Brighton and Hove in grip of poverty crisis (From The Argus)
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Brighton and Hove in grip of poverty crisis
1:02pm Friday 26th October 2012 in News By Kimberly Middleton, Acting chief reporter
Poverty crisis in our midst
Rising numbers of rough sleepers will have no option but to bed down on Brighton’s streets as temperatures plunge this weekend.
Amid fears homelessness in the city is reaching crisis point, people will curl up in shop doorways and parks tonight awaiting a chilly low of 2C.
The closure of St Patrick’s shelter, Cambridge Road, Hove, in January due to financial difficulties has left seven city churches filling the void in the darkest winter months.
But until December, unless the temperature is forecast to drop below zero for three nights in a row and emergency procedures kick in, people without a home will struggle to find a warm bed.
Workers on the front line say every one of Brighton’s 48 agencies dealing with the homeless, from soup kitchens to hostels, are at capacity or have record numbers of users.
A new worker dedicated to helping people who have recently started sleeping on the streets dealt with 33 people in the last three months.
And volunteers have seen a dramatic shift in the people desperate for help, which now includes young professionals who have been made redundant and mothers struggling to feed their children during school holidays.
Outreach projects
Day centre and outreach project Antifreeze run by Brighton homeless charity Off The Fence, is handing out up to 60% more sleeping bags a month than last year. The charity is also trying to raise £310,000 to buy its Portland Road base after it was put on the market.
Antifreeze manager Julian Haddow said: “Last year we handed out about 50 sleeping bags a month. Now we’re too often going over 60. In August it was just a smidgen over 80 which blows our budget.”
The Salvation Army homeless project, based in Park Crescent Terrace, Brighton, is spending its reserves to open every Wednesday and offer people breakfast and a hot lunch as well as a shower, clean clothes and a haircut.
Despite battling with finances, determined commanding officer Yvonne Rouffett, who runs the project, said: “We need to do it, we want to do it and we will keep doing it.”
Since St Patrick’s shelter closed in January, St Peter’s Church in York Place organised emergency shelter among seven churches until March.
They will start welcoming in up to 15 people every night for three months from December at a cost of £10,000, with food and other expenses shouldered by the individual churches.
Gap in services
But Antifreeze’s Mr Haddow said the loss of St Patrick’s still leaves a gap in services: “St Peter’s night shelter is brilliant help for the coldest months but it’s not all year round.
“The Government has a duty to provide emergency housing, cold weather provision, if the weather is forecast below zero for three nights in a row which kicks in at any time of the year.
“It’s a good provision and very necessary, but if it’s one degree it doesn’t open and that is still very cold.
“There’s no all year round shelter for when you find someone vulnerable who needs a helping hand for a month until they get their life sorted, that doesn’t exist anymore. There are just no immediate solutions for people.”
Official figures from Brighton and Hove City Council’s homeless count last year found 37 rough sleepers – but Mr Haddow said in reality the figure is nearly three times higher.
“Last year for the first time we had a multi-agency head count and 10 agencies found there were 107 individuals sleeping rough in Brighton and Hove,” he said.
“But the council using their strict criteria only counted 37 which makes a mockery of it - at some times of the year there’s more than that on the waiting list to be put in a hostel.
“We get between 40 and 50 in our centre every day so 37 is just ridiculously untrue, unrealistic and doesn’t represent the real problem.
“I really hope they are not going to turn a blind eye to a multi-agency head count again this year.”
Rough sleepers
Mr Haddow added that the council didn’t want to release the full figures.
He said: “It seems the council doesn’t want these high figures released and doesn’t want a multi-agency count to happen again because it looks bad if Brighton has more than 100 rough sleepers.”
A spokeswoman for the council, however, said that another “multiagency” count would take place in March 2013.
She said: “It has long been acknowledged that street counts are not an accurate measure of total rough sleeping across the city as the count is unable to cover the whole of the city in one night.
“However, it is useful as an indicator on the extent of rough sleeping and of whether the measures in place are effectively dealing with the issues or not.”
The council said it had been informed of the growing demand on homeless charities in the city.
Struggling
She said: “The council is aware of reports by agencies that provide services to rough sleepers that there is an increase in demand from this group.
“This may be supplemented by people that have somewhere to live but are struggling with living costs and therefore are turning to services designed for people who are actually street homeless. “ Another council homeless count is due on November 23.
The manager of the city’s Rough Sleepers’ team, which is employed by the council, Sarah Mitchell disputed last year’s multi-agency count, claiming it actually totalled 76, but added: “There is no doubting that in the past year there has been an increase.”
A specialist No Second Night Out worker was employed six months ago by the team to quickly scoop up people whose lives have collapsed and have found themselves living on the streets.
Between July and September they helped 33 homeless people, trying to stop them becoming entrenched in street life.
