The homeless

[Liza]

How the hell do they survive in this weather ? I couldnt.

[Two_Sheds]

The lucky ones can go here

[Brengirl]

D'you know what? I hardly ever give them any thought. I never buy the Issue. Maybe now is the time to giving them thought..........

[Glutton4...]

I never give them a thought either! I know some of them choose to be homeless, but I guess there's a whole lot that have no option. Makes me feel grateful for my portable building with it's leaky roof and frozen pipes!

****, I feel really bad now...

[weekendwellies]

I used to get really upset about it, but as I got older I realised that there are so many people trying to help them and so many organisations that they can go to, that I dont bother about it any more. I would rather try to help out with wildlife, who fewer people give any thought to. That may sound heartless to some, but when you live in a big city and open your eyes to what is going on in the back streets, your attitude would change too.

[chris]

I dont give them money, or buy the big issue, but I do offer to buy them some food. I tend to put a couple bottles of oj and water in, couple sarnies and a few snacks.

Each night of the week in cardiff, people go and feed them (hot food) from one of the various churches around - my mother in law in involved heavily in that.

[bramble]

If I see someone on the street begging I will give them some money. I don't give to everyone obviously but if i think they look as if they are in need, i will do. I also know that many of them will end up spending it in the pub but at least they are indoors and out of the cold.

[Alison]

I'll buy the Big Issue pretty often and sometimes give money but as somebody above has said, buying food can be a good option. Investigations have shown that a lot of people on the street have mental health issues which aren't going to be helped by people not caring and it's sad that in this day and age anybody has to spend a night in the cold.

[jackie j]

I have never given to any one begging in the street, I give to charities that support those that are homeless. Some places have opened their doors early this year ( some just open for christmas ) because of the cold weather.

[SlugLobber]

The truth is, many of them don't survive. They're a lost statistic.

Has anyone else read about the Polish Homeless? It's down to -32 in the NE of Poland and I think the report I read said 57 deaths so far this winter. Makes you grateful to just be in this country, let alone in a house. :S

[ginger ninger]

I buy the Big Issue of a young man outside M&S in town. I also have a chat with him. He's a lovely young man who's fallen on hard times, with luck he'll turn out like the other young man who I bought the Issue of some years ago. He got married and has a little family now. But not all are as lucky as him.
I also buy a hot drink & sandwich for one of our homeless people on Saturday mornings when I go into town.

[Polly Fouracre]

If I see someone on the street begging I will give them some money. I don't give to everyone obviously but if i think they look as if they are in need, i will do. I also know that many of them will end up spending it in the pub but at least they are indoors and out of the cold.

And I dare say the world looks rosier through the bottom of a glass, for a while anyway.