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.

I didn't say all, and there are many contributing factors, have you spent any time talking to homeless people, understanding just why [isome[/i of them are on the streets?

No, you get your "facts" from The Mirror & Daily Star

Which of my facts are incorrect?

the fact you read things as you want them to be, for a start.

Surely that's your fact rather than mine......


Anyway, we digress.