The Big Issue.

[Workingman]

It is being reported that sellers have been forced off the streets due to coronavirus and that this will send them back to sleeping rough.

I am in two minds about this.

The local Asda has a young woman selling the BI there every day. She is Romanian (apparently) and can stand for eight hours or more constantly talking on her mobile phone, only giving a nod to those who buy from her table - where does she charge it, there is no public charge point? It is not a cheap one either, and she is reasonably well dressed. She has gone.

Round the corner is J a man of 42 years old. He has obvious mental health problems and a disabled arm. He is harmless. I always buy him food and a fruit juice or milk and have a chat. He is not obviously on drink or drugs, but he cannot cope with the 'rules'. I know that he sleeps in the cemetery across the road from me because it is reasonably safe. I have tried numerous times to get the council involved but they want him to attend their office in town some seven miles away. The drivers will not let him on the bus even though I have offered to pay the fare and sit near him.

He's gone as well.

I am hoping that he has been picked up due to the emergency measures put in place for 'roughies' and that he has a warm bed at last. I'll try and find out, but I am not hopeful.

[TheOstrich]

The Big Issue was once a "worthy cause" but it has now completely infiltrated by Eastern European (mainly Romanian) gangs. We saw it in Birmingham, we also now see it down here. I will have nothing to do with them; it can be argued that by buying the magazine you are indirectly supporting people trafficking.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... efits.html
(I would have posted a link to a Daily Telegraph article covering the same points, but it's behind a "free trial" paywall)

If you want to support the homeless, best surely to donate to a recognized charity such as Shelter.

I'd be hopeful your homeless guy has been picked up and found a hostel, WM. There seems to have been a fair bit of effort on this in recent weeks in various towns and cities by councils and charities, Bristol for one.

[victor]

We have one as well although she only stands for about 6 hours ,on the phone the whole time,

sleeping rough ? that's a joke ,comes over from Portsmouth every day,

Lives in a house with her sister and they or the sister have a top of the range Merc.

On benefits? who knows

[Workingman]

Vic, please do not conflate the two, The BI seller could be as you describe. J, the man with the gammy arm, certainly is not. I will not donate to the former but he worries me. I do know that he sleeps in the cemetery as I have kept an eye on him. He has absolutely nothing and I fear for his wellbeing. The two are not the same.

[Workingman]

I am not a soft touch, by any means. I passed by this guy hundreds of times without a glance, then late one cold evening there were hot chicken portions at 10p a box so I bought a load. As I was leaving I gave him some... all 20p's worth and got chatting.

There was a connection. No reason, it was just there. We have chatted ever since. I am concerned.

[Kaz]

I hope he's ok Frank, these are scary times to be on the street

[cromwell]

I hope he's OK WM. He could be at St George's Crypt maybe.

[JoM]

Frank, could he be in a hotel? My cousin’s husband works for a housing association which supports vulnerable people and he spent last weekend arranging hotel accommodation in Birmingham for people living on the streets. Holiday Inn really come good for them.

[victor]

I was only commenting on the BI issue WM

[Workingman]

Vic, I do understand and thanks.

Folks, I have been on to social services and he seems to be one of those who has slipped the net. They cannot give me any detail, obviously, because I am not his registered carer or anything. However, they did say that they have not done a sweep of rough sleepers in my area so it is unlikely that he is in their care. He could be, by other means, but who knows?

The police have bem fantastic and have taken loads of details. There are reports of vagrancy in the area and there is a match in the descriptions on record and mine. He has not been picked up by the police but he is a "known", known. I have been promised a call back from one of the PCSOs who patrol the area so I await the call.

I also tried the stonemason's in the cemetery. They have not noticed anything in and around the monuments, mausoleums or other buildings but they did promise to keep a lookout for obvious signs of entry to the many bits of wooded and shrubbed areas - and there are plenty of them. I am going to take myself over when it gets quieter and have a poke around.

It's all a bit of a mystery.