How interesting, it seems like you've change your mind on at least one issue ??
It's "your lot" that want out of the EU, remember ?

The homelessness problem has been chronic in Manchester this decade. It is like some sort of homeless Mecca. As well as the local accent I have heard Lancastrian Scouse Yorkshire and Glaswegian accents amongst the homeless population of my city centre.

It’s like they know the homeless community has been thriving (numbers of homeless, amount of drugs available, safety in numbers ut many get a rude awakening on that front once they get here) in Manchester so come from far and wide to be part of it.

Our Mayor has this as one of his primary jobs to solve. And I have to say in the last 18 months I’ve noticed less aggressive begging, and fewer spice zombies in their statuesque or shaker mantra state strewn around the streets (around three years ago it was rife with this).

The Mayor has a long term (two decade) plan for homelessness in the city.

Next month Vincent Kompany is having his testimonial at the Etihad and all proceeds are going to the Manchester Homeless Fund.

A good start has been made towards the chronic homeless problem in Manchester. Onwards and upwards, let’s hope it continues.

But the root cause of all this needs to be looked at as well, rather than just at the street level... mental illness due to the modern capitalist society we have. Most of these people cannot cope with life in the society that’s been built around them. Whether they be mentally ill through the stresses of life responsibilities of working to pay your way, to ex-soldiers who have PTSD, people who can’t mentally deal with being separated from in a relationship or losing a loved one so see their lives crumble around them, as well as uneducated people who have no skills and therefore cannot get jobs because they don’t have the intelligence or skill set to do anything.

That’s where everything eventually needs to be drawn to.

There’s also a problem with professional beggers here. They have a home, or some sort of living condition, they aren’t homeless. But they get up every morning, get their scruffs on, get on the bus to Town and sit on the floor in the city centre and beg for money. Then before the last bus leaves in the early hours, they get on it with all the money they’ve been given through the day and get off home to their home or whatever living situation they’re in.

How this can be tackled is a mystery.

As someone who has been involved with a homeless charity for a number of years, the real problem is the unecessary red tape that stops people getting off the streets thanks to the Tory government

It has been proven cheaper to give homeless people a decent roof over their head & proper support, than the current mess the homeless exist in. But the right wing insist on those less well off suffering.

It is quite clear those blaming the Conservatives don't really understand the issues. The majority of homeless people I know are habitually homeless and do not want to engage withe the services that are readily available. I know of a number of homeless people who have been offered accommodation, but it comws qith conditions, no alcohol, no drugs, no visitors after 8pm etc. They don't want to do it, it is the INDIVIDUAL that choses to be homeless. The support IS there.

Welcome back Einstein. The correlation between the number of people gaily offering themselves up to be homeless, therefore generously allowing their houses to go to single parent Eastern Europeans, & the existence of an evil, right wing Government is purely coincidental. Especially those former armed services personnel; they should be used to living rough so don't count.

Ever been homeless? thought not.

Quote ="IR80"It is quite clear those blaming the Conservatives don't really understand the issues. The majority of homeless people I know are habitually homeless and do not want to engage withe the services that are readily available. I know of a number of homeless people who have been offered accommodation, but it comws qith conditions, no alcohol, no drugs, no visitors after 8pm etc. They don't want to do it, it is the INDIVIDUAL that choses to be homeless. The support IS there.'" Why are 3 times as many people “choosing” to be homeless now compared to 2010? Source https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theg ... ar-running

Quote ="IR80"It is quite clear those blaming the Conservatives don't really understand the issues. The majority of homeless people I know are habitually homeless and do not want to engage withe the services that are readily available. I know of a number of homeless people who have been offered accommodation, but it comws qith conditions, no alcohol, no drugs, no visitors after 8pm etc. They don't want to do it, it is the INDIVIDUAL that choses to be homeless. The support IS there.'" Why are 3 times as many people “choosing” to be homeless now compared to 2010? Source https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theg ... ar-running

Quote ="Sir Kevin Sinfield"Why are 3 times as many people “choosing” to be homeless now compared to 2010? Source https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theg ... ar-running'" Ah yes, the unbiased Grundiad, left wing view by people who have probably never slept rough in their lives. Nobody who complies with the rules need be homeless, but if you want to smoke crack and be a street drinker even The Salvation Army are reluctant to take you in, and rightly so.

Quote ="Sir Kevin Sinfield"Why are 3 times as many people “choosing” to be homeless now compared to 2010? Source https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theg ... ar-running'" Ah yes, the unbiased Grundiad, left wing view by people who have probably never slept rough in their lives. Nobody who complies with the rules need be homeless, but if you want to smoke crack and be a street drinker even The Salvation Army are reluctant to take you in, and rightly so.

Ah, so it's smoking crack and drinking on the streets that's on the increase, nothing to do with an abject lack of social housing or a huge reduction on spending in social welfare.
The holes in the so called "safety net" to stop people becoming homeless, either due to social or mental health problems, have become so bloody enlarged over the past 10 years of austerity, it's no wonder that homelessness has increased 3 fold but, you can ignore the facts if it makes you feel better and strangely, with his party on the verge of collapse, Boris is now making spending pledges galore.
Mind you, there hasn't been a formal budget, so, perhaps we shouldn't believe him just yet, eh ?

I've never been an idiot either but I can sure recognise one.

Do you think people really want to be crack addicts & alcoholics? When you are in that position, without proper support, it is incredibly difficult to get out of, or even make rational decisions. You need a relatively stable home situation to solve mental health & addiction problems. The right wing state of Utah in the US reduced homelessness by 91% in 10 years by investing in housing & support. Because it was cheaper than the relentless welfare cycle & costs of dealing with the homeless. You might also think it is morally right in the richest countries in the world to do this. But unless you deal with the causes of the addictions & illnesses the problem won't go away, as Utah is now finding.

so, I don't share your jaded left wing opinion, therefore I am an idiot?

always nice to speak to someone with an open mind.

You suggested you had to suffer from a problem to be able to understand it. Which only an idiot would.

Leave him he's not worth it.

not worth it because I have a different opinion?

considering your advanced years you have a very childish outlook.

I'll take "jaded left wing" over bigoted right wing all day long.
Homelessness is a seriously complicated issue and has been prevalent under Labour and the Tories but, even you should recognise that the problemis getting worse under this government.
The last prime minister said that she would help the J.A.M.S. (just about managing) but instead, just about every social service was cut to the bone and I would suggest that although far from being the only reason, this is the main reason for such an increase in numbers.

But that is my point, services are available if people engage with them. I was homeless (albeit very briefly), 6 night rough sleeping, 4 nights in a hostel, I engaged the relevant services and played by the rules.

Were you a crack addict?

no, nor a street drinker, my experience very much opened my eyes to [isome people's[/i reality of homelessness.

Without wanting to know your situation, how long ago was this and do you think that it is easier to engage with services now as opposed to 10 years ago ?

it was very recent, the only issue I had engaging with services was having to travel to the Housing Options office in the LA of the property I was unlawfully evicted from, why you need a "local connection" is unclear, I guess maybe to stop "homeless tourism", my biggest observation would be the ancillary support that isn't available, but that has been an issue through many governments of all persuasions.

Therefore you are not able to judge the quality of decisions those poor sods have to make. It has been shown that the same people, within a relatively short space of time, are simply not able to think as creatively or intelligently if they become addicted (no real surprise) or, maybe more surprisingly, poor.

a much more informed position than many though..would you not agree?

It is interesting, but simply stating that homeless choose that option & the support is there is wrong.