How to help a homeless person access money

Viva43

Hi
Not sure if this is the right place to post but thought it was a start. I set up a go fund me page for our local big issue seller (who lives in a tent in a friends back yard). It's done amazing and we've reached over £600. My problem is he only has a credit union account, which he has to travel to a nearby city to withdraw cash. Neither of which is sensible at the moment. I can transfer it to my bank account and give him the cash, but as I'm only allowed to withdraw £250 a day, it means I will have to make regular trips to a ATM (I live in a rural village 4 miles from the town he lives in). Again not ideal at the moment. I've looked at a pre-loading a card but they only allow £200 a month to be added without fees. Does anyone have any suggestions please. Many thanks Viv

Willing2Learn

Hi Viv,

Well done on supporting someone in your community who is so vulnerable.  I think your solutions are the best 'sticking plasters' for your problem.

In the longer term, your Big Issue seller-friend needs a bank account.  HSBC, in partnership with the Shelter and Crisis charities, have a scheme whereby a homeless customer can open a Basic account without the need for photo ID or proof of address.
https://www.yourmoney.com/saving-banking/hsbc-to-offer-bank-accounts-to-homeless-people/

Big Issue have also begun online subscriptions to the magazine, so that their sellers can still receive some income during this crisis.
https://www.bigissue.com/latest/covid19/the-big-issue-vendors-temporarily-stop-selling-on-the-streets/

onwards&upwards

What a lovely thing to do. 

I would definitely post this on the budgeting and bank account boards, I’m sure somebody there will be able to think of something!