Hot food
Friends First homeless charity has seen an increase in the number of rough sleepers looking for a home-cooked meal at its drop in centre in New England Street, Brighton, from an average of 80 per week to up to 100 in the last month.
A volunteer at the Salvation Army’s weekly Homeless Project, Monsignor Jermone Lloyd from the Old Roman Catholic Church, said in recent months numbers have increased from 60 people a week to up to 100.
He said: “In the last six months the people coming here has gone from being more or less people living on the streets or squatters through to now where people who lost their jobs and are finding it difficult to make ends meet, and ended up homeless.
“We have had various stories.
“There was a chap whose job was working in a burger shop and had a flat upstairs. When the shop closed he lost his flat and his job in one go and was living in a tent in Preston Park.
“We have had young mothers as well, who bring their children in during half term or the school holidays – the children are fed at school but when it’s closed they struggle to feed them.”
'It's a huge problem and it's growing'
In 2010 to 2011 Brighton and Hove City Council’s housing team advised 4,358 people - 1,000 were helped to avoid homelessness.
The Brighton Unemployed Centre Families Project is handing out more and more food parcels and sees an “awful lot” of single mothers struggling to feed their children and keep their homes.
In response a monthly homeless meeting was set up last year – it now runs every week to meet demand.
Employee Ellie Moulton blamed housing benefit changes, new squatting laws, parking restrictions in Brighton and the increasing cost of food: “It’s a huge problem and growing, it’s a real concern.”
Antifreeze’s Mr Haddow added: “There’s also a housing crisis, a real shortfall of where we can house people.”
A survey in August by FareShare Brighton and Hove, which redistributes surplus food to the homeless and vulnerable, found 55% of people have had an increase in the number of clients using their services. The other 45% have a fixed number of people they can help and are all at capacity.
Last year only 27% of agencies had an increase in demand for their services.
Nathan Au, project manager, said: “Homeless figures go up and down but the proportion of the population needing charitable support for food is going up. For a lot of organisations that are open access they are having trouble because demand is going up but funding is going down.”
A 35-year-old father of two, who did not want to be named, has been camping in Brighton for three weeks.
His family broke up leaving him homeless, he started using drugs and then fell out of work.
“I need to stay in Brighton and sort myself out for my children who are five and six. It’s hard in Brighton because there are so many homeless people. I intend to do cash in hand work. In the winter being homeless is hard.”
'It's a crime to be poor'
32-year-old Jamie Price has been homeless for 13 years.
“I’ve been homeless on and off - pretty much most of the time I have been squatting or sofa surfing.
“I’m getting to the point now where I’m seriously starting to lose the plot and I will end up in prison, a mental hospital or six foot under.
“Everyone is out for themselves and the way people treat each other...
“It’s really grating after putting up with it for this long.
“There’s no support whatsoever out there for us. We’re moved from pillar to post, forced to move out every so often, I have no worldly possessions.
“I’ve noticed loads more people in shop doorways recently. A lot of squatters have been displaced.
“One of my friends got set upon when he was sleeping in a doorway, people were kicking his head shouting ‘tramp’. “I’m literally at breaking point. Basically in this country now it’s a crime to be poor.”
Army's plea for funding
Brighton Salvation Army’s commanding officers Jacques and Yvonne Rouffett moved from Belgium in July.
Mr Rouffett said: “We are desperate for finances. We have to pay for food, electricity, gas and water.”
Mrs Rouffett said: “Feeding 70 people every Wednesday – that takes a lot.
“But we need to do it, we want to do it and we will keep doing it.
“The Salvation Army is never allowed to be in deficit but we are using our reserves.”
They are desperate for funding to upkeep the kitchen as well as donations of new underwear, warm socks, woolly clothes, waterproof coats and hats and gloves.
Facts and figures
Some 33 new street sleepers were helped between July and September by the Rough Sleepers Team, Brighton.
Up to a 60% increase in the number of people taking sleeping bags from Antifreeze, Brighton.
A 20% increase in the number of rough sleepers dropping in for a hot meal according to Friends First, New England Street, Brighton.
In Brighton and Hove, the average annual rent takes up 67% of the average income - having to spend more than 35% of your pay on rent is generally considered unaffordable, according to National Housing Federation.
In 2010 to 2011, 1,124 people applied to Brighton and Hove City Council as homeless and in need of help with accommodation.
There are currently 800 households living in temporary accommodation in the city.
How to get help How to get help Report a homeless person to the Rough Sleeper team on 0808 168 0414 The Antifreeze homeless centre is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday between noon and 4pm off of Portland Road.
The Salvation Army’s Homeless Project is open on Wednesday from 9am at the Congress Hall on Park Terrace Crescent.
Information about the Brighton Unemployed Centre Families Project is available from www.bucfp.org.
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Comments(59)
rolivan
says...
1:18pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Old Ladys Gin
says...
1:23pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Yes they do and it is to be expected at this time of the year.
