howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
I find it rather crass to link in the grinding poverty described in Orwell's book set in the time leading up to the depression of the 30's with today where we live in the world's 5th largest economy.
There are still "gentlemen of the road" but most homeless today are desperate individuals that face a hard winter facing the elements, sometimes through no fault of their own.
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Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,424
When I was last at University about 15 years ago I used to volunteer at the café at St Martins in the Fields in Trafalgar Square on Sunday mornings serving food to the homeless. In my experience most were suffering from 'issues' relating to mental health problems and or drink/drug dependence.
It only takes a bit of 'bad luck', often involving family breakdown and taking away their support network, to put people on the streets, and many of our clients were people 'just like us' including a disproportionate number of ex-Forces who had become institutionalised and seemed unable to cope with organising their day to day living, when no longer told what to do and when to do it 24/7.
I have since made a point of never giving money to beggars. People say they will only spend it on drink or drugs. I know that I probably would if I was in their position! But I will often buy them a coffee or a sandwich.
Since Uni however I have set up a standing order to make a monthly donation to St Martins. Here's the link if anyone wishes to do the same:-
https://www.connection-at-stmartins.org.uk/donate-on-a-regular-basis/Guest 1881 likes this
'If no one went no faster than what I do there'd be a sight less trouble in this world'
Guest 1849- Registered: 12 Sep 2016
- Posts: 440
howard mcsweeney1 wrote:I find it rather crass to link in the grinding poverty described in Orwell's book set in the time leading up to the depression of the 30's with today where we live in the world's 5th largest economy.
There are still "gentlemen of the road" but most homeless today are desperate individuals that face a hard winter facing the elements, sometimes through no fault of their own.
When Orwell wrote that what was our ranking in terms of global economy? Perhaps we can have a discussion about relative poverty.
No two examples of homelessness are the same, as the esteemed Captain points out, all sorts of "ordinary people" can fall on hard times, my point was the two people I referred to were treated with dignity.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Noticed this morning that the doorways of the old Internacional shop and the one next to the Bingo Hall were occupied. Cold enough this morning must be freezing at night.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
yes howard,brass monkey weather.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Doesn't get any better, yesterday there was a young woman sat on the floor outside what used to be Santander Bank looking white as a sheet and this morning in the doorway of the disused shoe shop near Market Square was a pile of makeshift blankets with a human underneath. We are the 5th largest economy in the world so there should be no excuse for this.
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Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
I counted 5 yesterday lunch time,between priory street and the market square.
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Reginald Barrington- Location: Dover
- Registered: 17 Dec 2014
- Posts: 3,201
Earlier a PCSO asked the doorway beggar opposite Boots to empty his begging bowl not remove it or move on just don't have money in it!
Who the hell comes up with this nonsense?
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Arte et Marte
Andy B- Location: dover
- Registered: 10 Nov 2012
- Posts: 1,720
Theres still quite a few about,was recently a large house tent pitched next to the st johns ambulance hall on waste ground with quite a few living in there.I regularly see one or two that beg in Dover begging on the precinct in Canterbury.There are many in genuine need but i sometimes wonder about those two.
Guest 745- Registered: 27 Mar 2012
- Posts: 3,370
They are mostly begging for drug money or drink don’t give it to them.
The police should do their job and arrest them and the courts should be sentencing them to rehab.
The dosshouses don’t take in junkies or drunks.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
The one previously opposite Boots has relocated along with his dog into the frontage of what was Chapter 8 Chinese Restaurant.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
I was reading earlier about a chap who has been sleeping rough in Hythe for the last two years after losing his job due to an industrial injury. He has been offered a hostel place but they won't allow his dog to join him. I think this must be a common problem as so many rough sleepers have a loyal canine companion. The bloke who sometimes lodges in a disused shop doorway across the road to Boots has a very well fed bull terrier type of dog with him and the body language from both is that they are inseparable.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Haven't seen any in town recently but the figures show the problem getting worse.
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/dover/news/trebling-in-numbers-of-local-128953/Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,975
On Saturday there were four drinkers at the bus stop in Pencester and one sat on the steps outside Marks .Puts me off shopping in Dover
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,424
Mr Plod has plenty of ways of getting them 'moved on' and generally harassing them until
they go elsewhere. I can assure you it works in Deal.
Meanwhile, let's be honest, the Dover soup kitchen is a bit of a pull factor.
The beggers and drinkers are in Dover basically because you let them be.
Personally I want to live in a nice environment and have no wish to have it turned into a magnet for down and outs just to show everybody how much I 'care'.
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'If no one went no faster than what I do there'd be a sight less trouble in this world'
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
[QUOTE="Captain Haddock"]Mr Plod has plenty of ways of getting them 'moved on' and generally harassing them until
they go elsewhere. I can assure you it works in Deal.
Meanwhile, let's be honest, the Dover soup kitchen is a bit of a pull factor.
The Police are not present to deal with the problem, they had a purge a few years back, rattle on about "Zero tolerance" and then go somewhere else that has similar problems. Surprised that Deal doesn't have a soup kitchen though.
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,424
'If no one went no faster than what I do there'd be a sight less trouble in this world'
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
We will have to wait and see whether this is a genuine initiative or another sound bite.
https://news.sky.com/story/england-to-copy-finland-in-bid-to-end-homelessness-11309268Andy B- Location: dover
- Registered: 10 Nov 2012
- Posts: 1,720
Are they stupid?How can you fine the homeless when they have nothing?
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Bob Whysman- Registered: 23 Aug 2013
- Posts: 1,910
Cold comfort.
He had trained with the best and was proud to be serving,
In the worlds battlegrounds that were dangerous and unnerving,
Parachuted into hotspots and never looking back in fear,
Growing used to adrenaline rushes when danger was near.
He had led a team on many daring missions whilst in Afghanistan,
A great team looking out for each other to the very last man,
With their training and camaraderie many battles they won,
His body finally succumbing to the blasts of explosions and sun.
Alone in the shadows wrapped in a grubby coat cold and wet,
Nervously watching the feet passing, thankfully unnoticed as yet,
He sat thinking of his family and his life before he went away,
Suddenly someone passed, hesitated and then turned his way.
He sat alert and motionless, heart beating fast not making a sound,
When the feet moved away, he saw a steaming cup on the ground,
He looked up and reached out to thank a mother with a young lad,
Who said tearfully, “why is he here mum, he could be somebody’s dad?”
She replied, “I’ve heard he’s a brave veteran like many affected by war.”
The young lad then said, “does nobody try to help them anymore?”
“Unfortunately son when they leave the services some find it tough,
without any support, or a family, stay in doorways sleeping rough.
In many towns and cities throughout the U.K. on this cold Winters night,
There are still too many sick and homeless people enduring this sad plight,
Not always their fault, indeed many by their life experiences are driven,
To this extreme type of existence, when no help in their hour of need is given.
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Do nothing and nothing happens.