Ashton Under lyne, baby, eugenics, feminism, government, Housing, hunger, Jobcentre, poverty, sanctions, Uncategorized

Homelessness. An issue that needs addressing immediately. The hidden secret on our streets.

lve been very concerned by the rise of homelessness for a long time now. It’s an issue that won’t go away, infact its increasing at such a rapid rate that is unbelievable considering that we are the 6th richest country in the world. What is astonishing is the fact that many local authorities including my own don’t even attempt to fix it or even attempt a temporary solution. This government has made a sustained attack upon the poor for such a long time now that the poorest in society are too weak to fight against it. 

The way that local authorities count the number of homeless people is wrong. If you have a cardboard box over your head or a blanket, if you are sofa surfing then you are not considered homeless. If your a single man or woman your not a priority for housing or help. Finding has been cut to drop on centres to a point where they are on the point on closure. So what do people that become homeless do? They hide in street corners, in the shadows after all local councils don’t want any homeless people littering the streets and making it look scruffy…. A group of homeless people in Manchester have joined together in solidarity. They’ve had enough. 

Last week there was a march in Manchester protesting against homelessness. It was very well attended and supported by the homeless in Manchester. After the March the homeless people living on the streets in Manchester decided enough is enough. They grouped together and decided to set up a camp together. They set this camp up at Albert square Manchester in front of the town hall. They want Manchester town council to start helping the poor. They have had enough of being woken up every 45 minutes by the police. They’ve had enough of being robbed and beaten up by people. So they now camp together. This has given them an immense sense of belonging again. And so they should. I spent a couple of hours with them yesterday and they are the nicest people you could ever meet. They aren’t prejudiced unlike the people who persecute them on a daily basis. All they want is a place to live, but they need support. Many have issues that they need help with to be able to cope with everyday life living in a warm, dry home. 

How can you help? Go and say hello. Bring them something to eat and something to cook on. They need water also. They need support. Also Manchester City council have decided to take them to court on Wednesday. They need a representative or someone to support them. 

We need to highlight this issue much more than we are now. The people that I met yesterday are Heros in my eyes. They’ve taken a stand for each other and that is fantastic. Now we need to stand up for them. 

Remember we are all just a step away from becoming homeless and it’s a very small step.

                 

11 thoughts on “Homelessness. An issue that needs addressing immediately. The hidden secret on our streets.”

  2. Reblogged this on glendrixglendenning1 and commented:
    Once again, Seercharlotte77 hits the proverbial nail on the head with this great blog post. Here in Southport, in common with many other towns; large and small, we have our own community of homeless people. Many of these remain hidden, surfing between friends, doorways and passages. To add insult to injury, many encounter hostility towards them from passers by on a daily basis. By the same token, many passers by also try to help. Indeed, a group of students recently held a fundraiser for our local soup kitchen, I will post some Southport tales on this subject soon. In the mean time, Charlotte’s blog is well worth a read.

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  5. It’s fascinating that these types of homeless camps have been popping up all across the U.S. too. People oftentimes want to push homelessness aside and not deal with such a complicated issue – so when the homeless make themselves so visible, people are forced to think about the reality of the situation.

    There is a pretty awesome movement going through the U.S. – the Housing First model. People are given housing with no strings attached with the idea that people must be given shelter and safety and hope first, before they will think about getting a job, quitting drinking/drugs, and seeking help for mental health issues. But again, it’s not required that they do any of those things. Once people feel more secure in their situations, they will seek out better for themselves – whatever that might mean to them.

    Also, providing housing is just plain cheaper than leaving people on the streets and burdening our emergency medical services and jails.

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  6. HELP THE HOMELESS BY VOTING DIFFERENT ON THURSDAY 7 MAY

    Up to 200 MPs from different parties can form a powerful opposition down in London’s UK parliament if voted by the bulk of people who did not vote in 2010.

    Just about every voting area had more non-voters than voters in 2010.