Brighton and Hove have always had a poverty problem, it probably always will.
Brighton is a honey pot of free living and decadence and sets a fast pace. These things are the very reason for its existence. It has always been this way.
It will always be attractive because of this and some of them will not hack it, but, be unable to go elsewhere.
Goldenwight
says...
1:29pm Fri 26 Oct 12
While there are a substantial number of rough sleepers in Brighton, I think is fair to say that most if not all agencies dealing with them have their own agenda and are likely to quote figures that show them in the best light rather than accurate and objective reporting. Which is fair enough, it is what I would expect of anyone.
What we really need to do is to look at the reasons for the specific problems suffered by Brighton. Firstly, it is seen as an attractive city to be homeless in. Personally I would disagree. Secondly, there are a lot of people coming out of prison locally who are just dumped with £50 and the name of a B&B. So they wind up homeless in Brighton and, to a lesser extent, the other towns of the conurbation together with Bognor and Chichester.
My own response would be to tackle the prison problem at source- this is a responsibility that HMP are failing and they are failing all of us by doing so. With regard to the large (and transitory) homeless population the answer is very simple- don't provide ANY help in Brighton whatever, just free travel warrants to somewhere else. Preferably somewhere unpleasant. You'll soon see a large fall off in numbers. Which won't be matched by an equal increase elsewhere.
Obviously, I am being a bit draconian here because there is obviously a local homelessness problem in addition, but sometimes you just have to take a firm stand and forget about things like fairness and equality.
mnairb
says...
1:29pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Surely not!
says...
1:54pm Fri 26 Oct 12
inadaptado
says...
2:10pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Surely not! wrote:Because we are being sold the idea the public sector is not necessary, so all the services they provide can be privatized.
If you think people in the public sector are paid so well compared to those in the private sector then why don't you go and work in the public sector? That would strike me as the intelligent thing to do!
I hope they win. I hope one day public sector is donwsized to a barely minimum and everything else you have to pay for, upfront and in cash. Maybe that day, when you are squeezed out of your last pound to make a miserable living we will realize what a good thing we had.
RAS Putin
says...
2:14pm Fri 26 Oct 12
mnairb wrote:Perhaps because any rise in government spending is being channeled to cronies? Think A4E, for one.
If the 'dastardly' cuts are to blame, why is government spending still rising?
Telboy31
says...
2:15pm Fri 26 Oct 12
HJarrs
says...
2:15pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Still, the cuts have helped pay for a reduction of tax for the richest.
Maxwell's Ghost
says...
2:30pm Fri 26 Oct 12
The Green council have still left the shelter closed and still the council wants to fritter money away on electric car charging points which are unused and if they are used they can only be used by people who can afford to spend £20,000 on an elecric car, or the multi-million pound cycle lane which is unnecessary.
The Greens are just like the Tories.
HJarrs
says...
2:56pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Maxwell's Ghost wrote:Sorry, but this is happening all over the country. This is not some sort of game. The Conservative government are quite happy to withdraw what limited safety net we have and see people in desperate straits. I fear that we will see families on the streets all over the UK soon. Don't forget only yesterday in the news silver spooner Ian Duncan Smith was pushing the policy of limiting benefits after a certain number of children, that should sort it, balming children for being born. How long before they propose another tax cut for the top rate payers?
You cheeky devil HJarrs.
The Green council have still left the shelter closed and still the council wants to fritter money away on electric car charging points which are unused and if they are used they can only be used by people who can afford to spend £20,000 on an elecric car, or the multi-million pound cycle lane which is unnecessary.
The Greens are just like the Tories.
NickBrt
says...
3:08pm Fri 26 Oct 12
voiceofthescoombe
says...
3:09pm Fri 26 Oct 12
rightback
says...
3:10pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Tommy11 wrote:Rubbish! You think that rough sleepers are a recent phenomenon.....wrong
This is a result of a terrible, selfish & useless Tory government..... yet people in Brighton and Hove who think their 'cool' and 'with it' vote them in Predominantly. It's pathetic... even East Brighton has a Tory MP who is a well known git. Shame on you.........
! Get real! I've lived down here since 1988 and have seen rough sleepers on the streets all that time. It was as much an issue with the the Blair, Brown " governments as it is with this one. Think before you speak!
Tommy11
says...
3:16pm Fri 26 Oct 12
rightback wrote:Your an idiot... I have lived here my whole life, and i'm a housing officer. You have no idea what your talking about just because you have seen a few rough sleepers about since 1988 you total muppet!!!!..
Tommy11 wrote: This is a result of a terrible, selfish & useless Tory government..... yet people in Brighton and Hove who think their 'cool' and 'with it' vote them in Predominantly. It's pathetic... even East Brighton has a Tory MP who is a well known git. Shame on you.........Rubbish! You think that rough sleepers are a recent phenomenon.....wrong ! Get real! I've lived down here since 1988 and have seen rough sleepers on the streets all that time. It was as much an issue with the the Blair, Brown " governments as it is with this one. Think before you speak!
