Vocal Voices

Where I live, in the outer suburbs of Leeds, it is not a problem, but in the City?

Yesterday I went to the VV Brum meet. I was in the Leeds bus / coach station at 7AM and many of the people there were rough sleepers. The place is open 24 hrs and is dry and warm.

The same is true at Birmingham New Street station.

When I got back at about 10PM many of the faces were familiar. Men and women, of all ages, settling down for the night.

OK, they might beg a bit but otherwise they do not "bother" us as we go about our daily lives. I never give money but a sausage roll or a sarnie is not beyond me.

It's a problem that needs solving IMHO, but how?

Its a big problem every where some are professional beggars who don't want food or drink but money for drugs I don't know how it can be solved using think it ever will

Not being critical as I suppose that many of us do not live in big town and cities so do not see it on a daily basis - but these people do exist.

There are always two people who are sitting near one of the pie shops on the main street when I go into town.

Don't go there late at night so don't know if any are sleeping rough.
Our bus station is closed and locked at night. There are doors on the four pedestrian entrances. Also the doors to the buses are locked.

Workingman wrote:Not being critical as I suppose that many of us do not live in big town and cities so do not see it on a daily basis - but these people do exist.

I'm sure they do wm here some have flats and fleece the visitors

Funny you should post this WM.
MrsC and her sister went into Leeds for a bit of retail therapy earlier this week; she hasn't been for a while.

What struck her (besides City Square being dug up) was the number of homeless, or drug addicts, or just poor looking people in the city centre.
Some were lying on the pavement as she walked down Boar Lane. One man was standing, but in a "zombie" like manner, dirty, and surrounded by dodgy looking men.
They were repeatedly accosted by beggars after money.

I don't know how you beat this, or even if trying does any good. The more the authorities try the worse the problem seems to get.
A start would have to be the reversal of decades of liberal policies on drug use, and I can't see that happening.

Wakefield has it too. A few years ago the police station was closed and the police moved to a new station on an industrial estate.
The the homeless, the drug addicted, the alcoholics were moved in. Was there a policy to do this during Covid?

Anyway, the result is that the town centre has gone down the nick somewhat. Same in a lot of places, as already said.

I think a lot of the problem - at least in Gloucester - is that while there are plenty of hostel places available, they will only take people who are “clean” from drugs, and some either cannot or will not commit to that. There are volunteers who go round the city every day with hot drinks, and sandwiches - I often see them.