Its about to get colder

[DemolitionRed]

So Here’s what to do if you see a homeless person sleeping rough in the cold

Call Street Link which is open 24/7 on: 0300 5000914 and give them as much information as possible.

You can download the Street Link app https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/streetlink/id587543230?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

People are genuinely sleeping rough and I'm sure we all agree, its dangerous in extreme temperatures.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Sorry but what are we meant to discuss?

Temperatures are distinctly average for this time of year

[DemolitionRed]

It snowing in a lot of places across the country.
We could discuss genuine homelessness and have other suggestions of help but I doubt you'd be interested in doing that.

[Crimson Dynamo]

It snowing in a lot of places across the country.
We could discuss genuine homelessness and have other suggestions of help but I doubt you'd be interested in doing that.

yes we had (as did NI and NE) a few cms of snow that will be gone by 4pm, no worse that we have had at various times over the last 3 months

If you have a method of telling me who is genuinely homeless and who is "at it" then feel free

[arista]

"homeless person sleeping rough in the cold"

The ones on a scam do not want your number

[Crimson Dynamo]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3472603/Walter-Mitty-conman-begged-street-posing-homeless-ex-Para-lost-house-finding-wife-bed-man.html

[DemolitionRed]

yes we had (as did NI and NE) a few cms of snow that will be gone by 4pm, no worse that we have had at various times over the last 3 months

If you have a method of telling me who is genuinely homeless and who is "at it" then feel free

Hypothermia can occur in weather temperatures as mild as 10C (50F) if they are also exposed to wind and rain. Our bodies don't need to lose a lot of heat to get hypothermia so sleeping on the ground outdoors is very dangerous at this time of year.

Someone who is seen to be sleeping under bridges (happens a lot in London) or in shop doorways in the early hours of the morning are very likely to be genuinely homeless. People generally won't sleep outside at this time of year unless they have no choice.

[DemolitionRed]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3472603/Walter-Mitty-conman-begged-street-posing-homeless-ex-Para-lost-house-finding-wife-bed-man.html

Yep, I thought you might be more interested in that sort of story because it confirms what you believe.

We will always get scammers but scammers don't make up the population of homeless people.

[Vanessa]

It's cold here in London as well :bawling:

[Crimson Dynamo]

Yep, I thought you might be more interested in that sort of story because it confirms what you believe.

We will always get scammers but scammers don't make up the population of homeless people.

what is the proportion of scammers and genuine?

[Crimson Dynamo]

Hypothermia can occur in weather temperatures as mild as 10C (50F) if they are also exposed to wind and rain. Our bodies don't need to lose a lot of heat to get hypothermia so sleeping on the ground outdoors is very dangerous at this time of year.

Someone who is seen to be sleeping under bridges (happens a lot in London) or in shop doorways in the early hours of the morning are very likely to be genuinely homeless. People generally won't sleep outside at this time of year unless they have no choice.

So are you now saying that LOndon does not have facilities and organisations that help genuine homeless - I would imagine its one of the best cities in the whole world in this regard?

[Northern Monkey]

You can usually tell real homeless from the scammers.Real ones will look like ****.Filthy and will have a beard and manky clothes on.Scammers will only have stubble and fairly new trainers and clothes that are only slightly mucky.Always look at the facial hair trainers.

[Beso]

let's hope they all have free wifi and are logged into TIBB.

[waterhog]

So Here’s what to do if you see a homeless person sleeping rough in the cold

Call Street Link which is open 24/7 on: 0300 5000914 and give them as much information as possible.

You can download the Street Link app https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/streetlink/id587543230?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

People are genuinely sleeping rough and I'm sure we all agree, its dangerous in extreme temperatures.


great post and great you gave a link to where people can go to help. thank you.

like you I have seen loads of scammers and with that guy on the news being prosecuted - well its proof begging is big business. £130 000 I think he was said to have deceived - I understand this might be a bit inflated but its not bad for a days work or no work as he would say.

like you say above - you can tell a real genuine homeless person.