Think before you come back with total nonsense that you know nothing about.....
Maxwell's Ghost
says...
3:25pm Fri 26 Oct 12
I honestly don't know how KitKat and Lucas and any of their supoprters can sleep at night. It's a moral outrage and yes, you are as bad as the Tories.
vivelavive
says...
3:30pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Tommy11 wrote:The country is skint and the borrowing has to be brought under control. People want money from the treasury to pay for this and that as though the stuff grows on trees. I was born here and know that it is a great place to live but if you can't afford rent and the local authority can't house you then go somewhere else!
This is a result of a terrible, selfish & useless Tory government..... yet people in Brighton and Hove who think their 'cool' and 'with it' vote them in Predominantly. It's pathetic... even East Brighton has a Tory MP who is a well known git. Shame on you.........
rightback
says...
3:34pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Tommy11 wrote:I can assure you there were just as many rough sleepers around under Labour as there are now. The Labour government was just as devious at its attempt to massage the figures as all other governments are and always have been. If you are a housing officer then god help the poor sods who go to you for help. Wake up and get back to the world of reality!
rightback wrote:Your an idiot... I have lived here my whole life, and i'm a housing officer. You have no idea what your talking about just because you have seen a few rough sleepers about since 1988 you total muppet!!!!..
Tommy11 wrote: This is a result of a terrible, selfish & useless Tory government..... yet people in Brighton and Hove who think their 'cool' and 'with it' vote them in Predominantly. It's pathetic... even East Brighton has a Tory MP who is a well known git. Shame on you.........Rubbish! You think that rough sleepers are a recent phenomenon.....wrong ! Get real! I've lived down here since 1988 and have seen rough sleepers on the streets all that time. It was as much an issue with the the Blair, Brown " governments as it is with this one. Think before you speak!
Think before you come back with total nonsense that you know nothing about.....
Hove Actually
says...
3:36pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Tommy11 wrote:You are NOT a housing officer, that is a FACT and calling people idiot and muppet prove it, as all the housing officers I have seen are all PC and lovey dovey salad munching liberals.
rightback wrote:Your an idiot... I have lived here my whole life, and i'm a housing officer. You have no idea what your talking about just because you have seen a few rough sleepers about since 1988 you total muppet!!!!..
Tommy11 wrote: This is a result of a terrible, selfish & useless Tory government..... yet people in Brighton and Hove who think their 'cool' and 'with it' vote them in Predominantly. It's pathetic... even East Brighton has a Tory MP who is a well known git. Shame on you.........Rubbish! You think that rough sleepers are a recent phenomenon.....wrong ! Get real! I've lived down here since 1988 and have seen rough sleepers on the streets all that time. It was as much an issue with the the Blair, Brown " governments as it is with this one. Think before you speak!
Think before you come back with total nonsense that you know nothing about.....
rightback
says...
3:44pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Hove Actually wrote:You never know, some of them might just be meat eaters....free range of course!
Tommy11 wrote:You are NOT a housing officer, that is a FACT and calling people idiot and muppet prove it, as all the housing officers I have seen are all PC and lovey dovey salad munching liberals.
rightback wrote:Your an idiot... I have lived here my whole life, and i'm a housing officer. You have no idea what your talking about just because you have seen a few rough sleepers about since 1988 you total muppet!!!!..
Tommy11 wrote: This is a result of a terrible, selfish & useless Tory government..... yet people in Brighton and Hove who think their 'cool' and 'with it' vote them in Predominantly. It's pathetic... even East Brighton has a Tory MP who is a well known git. Shame on you.........Rubbish! You think that rough sleepers are a recent phenomenon.....wrong ! Get real! I've lived down here since 1988 and have seen rough sleepers on the streets all that time. It was as much an issue with the the Blair, Brown " governments as it is with this one. Think before you speak!
Think before you come back with total nonsense that you know nothing about.....
Jimmy Stewart's Imaginary Rabbit
says...
3:45pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Jimmy Stewart's Imaginary Rabbit
says...
3:53pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Maxwell's Ghost wrote:Spot on. The day that the Greens support new coal-fired power stations and campaign to remove all subsidies from 'renewable' energy sources (thus letting them stand or fall depending on whether they work or not) then I'll accept that they have the interest of ordinary people at heart.
Yes, HJarrs, the Tories may be causing it, but your lot of Green colleagues are just as bad at local level supporting the rich,middle class with these fancy vanity projects while people are on the streets.
I honestly don't know how KitKat and Lucas and any of their supoprters can sleep at night. It's a moral outrage and yes, you are as bad as the Tories.
Until then we'll know that they care far more for dogma and ideology, despite any pronouncements to the contrary.
Point
says...
3:55pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Point
says...
3:55pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Point
says...
4:03pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Goldenwight
says...
