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.