In the run up to Christmas I am thinking about the discrepency between the Christmas myth & reality. The happy family, roaring fire, traditional dinner, presents under the tree of the big stores adverts is the myth. People on the streets in sleeping bags, people sleeping in cars, people sofa surfing or living in a single hotel room is the reality.
We must be capable of solving this. Why don't the homeless go into shelters you ask? Many reasons;-
- The shelters are unsafe or have strict rules
- Fear of theft or violence
- Mental health & addiction issues
- Desire for independence
- Shelters are not a long term solution
- Shelters are not available to certain immigrents
- After getting people off the streets in Covid many shelters closed.
I do not believe homelessness is a lifestyle choice. It is a state brought about by numerous factors. There has been a 21% increase in acute homelessness in England since 2022. Rough sleeping increased by 10% on any given night. Various charities will give you an informed picture, rather than the provocative & unbalanced view from some quarters.
https://england.shelter.org.uk/media/press_release/at_least_354000_people_homeless_in_england_today_
There are successful & innovative schemes in Europe that provide relatively safe shelter at relatively low cost. For example in Germany, the UK & the Netherlands. Crucially they also provide privacy. I saw something about an innovative idea of putting lockable garden sheds in a big warehouse.
Ulmer Nest
Solohaus
Amazing Grace pods
None of these solve the root problem, but at least they are a start. It cannot be beyond the wit of an intelligent species to solve homelessness. We should not be tolerating individuals & families who do not have a safe shelter to live in. We lucky ones who have homes should remember the story of Christmas & a baby born to a family in a stable.
Over 2,000 years & very little has changed.
No comments:
Post a Comment