What I do believe is that in order to address the problem we need to first understand it at its’ heart, and move away from short-lived flash-in-the-pan strategies that have been tried and tested many time, and frankly, don’t work. Simon On The Streets doesn’t have a strategy that will eradicate begging overnight because there simply isn’t one. Sure there are strategies that can move the problem rapidly; even hide the problem overnight, but none that can really address it at its root, solve it or prevent it happening again. We need time. Time to build a relationship, understand, gain trust, develop the motivation within people to want something different and believe that they can achieve it. The only way we can do this is by working without the restrictions that come with statutory funding. The kind of movement we need to occur within each individual can take anything from weeks to years and short sharp blocks of funding won’t allow us to work for long enough or with enough flexibility to support the change.
Similarly, we can’t achieve such change in isolation. We need a collaborative approach that multiple agencies are all partners in, both statutory and non-statutory. In order for that to work, however, all involved need to be able to work without restriction and remove the barriers to access that a large proportion of this group face; lengthy assessments, motivation tests, group therapy sessions, daily GP appointments, waiting lists, not being classed as “vulnerable enough”, enforced treatment. Sadly, the majority of services that would need to be involved here are at least partly statutorily funded, if not entirely, and are limited as to how flexible they can be. There are amazingly talented and dedicated people working in such services, but they are bound by red tape and the need to demonstrate results on a deadline. You can see the dilemma emerging. The needs of the individual are complex, and thus the range of services needed and the approaches to people’s issues are vast too.
I’d like to address a few issues that seem to be stirring up a lot of emotion in the current climate and articulate our organisational standpoint, as well as the rationale behind it.
1) Meal Vouchers, Food and Addiction
Begging rarely arises out of the need for food and food vouchers will not solve this problem, it is far far more complex. Sadly, over the span of my 15 years working in this field, I have lost many service users in many circumstances, but never as a result of hunger.
At times, some of those who beg may well be hungry and there are a number of services set up to meet this very specific immediate need. Meeting the need doesn’t solve the reason for it occurring. It’s the old “give a man a fish….” adage. Food is needed here, of course it is, but it won’t solve anything other than in the here and now.
The majority of people who beg on city streets do so to fund an addiction. That addiction isn’t a choice as such, it’s very often the result of the need to find a coping mechanism to deal with a significant trauma that has gone without the necessary and correct support. For many, the need to fund an addiction comes from a need to use enough of their particular substance to function – not to get “high” – but to stave off withdrawal for long enough to perhaps engage with a support service. It’s sad, but it’s the truth.
2) We need to credit the general public with a little more awareness of the issues in discussion than recent “don’t give to beggars, you’ll fuel their addiction” campaigns have allowed. I really believe that most people realise, or at least suspect, where their money is going. It is their choice to give and that choice is one of either money, time or a food/drink offering. If someone refuses an offer, then we need to respect that and move away from a culture of thinking that we know what is best for someone. If we want to give, let us give in whichever way we are comfortable. Simon On The Streets is really passionate about providing the public with a truthful and transparent education around the issue, without an agenda, so as to allow them to make an informed choice.
3) If we eradicate begging through enforcement or otherwise without skilfully addressing an individual’s motivators and drivers for begging in the first place, then we will simply push the problem elsewhere. We will likely see a rise in acquisitional crime – i.e. those crimes that are committed to acquire the means to fund an addiction. Shop lifting will increase, car crime etc. The need for them to get the money will still be there, and the people we see begging will simply find another way to get it and with what impact? Many of the people we support have had this discussion with themselves, and have chosen to beg rather than to commit other, more serious, victim-centred crimes.
4) However frustrating it might be, we need to acknowledge that a culture of punishment for this social problem does not solve it and the High Court’s overturning of the recent injunctions was welcomed by Simon On The Streets. Such injunctions from city centre areas make it even harder for already vulnerable people to access the services and support they need and simply pushes the problem elsewhere, often into already economically and socially deprived areas, thus compounding the issues for both those communities and the individuals concerned.
5) Not all homeless people beg, and not all people who beg are homeless. To find yourself in a position where to sit with a cup while people ignore you, spit on you, patronise you, abuse you and in some cases even assault you is not a choice anyone makes if there is a better option for them. Support may be on offer, but all too often it is commissioned in a one-size-fits-all model and doesn’t place the person in need at the centre of it. The support can be very difficult for this group of people to engage with as a result of the restrictions placed on services by their funding, and the need for them to hit targets.
6) Let’s change our language! “Beggars” is such a derogatory term and as a society we have moved away from using so many other, similar labelling and unhelpful terms across a wide range of groups within our communities. These are people. People who beg.
As long as I lead Simon on the Streets we will remain independent of statutory funding because independence enables us to work without restriction. It allows us to speak freely and honestly and to challenge policy and strategy without fear of losing contracts and funding streams. We tailor make the support we offer to suit the needs of each individual. We build a relationship, we build respect and we have some amazing successes with our approach…but never overnight.’
Helen Beachell**
General Manager
July 2015
*Simon On The Streets does not condone aggressive begging in any way and fully support any enforcement approach where this is the case. There is a significant difference between someone sitting with a paper cup, and someone hassling people and becoming aggressive.
**Helen Beachell has worked extensively across both statutory and non-statutory services for over 15 years in several regions. With an Honours Degree in Criminology and Sociology and a broad spectrum of experience in Criminal Justice, Drug Treatment and Social Deprivation, she has lead Simon On The Streets for 2 years, having worked within the organisation since 2010.