    PERMANENT TORY GOVERNMENT

    326 MP minimum threshold to form a UK parliament by any party.

    No so-called big party will get anything like that number of MPs.

    So the Tory government is obliged, by the rules, to remain in power, in what is called a caretaker government.

    LABOUR HAS NOT BEEN AN EFFECTIVE OPPOSITION ON ITS OWN

    Even though Labour might get a few more MPs than the Tories.

    Because the number of Labour MPs will still be far below the minimum threshold.

    Labour cannot rule the UK government after May.

    Labour has not stopped all the cruel welfare reform.

    Labour keeps saying Labour will not reverse Tory spending cuts nor change anything from the last Tory budget.

    OPPOSITION HAS TO BE A WHOLE NEW SET OF MPs
    AGAINST AUSTERITY CUTS
    THAT COULD BE AN EFFECTIVE
    AROUND 200 NEW MPs

    This is the math of new MPs only you can bring into government:

    59 MPs SCOTTISH TUSC OR SNP

    The SNP are paying the poorest their council tax support and Bedroom Tax.

    Fife SNP candidate wanted his council to stop sanctions against young mothers with new babies and those who were mentally ill.

    Scottish TUSC offer banning sancitons for all,

    Which wil include part time workers from the Tories, under the full implementation of Universal Credit, that absorbs working tax credits and housing benefit, and which will bring permanent sanctions.

    40 MPs Plaid Cymru or TUSC from South Wales.
    Oppose rise in retirement age.
    Against austerity cuts.
    Against implementing Universal Credit.

    113 MPs TUSC from all over of England

    Mass building of council houses

    Rent controls

    10 MPs Socialist GB (same policies as TUSC)

    Example –

    Brighton has 3 voting areas:

    Brighton Pavilions – the 1 Green MP already
    This time has a Socialist GB candidate to choose from

    Brighton Kemptown – Socialist GB candidate

    Brighotn and Hove – TUSC candidate

    9 MPs The Left Unity Party
    Ban sanctions and workfare and end benefit cuts
    Some are shared MPs with TUSC.

    12 around MPs Class War candidates
    Double dole and pension

    Including Liza McKenzie – Professor at London School of Economics –
    running against
    Iain Duncan Smith

    A few North East Party candidates

    Bring down council tax for the poorest people

    Free elder care

    13 National Health Action party
    Patients Before Profit. End Austerity.

    Vote out the Tory in Stafford, famous for being famous
    Vote out Prime Minister Cameron in Witney.
    Vote out Health Minister Jeremy Hunt in South West Surrey.

    NHA election blurb:
    The prospect of a hung Parliament could put MPs who are independent of the main parties in a very powerful position whoever forms the next government.

    Even just a couple of NHA MPs could make a huge difference, standing up for our NHS.

    Health is the top election issue. Voters should use the ballot box to send a clear message – stop running down and selling off our NHS.

    SMALL PARTIES CAN NEGOTIATE EQUALLY WITH EACH OTHER,
    NOT JUST WITH LABOUR ON GOVERNMENT OPPOSITION BENCHES

    All these would dramatically change Labour on the opposition side of House of Commons UK parliament in Westminster London.

    HOW THE POOR NOW OUTNUMBER ALL OTHER VOTERS /
    HOW ENSURE REGISTERED TO VOTE?
    (only have today left to register,
    Monday April 20 – link on me front page)

    http://www.anastasia-england.me.uk

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  7. At Shelter & Crisis both Charities for the homeless you can to them to register to vote even if you don’t have an address. Both of these organisations are very good, however the same as the councils they have a strict criteria about who is the more vulnerable, it’s the way they get their funding and those hidden homeless like my self who sofa surf aren’t even in the figures published.

    When you don’t fit the criteria, you won’t be helped or your just at the end of a very long queue.

    Homeless shelters/hostels,squatting sleeping rough seem to be the only options open to some sadly.

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  10. The irony of Homeless people not being heard due to having ‘no fixed abode’ at the forthcoming election speaks volumes of our Capitalist Society!

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