 9 months, served 8 years for my country, having worked every day of my life and paid taxes and contributed to the economy, having decided to build my own business and help others get fit to return to employment, I asked for help as I was starting out and needed to pay my rent... only to be given the wrong information action resulting in at present 9 weeks rent arrears, facing the prospect of homelessness and being told by the local council (due to government legislation) basically.... tough, you will just have to deal with it. | So... having joined the army at the age of 16 and 9 months, served 8 years for my country, having worked every day of my life and paid taxes and contributed to the economy, having decided to build my own business and help others get fit to return to employment, I asked for help as I was starting out and needed to pay my rent... only to be given the wrong information action resulting in at present 9 weeks rent arrears, facing the prospect of homelessness and being told by the local council (due to government legislation) basically.... tough, you will just have to deal with it. |
| Watts is by no means the old army veteran we have been in touch with today... | Watts is by no means the old army veteran we have been in touch with today... |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 10.12pm GMT | at 10.12pm GMT |
| 9.45pm GMT | 9.45pm GMT |
| 21:45 | 21:45 |
| Tonight we met... Bill West and Lee Foxall | Tonight we met... Bill West and Lee Foxall |
| Josh Halliday | Josh Halliday |
| I’ve been speaking to Bill West, 57, and Lee Foxall, 48, both living in hostels after finding themselves on the streets in recent years. Both men had long careers looking after others - Bill as a operating theatre technician in the NHS and Lee as a support worker - until they suffered devastating breakdowns following family bereavements. | I’ve been speaking to Bill West, 57, and Lee Foxall, 48, both living in hostels after finding themselves on the streets in recent years. Both men had long careers looking after others - Bill as a operating theatre technician in the NHS and Lee as a support worker - until they suffered devastating breakdowns following family bereavements. |
| They’re bristle at media portrayals of homelessness - drug-addled, drink-addicted beggars, they say - and add that they are proof that anyone can become destitute. | They’re bristle at media portrayals of homelessness - drug-addled, drink-addicted beggars, they say - and add that they are proof that anyone can become destitute. |
| West says: | West says: |
| We get people with autism, strokes, their parents or partners died, peopel who’ve had learning dififculties, so it’s not like what TV says, pretending it’s all drink and drugs. It’s not like that. | We get people with autism, strokes, their parents or partners died, peopel who’ve had learning dififculties, so it’s not like what TV says, pretending it’s all drink and drugs. It’s not like that. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 9.49pm GMT | at 9.49pm GMT |