Hi everyone. I have just set up my new site HomelessBritain and for a blog I am going to write in the future I just want to know how many of you have found yourself homeless at some point. Homelessness means not having a home. Even if you have a roof over your head you can still be homeless. This is because you may not have any rights to stay where you live or your home might be unsuitable for you. Please help me out by taking 2 minutes to vote on the poll and let me know if you have been homeless at some point. Also experiences and what it was like would be cool so I can use them as quotes maybe. Cheers Rick
Never thankfully (great parent lol), nice idea for a blog though, I know their are quite a few homeless people in London sadly.
I was looking at some statistics 2004 there were 380,000 homeless people in the UK that's the whole population of Manchester where I live and in one district of Manchester homelessness is raising by around 28% each year and has doubled in the past four years. So I just dread to think how bad it is today. But you know what they say 90% of statistics are made up haha oj Thanks for voting rep +1 left
Yeah that's quite a high number, I'm actually familiar with Manchester considering I don't live too far away from there .
I've never been homeless, but there is a hell of a lot of homeless people in Edinburgh. As usual, nothing is done about them. I try to give them money, but you never know what it will go for.
Thanks for leaving a comment Peter I posted this on my site about giving money to the homeless hope it helps: Many people have asked me should I give money to the homeless when they are more than likely fakes or going to spend it on Alcohol or Booze. Well we here at HomelessBritain do not advise that you give money to people on the streets there are alternative ways you can help someone. Way 1: Talk to them people on the streets can get very lonely imagine sitting outside in a busy city centre people walking past you all day like your invisible give a little smile stop and just chat. Way 2: Way one really helps this next step, a real easy and effective way to ensure your money is going to the right place offer the homeless person some food make it clear you wont give money but your more than happy to buy them some food or a drink or something for there dog to eat. If they pester you for the money only just say clearly that in today's society we have to be careful and your only going to buy them some food and drink. Way 3: Buy/Give the person some clothing such as a scarf a hat or even a sleeping bag it can be cold on the streets and this could be just a small way you could help to keep someone a little warmer. The streets can be an uncomfortable place every homeless person would/should appreciate this. Way 4: This is if you have the cash to spare, but it would be a really nice gesture to pay someone into a bed and breakfast for the night, if you can't afford to do this then the cheaper option is a hostel or shelter shelter are not for profit but charge a very small fee for entry sometimes to help cover there costs. Way 5: Donate to a homeless charity this is probably the best and most effective way as these charities will provide all the above support from your donations. We don't encourage or not encourage giving money directly to a homeless person this is your choice but if you want to be 110% sure your money is going towards actually helping them then we would recommend one of the above ways to help a homeless person.
I've never been homeless, but an ex-girlfriend of mine was for a time as a child. She told me she remembered living in an old bus inside a junkyard with her sister and mother. They weren't supposed to be there, but the junkyard owner didn't have the heart to throw them out.
With grace of GOD & nice parents I am never been homeless. Your are doing nice work by using your Blog for homeless people. The number is very high. Every body must think about this.
Thanks for your kind words. Rep left for both And Gabriel I thanks for sharing your experiences or your ex-gf's experiences should I say! It's much appreciated thanks Rick
Not yet and I hope never! It's really sad to see people living on the streets, the government should create more job opportunities to help these people pick themselves up.
Thanks cool78 for your comment. I think even with more jobs that some homeless people will not have the skills or motivation to hold or even get hold of a job so I think that lack of jobs is somewhat and issue but I doubt we would see a huge decrease in stats even if there were more jobs due to several other issues that need meeting first.
I have never been homeless and most differently hope I never will be. I have seen homeless people Near me and the numbers seem to be growing. -Chris
Thanks everyone for your comments and votes I have left + rep for you all thankfully most have never been unfortunate enough to be homeless but for those who have well I am here to make a change in that. Freethenoob thanks for your comment I hope my little guidelines here help, doing one of these steps can help change the life off someone who is homeless.
A friend of mine was homeless for about 10 month and he told me that it was the greatest time of his life =) No responsibilities or worries...yes the rain sucked but otherwise it he says it was great
I was for a night. I had moved to a new city and the girl that I was staying with kicked me out the day before my apt was ready. I panicked. I was in a new city with nowhere to go in the nighttime. I sat at a bus stop for hours on my cell phone with relatives, trying to think of what to do. I eventually was picked up by the roommates uncle (also who I didn't really know) and he was very nice. Then I stayed the rest of the night at the girl's mother's house. Not having anywhere to go was scary. Guys were honking at me, and it was scary. I couldn't wait to get into my apt the next afternoon.
Not me, but I have a friend here in the USA who lives in a storage unit by choice. He sleeps in his van inside the unit which has electricity for $65/month. He has a full time job as a welder and could afford rent, but wants to save his money. I have to remind myself that he isn't a charity case.
Poweremploy thanks so much for sharing your experience very brave of yourself And Ghengiskhan thanks for commenting I have left REP for you both. I have decided because of this pressing issue and my investigations into this well it's confirmed I would like to go into a career in politics, not for a career but to make a change see I think to many politicians go into it for money or for a career but not to make a change. I have always wanted to help people I have been interested in careers in the medical setting the police in psychology national security etc and have never been able to make my mind up and this has helped me decide I want a career in politics to make a difference. Thanks guys and gals Rick
I'm not homeless but theres a lot of homeless people in Atlanta and a lot of them are beggars. Its gotten to be so much of a problem that they now have old parking meters with a sign that says donate to the homeless shelters rather than giving money to the beggars and panhandlers on the street.
Hi Rick, To answer your question, yes I was homeless living on the streets for about a year back in the 80's. To be honest about it, I was a bad drunk, and lost everything I had back then. Thankfully, some people took me in, gave me back my job, and helped me to get sober. I've been sober now for 20 years as of Jan 1, 2009. This is the best way to describe what it is like ... Think about the most terrifying experience you've ever had in your life, then times it by at least 10! You pretty much feel like the gates of Hades closed while you were inside, and you can't get out. People don't know what work is until they've walked in the shoes of the homeless. For me, I had to figure out how I was going to get my booze for the day and the next morning, where and what I would eat, pick out a safe place to sleep while keeping one eye open, etc ... But most of all, the fear of my situation never changing was the greatest fear of all. Would I change this part of my life if I had the chance? Nope, not on your life! That's because it took what it took for me to get where I am today. Now I'm more successful than what I've ever been in life, business, and every other thing you can imagine. And yes, I have my own house, I went thru 9 yrs of college and Grad school, and have many friends, plus my family back. Can't beat that! Hope this helps ... Mary