4:35pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Point wrote:Well, I can't speak for everyone else who has posted here, but I most certainly AM a rough sleeper.
Look at all the political ping pong games, while people are freezing on the streets, and the claims of people who say they are housing officers or homeless, Agencies in the City are doing it for their own agendas RUBBISH, The wages RUBBISH, Perhaps just perhaps the Charity sector want to help people survive and move forward, so that Brighton would be a far better place for all of us..Now thats a thought...
Since I'm the only person whose comments could possibly be misinterpreted as 'Agencies in the City are doing it for their own agendas RUBBISH' I feel obliged to point out that I have said no such thing.
No, what I have said- quite clearly- is that all of these agencies have their own agendas for wishing to present the facts in a manner which suits themselves. I apologize if there are any (other) readers who were able to misinterpret and misrepresent my comments to such a degree, and I am happy to correct the situation. The various (mostly, but not exclusively, charitable) agencies in the area are doing a great job within their own definition of 'a great job' at the very least.
What I haven't seen here, is one single useful constructive suggestion. Come on people, I suggested a pretty radical idea- at least I should get a few posts complaining that I would be better off running a concentration camp or something!
Does nobody reading this really have any useful suggestions?
Hoarder12345444
says...
4:36pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Tommy11 wrote:Arent we all in together as Mr multi millionaire, 5 house Dave said??? what a load of rubbish
This is a result of a terrible, selfish & useless Tory government..... yet people in Brighton and Hove who think their 'cool' and 'with it' vote them in Predominantly. It's pathetic... even East Brighton has a Tory MP who is a well known git. Shame on you.........
Old Ladys Gin
says...
4:46pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Jimmy Stewart's Imaginary Rabbit wrote:That is a fair and honest point.
This article isn't just about the homeless but about the poorer Brightonians generally. I hope people remember this story next time they complain that a twee little boutique is being closed down to make way for a new ALDI. Providing cheap food and cheap energy should be the number one priority for any government and stuff your middle class concerns.
rolivan
says...
4:49pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Point wrote:So that is 8 categories which means they have 8 agencies doing the same job on average.For example are multiple Agencies giving out more than 1 Sleeping bag to the same person.Do these agencies contact each other to see if the same people are going to different agencies for the same help?
oh yes one more thing the 48 agencies cover , housing, addictions, clothing, foodbanks, recovery centres, mental health, night shelters unemployment the agencies work in partnership for the homeless. To say why we need all these agencies is lie walking into a hospital and asking one Doctor to do everything from Delivering a baby to brain surgery...
Poplar Seagull
says...
4:50pm Fri 26 Oct 12
rightback wrote:I’m a Housing Officer and although Tommy 11 has been a little feisty with his comments his does have a point. The Labour Government did work hard to reduce homelessness and did set up the Rough Sleepers Initiative which was able to reduce rough sleeper figures while in charge. Granted, the current economic climate hasn’t helped – but as a Housing professional the Labour Government battled hard to reduce social exclusion and rough sleeping, i.e. introducing New Deal for Communities and the Hostels Capital Programme which really strengthened support services around homelessness and improved the condition of hostels.
Tommy11 wrote: This is a result of a terrible, selfish & useless Tory government..... yet people in Brighton and Hove who think their 'cool' and 'with it' vote them in Predominantly. It's pathetic... even East Brighton has a Tory MP who is a well known git. Shame on you.........Rubbish! You think that rough sleepers are a recent phenomenon.....wrong ! Get real! I've lived down here since 1988 and have seen rough sleepers on the streets all that time. It was as much an issue with the the Blair, Brown " governments as it is with this one. Think before you speak!
The Labour Government was not perfect and can acknowledge that there were still insufficient safety nets to avoid rough sleeping, but they did come up with numerous programmes and taskforces to offer aid to Homelessness services. What have the Coalition Government done do far to help prevent rough sleeping? Abolish the Social Exclusion Task Force, cut the Working Neighbourhood Fund, Introduce Affordable Rent schemes which will inevitably lead to high rent arrears and introduce short term unsecure tenancies? Combine this with an ever increasing demand for social housing which cannot meet supply will obviously lead to an increase in rough sleeping, it’s really not that hard to figure! The Coalition Government need to come up with a decent policy on how they plan to tackle social exclusion and reduce homelessness, sadly something they are not interested in.
Tommy11
says...
