Homelessness

[Oma]

We have just been to M&S in team valley ,
Outside there was a young man sitting on a blanket , we stopped to talk to him .
Such a polite well spoken young man.
He told us he lived with his mother but she died on the 3rd of January and as it was her house and a private landlord he was evicted within a week ,
He had been ringing the housing every day to try to get emergency accommodation but they just keep saying ring back next week,
Such a sad situation ,
Each day he hopes to get enough money to sleep in a hostel at night but it doesn't always work out.
We gave him some money towards it and I went into M&S and bought him some sandwiches a cake crisps and a bottle of orange juice,
Someone from M&S had brought him a coffee out.
He was telling us M&S were very good to him at the end of the day they give him food and in turn he warns them of any shop lifters around.

B asked if he had a sleeping bag , he said he did but someone had stolen it when he was in the hostel.

There was no where around that sold them or I would have bought him one.
You could tell her wasn't on drugs he said he didn't drink or smoke and I believed him , you could just tell.

My heart broke for him ,
We said when we were driving home how lucky we were to have a warm home a bed to sleep in and food on the table.

I really hope this young man gets help soon ,
No one should be living like this in this day and age.

Last year there was a young man outside M&S near us but he was a professional beggar, anyone asking him if he wanted food he was quite nasty to them and was demanding money.someone told us he had been seen taking drugs in the bushes behind the shops.
Likes of him I wouldn't help , he was moved on by the police.

This young man was totally different.

[Gemini]

Oma bless you and B for being so kind. Most people look the other way, or judge without knowing the circumstances.

I really hope he's safely off the streets soon.

[Oma]

Awful Gem,
I cried all the way home ,
B said we did what we could, but you feel it's not enough.

[Sum1Ls]

https://www.gov.uk/if-youre-homeless-at-risk-of-homelessness

Oma this is government advice.
Can you share it either the young man?

[Clover]

That poor man, not only losing his Mum but being homeless as well. So many of these people are literally begging and even if homeless you can tell all they want is cash for drink or drugs. I’ m pleased to hear M and S are sympathetic to his plight. I really hope he and those like him get suitable accommodation soon. It’s too cold to be on the streets especially at this time.

[Oma]

Sum1
He is in contact daily with the housing and the shelter he tries to stay at he said has advisers but nothing seems to be getting done.
He was telling us he had a job but had to leave because of his homelessness,
While we were talking to him he had a phone call from a charity who put money on his phone so he can keep ringing the housing ,
We suggested he enquires to shelter .

We felt so helpless .

Clover
We said the same he's grieving for his mother , I asked if he had family but he only has one sister and she lives in Italy and he's not in regular contact ,
He said his so called friends had disappeared one by one ,
Only one was trying to help but he couldn't have him even sleeping on his sofa as he has young children in a small house ,
When the chips are down you know who your friends are don't you .

You could tell he was a decent young man who life had kicked him in the teeth.

[Daisy]

Oma, that is very sad, but bless you and B for helping him today. I think homelessness is one of the great failings in our so-called civilised society. The whole of your life falls apart when you haven't got a roof over your head. I wonder if he's tried any of the bereavement charities, such as Sue Ryder, to see if they can help. Or Cruse Bereavement Care.

As you say being out on the streets at any time is bad, but even worse in this weather. Poor lad.

[Oma]

Daisy
It was heartbreaking, you see these people on the streets and yes there are a lot who have a drug problem, but we never think of the other traumas that some of these people have gone through and are homeless through no fault of their own ,
So upsetting.

[Gemini]

It is terrible Oma. I find it especially heartbreaking when it's a girl. Wondering what horrors led her there and what dangers she faces.

[Lizzie48]

It is heartbreaking, we don't see it much around here, in the cities there are homeless and not enough shelters for them, especially in this cold weather. In the office where I do the coffee, now and again someone will come that have had to move out of their home, divorce etc, usually they get placed in a shelter in Delft then in an emergency housing here in the village.