[reece(:]

I don't trust the homeless on the street in my area, it was leaked that over 50% are fakes

[waterhog]

its a scam -

[Kizzy]

Recently got involved with a charity in Leeds they are independent and are committed to helping rough sleepers and addicts turn their lives around :)

http://simononthestreets.co.uk/

[Vicky.]

why help? When you can fine them a few hundred quid and tell them they are not allowed to sleep on pavements. That helps more..as the people just disappear then apparently.

[user104658]

I don't trust the homeless on the street in my area, it was leaked that over 50% are fakes

"Leaked"? By who?

[DemolitionRed]

Good for you Kizzy. There are some great charities around that more or less work around the clock for street people but homelessness is on the up and so these charities are being stretched to their limit.

The average life of a homeless man is around 45, younger for a woman. They are 9 times more likely to commit suicide than people living in secure accommodation. Beside the drug addicts and alcoholics and those who just find themselves in a financial crisis with no back up like parents or relatives, a high percentage of homeless people have mental health conditions or learning disabilities and have simply been let down by an understaffed system.

When my local churches around SE1 open their night shelters during December to March, (They put up around 20 Z-beds each) each church is immediately full to capacity and some people have to be turned away. Most churches in London do this for the coldest four months of the year and I have no idea how many churches there are in London but it goes to show just how massive a problem homelessness really is.

[Denver]

"Leaked"? By who?

Daily Mail

[user104658]

Daily Mail
Oh, so more "made up" than "leaked", then.

[Suze]

I seem to acquire gloves and scarfs I really don't need come christmases and only the other day thinking of donating them to the Salvation Army to give to those who could use them. If we are in for a colder spell, then maybe now is a good time to do just that.

[DemolitionRed]

great post and great you gave a link to where people can go to help. thank you.

like you I have seen loads of scammers and with that guy on the news being prosecuted - well its proof begging is big business. £130 000 I think he was said to have deceived - I understand this might be a bit inflated but its not bad for a days work or no work as he would say.

like you say above - you can tell a real genuine homeless person.

Thank you Waterhog. Sometimes its easier not to care than care. The scammers have really caused a lot of problems for those who are genuinely homeless; people are less likely to believe a person really is destitute.

The truth is, homelessness is a silent killer. Very few people would choose to be homeless.

[DemolitionRed]

I seem to acquire gloves and scarfs I really don't need come christmases and only the other day thinking of donating them to the Salvation Army to give to those who could use them. If we are in for a colder spell, then maybe now is a good time to do just that.

Go for it Suze.

Charity shops have made a lot of there clothes too pricey, though they do donate quilts, sheets and often blankets directly to the homeless shelters. The Sally Army are a really good group though but do make sure you tell them these things are for homeless people and not to be re-sold in a charity shop.

[Ammi]

..I don't think it's that it's easier not to care than to care, I think most people do care but it's more in my experience that many people struggle so much in their own lives and don't have the time to do research etc as to different charities because it does require time..so then it's finding what they can do because doing nothing at all is obviously not the way either...I remember once, quite a few years ago...taking weatherproof/warm/heavy duty and giving it directly to some homeless in my area and for reasons, that wasn't as helpful as intended...so it's defining really/defining each individual etc, which is something that's so impossible in terms of funding, sadly....each need looked at because each homeless person is an individual..like everything, we define first and then look at how solutions can be given....a perfect world, eh but something I doubt there will ever be...with those with addictions, it's harshly and sadly the same as if they were not homeless, money/cash wouldn't be a good idea to give and talking to them about sources of help/giving them information is good but ultimately the want to do something about their addiction themselves has to be the first thing/it has to be something that they come to on their own...it's so sadly often the case that 'rock bottom' has to be reached because of the power and control of the addiction but everyone's rock bottom isn't the same and for some, being homeless/having lost everything in their lives as it were, still won't be their rock bottom..