Met a homeless man on Saturday

SilentProf said:
I was always comfortable giving a few spare coins here and there but it’s becoming a huge problem as poverty rates increase. You would only ever see beggars in town but they’re now outside most convenience stores, bookies and cash machines at least some of the time.

I’ve also heard rumours that some of them are dropped off in locations by dealers to work shifts in exchange for drugs. I’m not certain of this but I have noticed the odd one turn up and take the place of another one when I would normally expect them to defend their patch if they were making decent money.
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More likely to be sharing a slum landlord property or HMO in Teesside; Anyone at that level of social situation + addiction has minimal contact with anyone not in a similar situation.
 
Muttley said:
I rarely have any cash nowadays, who does
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It’s an interesting thing how the change in payment habits affects street hustles. Where I live most buskers now have either bank transfer details or contactless payment terminals. I actually have seen a couple of homeless people with their bank transfer details on a sign, and saw one guy the other week, clearly drug affected, selling something mental like ‘selfies with Santa’ and he had a Square tap-and-pay terminal and a sign saying ‘Afterpay’ (I think the Afterpay was a joke, though).

I also try not to pass judgement. Vast, vast majority of people who end up in that situation suffer from substance abuse and/or mental health problems, there but for the grace of god go we.

I personally don’t give to people begging, my rationale being that there’s so many people in that situation and the ones who genuinely need help most are probably not the ones strong enough to get to the street and hustle, but I always acknowledge the humanity and look them in the eyes and say sorry. Doesn’t help anyone, and unlike mates who volunteer I do nothing to help the really vulnerable people who aren’t as visible, but makes me feel a little bit better I guess. It’s still a person and it must be an unbelievably difficult and hopeless situation to be in.
 
jonny_greenings_sock said:
It’s an interesting thing how the change in payment habits affects street hustles. Where I live most buskers now have either bank transfer details or contactless payment terminals. I actually have seen a couple of homeless people with their bank transfer details on a sign, and saw one guy the other week, clearly drug affected, selling something mental like ‘selfies with Santa’ and he had a Square tap-and-pay terminal and a sign saying ‘Afterpay’ (I think the Afterpay was a joke, though).
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It really is interesting. A lot of people are paranoid about having contactless cards in their wallets. Most people would run a mile from beggars with scanners potentially capable of cloning their cards. I wonder how the banks look at accounts receiving multiple small deposits on a daily basis too. It seems like a major red flag for money laundering activity.
 
Funny enough the lad who is always at Acklam shops asked me for cash today. I always get him a coffee and a pastie or sarnie. I asked him why for the first time he asked for cash. He said its hard to self medicate with a cheese pastie mate.
 
Homelessness is more than just those on the streets. I know of people who have lost their homes and they have children and currently leaving in hostels and temporary housing.

Those on the streets are often addicts, who are so wrapped up substance abuse it’s a way of life for them.
 
We are straying into broad generalisations here.

There are people on the streets begging for money and/or food.
Some are homeless, some are not.

Few are open enough to tell you they are just cheating (the Daily Mail has a view tho).
I went round the city one night and we spoke to around 50 of them holed up in various dark places. The stories they had were heartbreaking.

During the day I take a view that most are genuinely in need (I don’t ask for their CVs to check).
I offer food - one once asked me to go to Cafe Nero cos he liked the Brie and Grape Paninni 😳. I did just that.
I offer conversation
If I have cash I’ll give it - I don’t really care what they spend it on. It is their choice.
 
Only really had experience with a few in Boro as when im out of town i just keep my head down and say 'Sorry i've got no change' when i walk past them elsewhere.

In Boro, one sits next to a cash point and will ask you to get an extra tenner out for them which i reckon on a night to someone vulnerable can be quite intimidating. Another one sits outside of a shop and asks for change and stuff bringing out and he's asked specifically for beer before, and has got a bit chewy when people ignore him and the other one was very polite and spoke to my son and asked him if he had been good for Santa and was excited he was coming so i thought i'd grab him some bits so i asked what he wanted from inside and he seemed physically moved and just said something warm please.
 
Working in the drug capitol of Europe - Glasgow - it's heartbreaking see those in the same places clearly at the end of their road wracked and destroyed by their addictions.
They have their own patches outside the stations, fancy bars and shopping streets and are often in conflict with their own kind in a world of desperation non of us could imagine.

I broke my rule of not giving cash recently when one was outside our flats eating leftover pasta he'd taken out of the big wheelie bin. I have no doubt that tenner wouldn't have been spent in Greggs.
For three nights in a row afterwards the guy was there asking for more cash. I offered him food but he said he'd already eaten.

Don't know what the answer is.
 
zzzzz said:
Working in the drug capitol of Europe - Glasgow - it's heartbreaking see those in the same places clearly at the end of their road wracked and destroyed by their addictions.
They have their own patches outside the stations, fancy bars and shopping streets and are often in conflict with their own kind in a world of desperation non of us could imagine.

I broke my rule of not giving cash recently when one was outside our flats eating leftover pasta he'd taken out of the big wheelie bin. I have no doubt that tenner wouldn't have been spent in Greggs.
For three nights in a row afterwards the guy was there asking for more cash. I offered him food but he said he'd already eaten.

