Two Homeless People Walked Into A Cafe

Homelessness is a growing problem in London. According to the charity Shelter, there are an estimated 4,134 people sleeping rough on the streets of London on any given night. This number has been rising steadily in recent years, and it is believed that the true number of homeless people is much higher, as many people are forced to couch surf or live in overcrowded accommodation.

There are a number of factors that contribute to homelessness in London, including rising rents, a lack of affordable housing, and cuts to welfare benefits. The government has a number of policies in place to help homeless people, including providing temporary accommodation, financial assistance, and help with finding employment. However, these services are often overstretched, and many homeless people struggle to access the help they need.

Apart from the aforementioned socio-political causes of homelessness, there are issues of mental health and substance addiction that also execrable the issue. Depending on the individual, mental illness or substance abuse may come before or after homelessness. That is to say, it may be the root cause of their homelessness, or the result thereof. Individuals with these problems make it even trickier than usual to deal with, with many actively refusing help.

The two homeless people who have come to use the cafe are a good example of the challenges that homeless people face. They have come to possession of a laptop, which is a valuable tool for finding employment and getting back on their feet. However, they are still struggling to find a place to live and to afford basic necessities.

The cafe owner is to be commended for welcoming the homeless people into his cafe. He is providing them with a safe place to stay and with access to the internet, which are essential for them to get back on their feet. However, the cafe owner is also facing challenges. The cafe now smells bad, and there is a risk that other customers will be put off by the presence of homeless people.

The government needs to do more to address the problem of homelessness in London. Some say it needs to build more affordable housing, provide more financial assistance, and improve access to services for homeless people. Others say the government also needs to tackle the root causes of homelessness, such as rising rents and cuts to welfare benefits. However, some people think a law enforcement route is the way to go. In terms of cost, none of the ways is free.

One thing is for sure though. If the government does not take action, the problem of homelessness in London will only get worse. More and more people will be forced to sleep rough on the streets, and the city will become increasingly divided between the haves and the have-nots.

Here are some of the difficulties that homeless people face in accessing help:

• Lack of awareness: Many homeless people are not aware of the help that is available to them.
• Complex application process: The application process for help can be complex and time-consuming.
• Lack of transportation: Many homeless people do not have access to transportation, which makes it difficult for them to get to appointments or to access services.
• Discrimination: Homeless people often face discrimination from service providers, which can make it difficult for them to get the help they need.

In addition to the above issues, I noticed that individuals that really want to help the homeless may not actually know how to. I see a lot of people giving cash to the homeless on the street. While this may help some of them in the short run, say to buy a meal or drink, it hardly ever moves the needle. Talking of needles, many of them simply use the money to buy drugs or pay back a drug dealer.

The truth is that many communities run food banks where these homeless people can eat. We have two of them in my neighbourhood. The supermarkets and restaurants also leave food at the back for them to pick up. They can't hand them the food legally, due to the fear of lawsuits were something to happen, and probably due to regulations, but the food is there. There are also kind organisations, often religious ones, that go out feeding the homeless. Food is usually the least of their worries. This is why you hardly see a starving homeless person in London.

Their main issue is shelter. Shelter from the elements, especially in winter, and protection from the dangers of the night; including criminals and drug dealers that seek to take advantage of them.

If you've ever wondered where to start, it's best to support a known reputable charity. They make sure the money is well spent and goes to the right causes - especially the ones that deal with providing shelter and eventually getting the homeless off the streets, which should always be the eventual goal.

Here is a list of reputable charities in the UK that partly or wholly support the homeless:

1. Shelter
2. Crisis
3. St Mungo's
4. Centrepoint
5. The Passage
6. Emmaus UK
7. Depaul UK
8. The Big Issue Foundation
9. Homeless Link
10. Glass Door
11. The Salvation Army
12. Crisis Skylight
13. Thames Reach
14. Simon Community
15. Housing Justice

Peace & Love,

Adé