Heartless to the Homeless
Despite the debt and financial pressures still dominating the UK, our attitudes to those worst off have worsened.
The story that has dominated the UK has never been Brexit. Since 2008, it’s all been about our financial crisis. Every government policy has been steeped in ideology espousing austerity. The financial crisis hit people from every walk of life – except from the super rich who were so well off they’d come through it no matter what. Many did not have that security.
It has been nearly ten years since the financial crisis. We’ve endured politicians talking about making the hard choices in life, passing cuts to citizens while getting pay increases. The charity Homeless states that since 2010 homelessness has increased 134%. Yet, knowledge of how tough life has been in the UK has done nothing to increase compassion or understanding for those who just didn’t catch a break.
Research by Crisis has found that over one third of homeless people had things thrown at them and more than one in twenty had been sexually assaulted. Under austerity however, local councils have been forced to cut their housing support services. The UK does not want to deal with those who are homeless, and nor does the public.
Research by Crisis has found that over one third of homeless people had things thrown at them and more than one in twenty had been sexually assaulted.
Britain is regularly one of the most generous countries in the world when it comes to giving money. Every year, Comic Relief and Children In Need raise millions despite how cash strapped we are. It’s our fundamental attitude towards others that has not improved.
Around six in ten homeless people have been verbally abused and nearly one half has been assaulted according to Crisis. We have a culture of bullying towards those who are forced to sleep rough, in shelters or sofa surf. Homeless people sleeping rough are reported for where they try to spend the night. The police have moved them along so as not to be seen by the public and shops have even started putting spikes outside their premises to deter people from sleeping under any small bit of shelter that they can find.
Our attitudes towards homelessness are one of superiority. If only immoral people ended up in bad circumstances in life then we wouldn’t have bankers running the country.
Anybody can become homeless but this isn’t enough to ensure that we recognise each other’s humanity. As soon as people get a pass in life, society acts against those most vulnerable. The worst messages are the ones that are intended to be helpful and yet are entitled.
If you want to give your money to a homeless person then just give it. It’s not a loan. It’s also none of your business if they spend it on a bottle of vodka or not. Once the money is given it’s theirs and not yours. Do homeless people really need a moral lecture from a stranger?
Homeless people know what they need and want. We need to stop infantilising adults otherwise giving money to someone is used as a tool to exert control, and not to sincerely help people.
We need to stop infantilising adults otherwise giving money to someone is used as a tool to exert control, and not to sincerely help people.
The argument goes that to give money to charity is more worthwhile but how long will that take to process? If you see a homeless person on the street just trust them with the cash. They’re not going to get it directly at their local charity. Yes, charities should be supported too but the only arguments against giving directly to homeless people are predicated on the idea that they might be bad people and we need to save them from themselves.
We’re not Christian preachers. Those of us who aren’t homeless need to accept it isn’t the meritocracy. it’s just called luck. Nobody who is homeless ever deserves to face abuse or sexual assault. Begging is labour, asking for help shouldn’t be something we sneer at and we shouldn’t feel entitled to talk to complete strangers as though we know a damn thing about them.
What we should do is ask homeless people if they want to grab a coffee, if there’s anything else we can get them even if it means running home for a spare blanket and promising to be back another day. Homeless people are people too. It shouldn’t need saying.
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