Don't know what the answer is.
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I've got a regular here. He's early 20's been homeless for nearly 2 years - sleeps outside the museum where the entrance has cover.
Always talk to him and give him food and, occasionally cash.

Passed him one day laid on the street and he was totally out of it. Made sure he was safe - he didn't recognise me.
Had a good chat with my partner when I got back about whether I'm helping him or not.
Given his back story we kind of agreed that if it was us..... we'd also take the opportunity to try and forget and get off our face occasionally.
 
zzzzz said:
Working in the drug capitol of Europe - Glasgow - it's heartbreaking see those in the same places clearly at the end of their road wracked and destroyed by their addictions.
They have their own patches outside the stations, fancy bars and shopping streets and are often in conflict with their own kind in a world of desperation non of us could imagine.

I broke my rule of not giving cash recently when one was outside our flats eating leftover pasta he'd taken out of the big wheelie bin. I have no doubt that tenner wouldn't have been spent in Greggs.
For three nights in a row afterwards the guy was there asking for more cash. I offered him food but he said he'd already eaten.

Don't know what the answer is.
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The answer is government intervention, properly funded social services, properly funded mental health, addiction and drug services. Progressive drug laws and a properly thought out housing policy. All have been smashed to pieces by this government.

Just as most people work to provide for themselves, society (especially government and the ruling classes) needs to accept there are those that can't work and are unable to manage their lives. As a society we should be willing to help and assist not abandon and forget.
 
I remember going to Spain in the 70's and seeing a begger for the 1st time.I was shocked , but Spain was a 3rd world country.
Again in the late 70s you saw some in London ( usually druggies or such)
They are now common place. We visit Manchester a lot and keep a handfull of £1s to give the street beggers ( I've seen their homelessness )
Yes there are the " professionals " but the vast amount are tragic individuals who , if they buy drugs to lift their life so be it.
So what has happened in my life time to go from virtually no beggers to beggers in every town .
We have become a horrid country.
 
SilentProf said:
I’ve also heard rumours that some of them are dropped off in locations by dealers to work shifts in exchange for drugs. I’m not certain of this but I have noticed the odd one turn up and take the place of another one when I would normally expect them to defend their patch if they were making decent money.
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I am sure this happens outside the Range on Portrack. There is always 2-3 of them at different locations and then it will be different people sat in the same locations later in the day
 
I see a man on the tube regularly when I get on at Kings Cross, he parades up and down the train asking for change or food. Some offer food if they have it on them and he takes it, but always says he prefers cash.

One day last year, a woman opposite me, emptied her purse into her hand for him, and there was about £1, but in change, 10p's, 5's, 20's and some coppers. she handed it to him and apologised as it was all she had on her. he did no more than pelt it back at her, right in her face. Absolutely unbelievable. I wish I'd said something to him, but was in shock at what had happened, and then was too busy asking this poor lass if she was ok, she was absolutely gutted and in tears.

She said "That's the last time I ever offer anything" - he's effectively ruined it for others with his appalling behaviour. I have since told others not to give him anything when I've seen him coming up the train begging and told them why.

Tuuatt!!!!
 
London_Boro said:
I see a man on the tube regularly when I get on at Kings Cross, he parades up and down the train asking for change or food. Some offer food if they have it on them and he takes it, but always says he prefers cash.

One day last year, a woman opposite me, emptied her purse into her hand for him, and there was about £1, but in change, 10p's, 5's, 20's and some coppers. she handed it to him and apologised as it was all she had on her. he did no more than pelt it back at her, right in her face. Absolutely unbelievable. I wish I'd said something to him, but was in shock at what had happened, and then was too busy asking this poor lass if she was ok, she was absolutely gutted and in tears.

She said "That's the last time I ever offer anything" - he's effectively ruined it for others with his appalling behaviour. I have since told others not to give him anything when I've seen him coming up the train begging and told them why.

Tuuatt!!!!
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Used to be a guy turn up on my commuter train home at Penn would say he was 7 bucks short of his fare. One time someone told him to take a seat and he'd pay. Needless to say he disappeared rapidly.
 
Met 2 homeless guys in durham city. Went with them a whole night. . One said he had a flat in scarborough. But whispered it. He was ex army and said he likes the outdoor life and living on the edge. He seemed to enjoy using his survival skills, living on his instinct and local knowledge, camping out, having running battles with other homeless people especially the drug addicted ones who he didnt trust at all he said he moves from town to town on the buses. Wa in stockton prior and was going to newcastle soon. He was doing this despite having diabes abd serious problems with his legs which were ulcerated and kidney disease. He showed me how he urinated our of a catgeter coming out bottom of his jeans. i suspect he had PTSD as had angry outbursts towards members of the public including kids who stood/sat on his bench for the night. Found whole night an eye opener. I could tell you more but thats partly my experience on the streets.
 
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SilentProf said:
I’ve also heard rumours that some of them are dropped off in locations by dealers to work shifts in exchange for drugs. I’m not certain of this but I have noticed the odd one turn up and take the place of another one when I would normally expect them to defend their patch if they were making decent money.
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Just witnessed that in Leeds

One lad shouts to another “we’ve got nobody outside Tesco”
 
What I do know is that there are absolutely phuck-loads of homeless folk in central London now (Oxford Street/Euston Road). Its awful to see. I spend a night here about once a fortnight and every time it feels like there are more.
 
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