4:56pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Poplar Seagull wrote:Good answer Poplar....great comments...
rightback wrote:I’m a Housing Officer and although Tommy 11 has been a little feisty with his comments his does have a point. The Labour Government did work hard to reduce homelessness and did set up the Rough Sleepers Initiative which was able to reduce rough sleeper figures while in charge. Granted, the current economic climate hasn’t helped – but as a Housing professional the Labour Government battled hard to reduce social exclusion and rough sleeping, i.e. introducing New Deal for Communities and the Hostels Capital Programme which really strengthened support services around homelessness and improved the condition of hostels. The Labour Government was not perfect and can acknowledge that there were still insufficient safety nets to avoid rough sleeping, but they did come up with numerous programmes and taskforces to offer aid to Homelessness services. What have the Coalition Government done do far to help prevent rough sleeping? Abolish the Social Exclusion Task Force, cut the Working Neighbourhood Fund, Introduce Affordable Rent schemes which will inevitably lead to high rent arrears and introduce short term unsecure tenancies? Combine this with an ever increasing demand for social housing which cannot meet supply will obviously lead to an increase in rough sleeping, it’s really not that hard to figure! The Coalition Government need to come up with a decent policy on how they plan to tackle social exclusion and reduce homelessness, sadly something they are not interested in.Tommy11 wrote: This is a result of a terrible, selfish & useless Tory government..... yet people in Brighton and Hove who think their 'cool' and 'with it' vote them in Predominantly. It's pathetic... even East Brighton has a Tory MP who is a well known git. Shame on you.........Rubbish! You think that rough sleepers are a recent phenomenon.....wrong ! Get real! I've lived down here since 1988 and have seen rough sleepers on the streets all that time. It was as much an issue with the the Blair, Brown " governments as it is with this one. Think before you speak!
Take note rightback & Hove Actually(such an embarrassing username, I even hate typing it)
Cyril Bolleaux
says...
5:26pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Sussex jim
says...
5:37pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Tommy11 wrote:So once we get rid of a Tory government everything will be fine? Will the brave new world of Labour, who wrecked our economy last time round, abolish homelessness and poverty at a stroke?
This is a result of a terrible, selfish & useless Tory government..... yet people in Brighton and Hove who think their 'cool' and 'with it' vote them in Predominantly. It's pathetic... even East Brighton has a Tory MP who is a well known git. Shame on you.........
Grow up and get real.
Morpheus
says...
5:44pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Cyril Bolleaux
says...
5:46pm Fri 26 Oct 12
http://www.brightonc
hurchesnightshelter.
co.uk/
The Real Phil
says...
6:08pm Fri 26 Oct 12
mnairb wrote:Possibly on MP's renting their properties to each other?
If the 'dastardly' cuts are to blame, why is government spending still rising?
taman
says...
6:30pm Fri 26 Oct 12
All lefties Smell
says...
7:23pm Fri 26 Oct 12
All lefties Smell
says...
7:28pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Tommy11 wrote:Orrrr Tommy11 is it that the Labour liars spent this country into oblivion and the Tories are trying to spread what little money they have the best they can whilst trying to pay back the massive deficit.
This is a result of a terrible, selfish & useless Tory government..... yet people in Brighton and Hove who think their 'cool' and 'with it' vote them in Predominantly. It's pathetic... even East Brighton has a Tory MP who is a well known git. Shame on you.........
Get back in the corner you stinking socialist.
mictrix
says...
7:32pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Tommy11 wrote:no you are a total idiot...engage brain before opening ignorant mouth
rightback wrote:Your an idiot... I have lived here my whole life, and i'm a housing officer. You have no idea what your talking about just because you have seen a few rough sleepers about since 1988 you total muppet!!!!..
Tommy11 wrote: This is a result of a terrible, selfish & useless Tory government..... yet people in Brighton and Hove who think their 'cool' and 'with it' vote them in Predominantly. It's pathetic... even East Brighton has a Tory MP who is a well known git. Shame on you.........Rubbish! You think that rough sleepers are a recent phenomenon.....wrong ! Get real! I've lived down here since 1988 and have seen rough sleepers on the streets all that time. It was as much an issue with the the Blair, Brown " governments as it is with this one. Think before you speak!
Think before you come back with total nonsense that you know nothing about.....
HJarrs
says...
8:41pm Fri 26 Oct 12
All lefties Smell wrote:I should think many of the Spanish will be glad to see the back of the millions of Brits that live there but contribute little and do not integrate. They probably would also like to see the back of the drunken idiots from the UK that insist on going to Spain and shaming the rest of us.
What with the open borders and ability to claim benefits across all EU states, maybe we can ship the homeless to Spain where it is much warmer. Its only fair as we have taken in many Spanish and I beleive they will be happier.
HJarrs
says...
8:45pm Fri 26 Oct 12
All lefties Smell wrote:The Labour policies that led to the mess we are in were merely watered down versions of the "free market" guff that the Tories spout. The Tories complained that Labour's deregulation of the financial markets did not go far enough. Thank goodness the Tories were not in power in 2008, we would all be out on the streets (exception Etonian Cabinet Ministers and pals).
Tommy11 wrote:Orrrr Tommy11 is it that the Labour liars spent this country into oblivion and the Tories are trying to spread what little money they have the best they can whilst trying to pay back the massive deficit.
