http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/politics/six-of-85-leeds-street-beggars-were-sleeping-rough-1-8008407#ixzz4EI9SehzN
Simon on the Streets’ response to an article in the Yorkshire Evening Post yesterday, and some of the Social Media responses to that article:
The Issue of street begging and its links to homelessness continues to be an area of focus for Leeds City Council.
Simon on the Streets support rough sleepers and those in danger of rough sleeping in Leeds. We work with people who have suffered extreme levels of abuse, physical and or sexual, and people who have experienced real trauma in their lives.
There has been some exchange on social media about who is ‘really homeless’ which beggars are ‘genuine’ and whether people should give money to ‘the homeless’ as the assumption is that it will be squandered on drugs or alcohol.
Simon on the Streets takes the position that it really is up to every individual whether they wish to give money, or food, or time, to anyone who they see on the streets who appears to be begging / homeless / a rough sleeper. We encourage people to think about the reasons why people may have ended up on the streets, and we can whole heartedly say that the people we help need support and understanding.
There are multiple services and a lot of individuals in Leeds, as in many other large cities across the country, who all want to find better ways to support the people who end up living on our streets. It is not acceptable to leave people there, it is something we all have in common.
We are mindful not to be critical of any service who is trying to help people, but while some organisations may help one vulnerable group, there are people who slip through the net, and sadly, as a result, we exist to offer emotional and practical support to a large number of vulnerable adults.
Our response to this article is that we are in agreement that people need to be open to working together. Be respectful of other services offering support. But we must all be mindful that we are very strong in our message that this is a very real problem, that encouraging the public to be suspicious of beggars, and to be judging those they think are lying, is NOT helpful.
Some people do get banned from using homeless services. Some people are struggling with so much they are not in a position to meet the demands that some services feel they need to make in order to operate safely and well for those that use them.
The ones who slip through also need help. They also need to be believed, respected, and understood. Sadly, this is why Simon on the Streets exists. Let’s all respect the work that we all do, and let us all be in agreement in this – that until you have stood in someone else’s shoes, do not judge them. Finding the right help is not easy, and sometimes is not possible right now. But we will stay with people until they reach a place where they can access that help.
#Simon