UK, Ireland /
Polish homeless in the UK [42]
Why would anyone sleep on the streets of London ?
Many may have dreams of a good life in London. But as has been mentioned some of these people don't think things through, or they are fooled by the stories of others who have made it.
Living in London is not easy. What some visitors don't consider are simple things like the deposit required for rented accomodation, the actual availability of work and living expenses in general.
The promise of a bed for the night or until you can fix yourself up with something soon wears thin after a while.
When walking around London it is not difficult to notice other people who seem to have few problems living on the streets. And when you become desperate it's not too difficult to fool yourself into thinking of it as an alternative lifestyle.
It is possible to live rough and work. Usually it will be casual work, cash in hand.
There is also safety in numbers. When I was in London there were communities of homeless in Lincoln Inn Fields and Cardboard City on the South Bank.
There are many organizations that help the homeless. There are day centres where you can get cheap food, a shower, watch TV, and sometimes get clothing. Sometimes there is a visiting doctor. There are handouts of food late in the evening. Usually soup, tea and sandwiches. In the winter months blankets are distributed and when the weather is extreme some churches open their doors for the night. At Christmas time some organizations become more active. Crisis At Christmas provide food and a place to sleep. You don't get a bed, just a place on the floor.
Begging might be a choice for some, but these days it has become a business and I've seen fights over begging spots. Some of these people make good money.
I've met plenty people who've been on the streets for twenty years or more. But worst of all I've seen people die there. When this happens there is no ceremony, you're treated like a piece of meat. The usual thing that kills is alcohol and/or
the cold weather.
I know that there are many other complex reasons why people live on the streets. How do I know ? Because I spent years working with them, helping out at Soup Kitchens, Day Centers and simply talking to them. But of course that was twenty years ago. Things might have changed, but I doubt it.
If you find yourself stuck in London these places might still be open: The Passage in Victoria. It's catholic run... St Martin in the Fields, down the steps to the left of the church.
The quickest way to find a solution to your problems is to ask for advice on day one. Many people might find it embarrasing, but it's much more preferable to dying in obscurity.
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