This is a result of a terrible, selfish & useless Tory government..... yet people in Brighton and Hove who think their 'cool' and 'with it' vote them in Predominantly. It's pathetic... even East Brighton has a Tory MP who is a well known git. Shame on you.........
Get back in the corner you stinking socialist.
KarenT
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8:51pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Somethingsarejustwrong
says...
9:42pm Fri 26 Oct 12
..
....if all the empty special brew cans were saved and recycled then maybe a special brew shelter could be constructed.
Also imagine a world where people bothered about contributing and putting at least as much in as they wanted to take out.
Finally, imagine a world without these street people, perfect!
Terry K
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11:31pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Goldenwight
says...
2:32am Sat 27 Oct 12
KarenT wrote:Karen, I would point you to my earlier answer. There are specific reasons, namely prison depopulation and conception of Brighton as ' a good place to be.' In addition, Westminster City Council's aggressive anti-homelessness policy combined with it's closeness to Brighton contribute further.
I would like to understand why so many homeless people flock to an extremely populated and congested and EXPENSIVE city that already has considerably large homelessness problems, a drastic shortage of hostels and shelters, and prohibitively high rents? And why do they remain? Wouldn't it make more sense to go somewhere where there was less of a problem, competing with less people in similar circumstances? Shorter waiting lists? I realise there is no where where you just turn up and get homed without any problems - but surely Brighton would be the LAST place one would choose in those circumstances? Goldenwright says that Brighton "is seen as an attractive city to be homeless in." Why is that? Surely the idea of being housed WHEREVER that might be would be far more attractive? I'm sure sleeping rough has to suck just as much in Brighton as it would anywhere - all streets are hard and cold. Why place yourself somewhere where your chances of getting on the first rung of the ladder are so much more compromised? I think when people say that one of the major draws is the "free living and decadence and fast pace", this ends up implying that homelessness is considered a fair price to pay to be a part of that in some way, which, in turn, can end up draining some sympathy for the problem. People will ask, WHY are they choosing a "vibe" over a "roof over their heads"?
But you make a number of excellent points. Brighton does not actually permanently house large numbers of homeless people from outside its areas- it is merely a temporary home to most of them who go on to either their own home areas or elsewhere.
And fair comment to the earlier posters- the original article was not specifically about homelessness, but about poverty. This itself, whilst not a particularly local issue, is an issue that society needs to address. Any answers, or offers to man soup kitchens, contact the Argus.
Somethingsarejustwrong
says...
5:56am Sat 27 Oct 12
Goldenwight wrote:How about getting work, stopping frittering benefit money on strong drink and cigarettes and then using funds on shelter, like most other people?
KarenT wrote:Karen, I would point you to my earlier answer. There are specific reasons, namely prison depopulation and conception of Brighton as ' a good place to be.' In addition, Westminster City Council's aggressive anti-homelessness policy combined with it's closeness to Brighton contribute further.
I would like to understand why so many homeless people flock to an extremely populated and congested and EXPENSIVE city that already has considerably large homelessness problems, a drastic shortage of hostels and shelters, and prohibitively high rents? And why do they remain? Wouldn't it make more sense to go somewhere where there was less of a problem, competing with less people in similar circumstances? Shorter waiting lists? I realise there is no where where you just turn up and get homed without any problems - but surely Brighton would be the LAST place one would choose in those circumstances? Goldenwright says that Brighton "is seen as an attractive city to be homeless in." Why is that? Surely the idea of being housed WHEREVER that might be would be far more attractive? I'm sure sleeping rough has to suck just as much in Brighton as it would anywhere - all streets are hard and cold. Why place yourself somewhere where your chances of getting on the first rung of the ladder are so much more compromised? I think when people say that one of the major draws is the "free living and decadence and fast pace", this ends up implying that homelessness is considered a fair price to pay to be a part of that in some way, which, in turn, can end up draining some sympathy for the problem. People will ask, WHY are they choosing a "vibe" over a "roof over their heads"?
But you make a number of excellent points. Brighton does not actually permanently house large numbers of homeless people from outside its areas- it is merely a temporary home to most of them who go on to either their own home areas or elsewhere.
And fair comment to the earlier posters- the original article was not specifically about homelessness, but about poverty. This itself, whilst not a particularly local issue, is an issue that society needs to address. Any answers, or offers to man soup kitchens, contact the Argus.
These drunken miscreants ruin Brighton for all the rest of us.
Clear off!
Maxwell's Ghost
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7:52am Sat 27 Oct 12
Sadly people suffer mental illness, some children grow up in care and struggle to know how to survive in the normal world when they haven't had parents to help, some are sexually abused and never recover. Many of these children end up on our streets as broken adults. Their problems with addiction often start as teenagers coping with issues not life choices.
They aren't partying middle class people who suddenly become addicted and have chosen a path of destruction.
