How can I help homeless people on the street?

AsknAnswer2

Some of them are there because they've put themselves there. Others because their life has capsized around them and they have been forced on the street. You don't know which, unless you know them personally. Either way, I wouldn't give any money. They are able to claim benefits the same as anybody else is, using the jobcentre as a care of address and can collect their giros personally at the jobcentre. The personal allowance in benefits is designed to put food on the table and pay bills. They don't have bills but they still get the same amount of personal allowance. If they aren't eating then that is because they are spending it on other things, or because they haven't made a claim to benefit. Give them money and they'll spend it on things which they think help them but which in the long run only contribute more to their problems.

As an example, one guy had accomodation lined up, all he had to do was attend a meeting with the providers. One of the stipulations was no alcohol or drugs as the hostel was run by a chistian charity, who would also offer him a job within the hostel as part of a programme to help rehabillitated addicts back into settlement. Having been a teetotal before life on the streets, he had turned to drink and drugs as a coping mechanism. He'd been receiving much help and attending rehab sessions, he was all good to go and an excellent candidate for the hostel. But unfortunately it fell through, because someone trying to be helpful gave him cash and he turned up to the meeting off his face.

If you want to help, best thing to do is get involved with one of the charities who are there to help them off the streets and back into a settled way of living. They know what they are doing, what helps and what harms.

RobertR

If you are thinking about volunteering, this is the main UK volunteering website where you can check to see if anything is available in your area, or trying googling to find your local volunteer centre.

http://www.do-it.org/

disability_brown

HappyMJ wrote: »

Then give to a charity that helps them. As you say if you give it to them directly it will end up being spent on booze or ciggies and not on training or even on rent.

How about Shelter? http://england.shelter.org.uk/what_you_can_do/christmas?source=hpBanner

So true:beer:

Plans_all_plans

AsknAnswer2 wrote: »

They are able to claim benefits the same as anybody else is, using the jobcentre as a care of address and can collect their giros personally at the jobcentre. The personal allowance in benefits is designed to put food on the table and pay bills.

Yes I know of a man personally (who is thankfully now off the street) who was eligible for benefits but would not sign the forms to get them. The outreach workers seemed to feel he was mentally ill, so although they may be able to claim, a lot of them are so busy surviving/or ill they can't always motivate themselves to.

I know that if I was homeless I'd be spending so long trying to find a safe place, so fearful of physical abuse, so lonely etc that finding a way to get off the streets would take second place to trying to stay alive.

I understand what you're saying though about not giving them money, but just because they might be able to get benefits it doesn't mean they'll all claim them.

Frenchgirl

One Christmas day I helped out at a homeless cafe run by a local church. It was really eye opening. As someone said it could be you one day on the street please never judge people. Volunteer for a charity it not only protects you but you are helping some one. Take care.

Some times a smile can be all they want. x

Savvy_Sue

HappyMJ wrote: »

Then give to a charity that helps them. As you say if you give it to them directly it will end up being spent on booze or ciggies and not on training or even on rent.

How about Shelter? http://england.shelter.org.uk/what_you_can_do/christmas?source=hpBanner

or Crisis. but there are probably other nationals specialising in eg young runaways.

if you give a clue to your general area, we might know of local charities doing fantastic work, all coming under huge pressure!

tibbles209

I live in Dundee. What I really want to do is get actively involved in actually helping people, not just fundraising for a particular charity. Most of the volunteer stuff I can see around here just involves working in charity shops and not actually directly helping anyone. Not really sure what to do, I bought a homeless man some lunch and a hot drink today and had a chat with him. He seemed to really appreciate someone taking the time to do that. Just wish I could do more...

Savvy_Sue

quick google gives me Salvation Army, and Action for Children - that's their national site but there was a press release about work with homeless young people in Dundee.

Then there's at least one Soup Run.

And the Cyrenians.

hopefully you can get stuck in somewhere, although there should be a process for applying, checking you out and doing a CRB / Disclosure Scotland check, so it may take a while.

meanwhile, keep chatting, not being 'seen' is one of the most damaging aspects of homelessness. but stay on your guard ...

jamespir

paddedjohn wrote: »

I used to think it was their own fault for being on the streets because they were drunks or druggies. I would buy hot food for them but never give cash as i thought it would be spent unwisely. That was until a couple of years ago when i got involved with a local shelter and my eyes were opened. A lot of the people on the streets dont start off being drunks/druggies, they turn to it as an escape from the crap life they are living. It could happen to any one of us, one day living a nice cushy life with the wife and kids in a 3 up 3 down with a nice car and a good job when bang, redundancy, money troubles, wife kicks you out, its a fast downward spiral. I have seen all ages, both men and woman, from teens upto 70's who need help, not judging, so if you can spare some cash dont be afraid to give. None of us are immune, we are just lucky.

i myself was homless for 6 months so ive had first hand experience of what its like and it really annoys me wwhen people automatically assume every homeless person is a druggie

ariba10

As an ex squaddie I give monthly to the Salvation Army, and an extra donation at Christmas.