he is a young man who sleeps at the graveyard of a church at the station, the samaritans cant help (i've investigaged) but the salvation army might. any other suggestions? he looks young and able...? oh, we tried the council, they wont class him as vulnerable and ridiculed his application...i cant take him into my own home even though i've space...i dont know him from anywhere!?! but want to help!
2006-09-29 10:40:45 · 48 answers · asked by Wisdom 4 in Social Science ➔ Anthropology
According to the Homeless Act 2002 (i think) a rough sleeper is deemed homeless under section 184 therefore the Council should provide him with temporary accommodation. A ny single person is deemed vulnerable if the following apply:
Physical and / or mental health issues
Drug and Alcohol problems
Rough Sleeping/street homeless
Age under 18's are vulnerable
they must also not be intentionally homeless and they need to be entitled to receive 'public funds' so they must be here legally.
Also, if he is under 21 (could be 25 ) and has been in Social Services care when a child he can be helped by Social Services Care and after team.
If none of these things apply, and I am sure at least one does as he's street homeless, you could try the local council's deposit bond scheme, which helps people who do not 'qualify' for the homeless route to gain accommodation by putting up a deposit against a property.
Most large cities have hostels for single homeless men, mainly run by Salvation Army or Cyrenians. The hostels aren't brilliant but its a bed for the night.
My best advice to you is to contact Shelter, they know everything there is to know about Housing and Homelessness.
I am a Support Worker for a local authority and I come across cases like this all the time. If you don't find any of this info useful, please email me karenfrankcom@fsmail.net and I will give you my phone number and you can give me more details.
best of luck
2006-09-29 11:01:17 · answer #1 · answered by kazza0011 1 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Just because someone "looks" able-bodied, that doesn't mean that he doesn't have some other kind of mental or emotional disability. Some people just can't read well enough to deal with the mountain of paperwork that goes into getting public assistance. That 'bum' may be out of work after an illness or a layoff and has lost everything through no fault of his own.
I think the only way you'll be able to help this guy is to talk to him in more detail and find out what's going on. Maybe take him a sandwich and some coffee or tea, and just spend some time listening to him.
With any luck, maybe you'll be able to pick up on a psychological or mental disability that can be used to get him some help. BTW, thanks for caring about someone else in need. . .not everyone is as compassionate.
2006-09-29 10:47:10 · answer #2 · answered by Wolfeblayde 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Why not talk to him and ask him why he is on the street, unless you know what he wants you wont be able to help him. If he has been on the street a long time, he may be depressed and may have lost all caring about where he is, it is very hard to be on the street, and very hard for them to return back to normal life when you have been on the street, without proper food, clothing, cleanliness, someone to care. You would be suspicious of everyone, you would not act normally. You would probably shy away from the do gooders of this world.
First learn more about street people, look into organisations such as oasis who help the street people, it takes a long time if ever to rehabilitate someone off the street.
2006-09-30 05:43:51 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
First of all the term 'bum' is not nice ,but you seem sympathtic
you could give him some money The salvation Army just want donations so forget 'charities' he may have a mental health problem
Try your local mental health hospital.Your local council should be ashamed,they could make some effort.How about the vicar of the church ?
2006-09-29 10:49:51 · answer #4 · answered by bob 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Sometimes looks are deceiving. Yes, there are people who truly need help but remember your safety is #1. Sometimes people need to want to be helped before someone can help them. My friend did a study of homeless people and followed them for about a week or two for a class assignment and found nearly all of them actually had homes and made more money than most could imagine from panhandling. Keep yourself safe and secure first. Good luck and I wish the best for your efforts.
2006-09-30 16:17:05 · answer #5 · answered by ck 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The Local Authority (Council) have a legal resposibility to put a roof over his head . He should report to the local office that he is `Homeless` and the statutary obligations should be met. He would have to engage voluntarily however . There are however other agencies around who do street work for the homeless depending on where you are in the UK . eg `The Simon Community`.
2006-09-29 22:49:48 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
A homeless shelter is your first source of help. Look them up in the yellow pages or on the net. Each shelter has rules though like helping with cleaning and performing work around the shelter. He might not want your help. Ask him if you can help him first.
Also all Archdiocese have shelters or food pantries. contact the local FSSA office and have him meet with a case worker if they can help...they have alot of resources including clothing vouchers...travel transportation vouchers... workshops for job readiness training. good luck
2006-09-29 10:55:32 · answer #7 · answered by Tabor 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
try to find a halfway home for adults. See if there is a way to get him a hotel room for a week or two with help from the red cross and salvation army to pay for it and then he can shower and maybe a few people will donate clothes to him and pay him to do odd jobs like housecleaning, keeping up yards or cleaning local churches. then he can earn money and maybe get referanceses and get a little place for a while
2006-09-29 10:53:32 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
it is a really hard thing to find help for the homeless. Not alot of people are willing to help and the stigma about it is widly spread. I would try talking to him. see if he is fully aware. Talk to the local shelters. Social services might be able to help depending on his condition. maybe even try to locate family members. If this man is mentally ill his family might be looking for him. Good luck to you. It is never a waste to help a person in need.
2006-09-29 10:55:56 · answer #9 · answered by thothibis7 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The answer is in your question I think. Hes a young MAN. There are many many organisations who can help the homeless. Why should you do all the work for him. That is probably part of the reason he is on the streets, because he does not want to do anything for himself.
I admire you for kind nature, but you must draw the line, he is not your responsibility, and even if you did give him the world, would you get any thanks?
2006-09-29 10:51:03 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