You should stop and talk to people, read some books or do some charity work because you sound like someone who hasn't left their front room and watches quaint tv programmes where everyone is fortunate, well and rather jolly.
whereisthe...?
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9:37am Sat 27 Oct 12
outreachbtn
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9:42am Sat 27 Oct 12
Somethingsarejustwrong
says...
10:04am Sat 27 Oct 12
whereisthe...? wrote:Quite ridiculous, yet another comment from the I am owed a living - something for nothing brigade.
SHAME ON TORIES / LIB DEMS - SHAME!!!!
Benefits anyone?
Juleyanne
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4:15pm Sat 27 Oct 12
man. You clearly have absolutely no intelligence whatsoever! If you did indeed have a few functioning brain cells and could actually absorb the seriousness of the situation which clearly states several times, that agencies are now seeing a worrying trend of people who are losing their jobs and subsequently their homes, who are not necessarily drinkers or alcoholics ending up 'on the streets' who do not deserve your utterly callous
and heartless venom! Be careful what you wish for - but for the grace of god go you!
Somethingsarejustwrong
says...
7:05am Sun 28 Oct 12
Juleyanne wrote:I don't have a problem with you wishing to save all the poor dogs and now all the poor homeless people using your personal funds. What I do have is a major issue with you and the other hypocrites who seem happy to propose that free loaders get support funded by hard working tax payers.
Oh go away you horrible nasty little
man. You clearly have absolutely no intelligence whatsoever! If you did indeed have a few functioning brain cells and could actually absorb the seriousness of the situation which clearly states several times, that agencies are now seeing a worrying trend of people who are losing their jobs and subsequently their homes, who are not necessarily drinkers or alcoholics ending up 'on the streets' who do not deserve your utterly callous
and heartless venom! Be careful what you wish for - but for the grace of god go you!
As for worrying trends, if you believe everything you read from people seeking prioritised funding then you are even less bright than your posting history suggests.
On a final note the sooner these scrounging, begging drunken miscreants are removed from our streets the better.
Juleyanne
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7:54am Sun 28 Oct 12
Your comments are always one sided and you seem to be completely unable to see
any situation from more than one angle.
Intelligence comes from an ability to be
balanced in your judgement of issues and see 'the bigger picture'.
Maxwell's Ghost
says...
8:29am Sun 28 Oct 12
Also I've learned that Bradley Wiggins, who raced under a British flag, earning money from British sponsors and chooses Mod clothing, an iconic image of Britain, registers in the Cayman Islands to avoid tax.
What do you consider freeloading? Living on the street getting £40 a week benefit or living like a lord and being able to pay someone to get you out of paying tax.
Personally I find the latter extremely distasteful.
Somethingsarejustwrong
says...
9:52am Sun 28 Oct 12
Maxwell's Ghost wrote:To address your question.
As most families claim child support and/or working tax credits, one could say most UK families are freeloaders.
Also I've learned that Bradley Wiggins, who raced under a British flag, earning money from British sponsors and chooses Mod clothing, an iconic image of Britain, registers in the Cayman Islands to avoid tax.
What do you consider freeloading? Living on the street getting £40 a week benefit or living like a lord and being able to pay someone to get you out of paying tax.
Personally I find the latter extremely distasteful.
I consider tax avoidance and evasion completely unpalatable and the sooner the present legislation is tightened the better.
Surely the target has to be to get all people into tax paying status wherever possible (this means they are contributing), yet recognising that there will be short periods of time where support may be needed i.e. loss of job, child rearing etc.
Within the latter the system collapses where people are happy to remain in the benefit claiming cycle at either too high a level (multiple offspring, no job no income) and for too long. The people drinking special brew in shop doorways and shouting drunken abuse at passers by do not strike me as wanting to contribute.
Remove funding then they will either find work (result), or commit crime (then we can lock them away (result)
Either way, lets crack on.
Somethingsarejustwrong
says...
10:05am Sun 28 Oct 12
Juleyanne wrote:Juletanne - my views on spending tax payers money inappropriately on free loaders are as you say one sided and I make no apology for this view; which has to be maintained because of people like you,
Actually you do have a problem with everything dogs, people in crisis, you name it! I have read enough of your poisonous comments on various subjects and firmly established you are not a particularly nice or compassionate person.
Your comments are always one sided and you seem to be completely unable to see
any situation from more than one angle.
Intelligence comes from an ability to be
balanced in your judgement of issues and see 'the bigger picture'.
In terms of me and the macro view then of course I have a clear understanding of the bigger picture and unlike you I can see how the present systems fail both the tax payer and the freeloaders, hence my desire to eliminate the problem by addressing the root cause.
I suspect if you were contributing significant amounts of tax your opinions may shift, however my expectation is that with your happy to have something for nothing approach you will maintain the same old, same old mindset and when out debated will resort to insults.
Juleyanne
says...
9:50am Mon 29 Oct 12
Tommy11 says...
1:18pm Fri 26 Oct 12