Homelessness

[Milltown Row2]

Belfast is either getting worse of because there are less people in town center its more noticeable...

Whether its homelessness or they are kicked out of their digs early, Belfast center is full of people begging for money, shooting up, fighting or just lying in the street

The money isn't for food, generally its for Lidl who are open at 8.00am serving drinks

The underpass walk way at the Albert Clock is full of needles and I've frequently walked past lads and girls shooting up at 8am and at 5pm when I'm heading home.

There are as many women as men and they are from all over the country

Ambulances are common in the area dealing with ones that have collapsed or over dosed!

Is this same in all the cities? is it getting worse?

[GetOverTheBar]

I'd like to write something here but I feel it would derail the entire thread straight away.

It's most certainly a problem that is rising, there should be no reason for any homelessness in any western country. It's an absolute disgrace that live human beings find themselves with no alternative than to take to the streets.

Agree with the sentiments re: drink / drugs. The silent epidemic that's been raging for a few decades now.

[APM]

I got an awful shock about 4 years back in Belfast City Centre, late one Friday night, at the numbers on the streets.  That was shocking then and you're saying it is worse now. 

Homelessness always a massive issue, but 20-25 years back there were only a handful of homeless actually living on the streets of Belfast and you would have recognised the same faces. I remember being about the university area and seeing this fresh faced young fella living on the street around the Lisburn Road and he was clearly new to the experience.  It was frightening how his condition deteriorated and how much he aged within a short space of time.  Wasn't obvious what his problem was, (drugs, drink, mental health), but it was an eyeopener to see someone go downhill so quickly. 

[Milltown Row2]

I'd like to write something here but I feel it would derail the entire thread straight away.

It's most certainly a problem that is rising, there should be no reason for any homelessness in any western country. It's an absolute disgrace that live human beings find themselves with no alternative than to take to the streets.

Agree with the sentiments re: drink / drugs. The silent epidemic that's been raging for a few decades now.

No write what you want....

I firmly believe that there is enough housing shelters for homeless people out there, the problem is that there are certain rules to stick to, no drinking, no drug use no other lodgers and no fighting.. I'm sure there are more.. once you've been given multiple warnings I'd imagine there is really nothing else that can be done other that to move them on!

Where should they be moved to? That's a problem for the government and local authorities, where they shouldnt be  is lying on the streets at night, shooting up in broad daylight, being allowed drink at 8am and not allowed to drink it in the streets..

The reasons are too numerous to mention why they are there. abusive homes, drugs/alcohol in the families, child abuse and addiction.. But whats the plan? can't keep doing what currently going on

[GetOverTheBar]

Funny I actually give to a homeless charity via payroll giving, have done for some years. It's something that strikes a chord with me - even though I don't know anyone / or any real life experience of it myself.

I think it's when I was at Uni down in Belfast I ran into a few instances of it that maybe moulded my views on it. Then I had a stint working in the Housing end of things. That was another eye opener.

The homeless are literally the lowest priority for our Police, I'll throw as much mud as anyone at the PSNI over whatever, but in this instance, what can they do? If people are determined to get a hold of drugs being hard or alcohol, they are going to get it - unfortunately there is no war on drugs in Ireland - considering one of the biggest traffickers in the world is actually Irish.

Usually the blanket answer is some kind of development, the Simon Community do some great work in this area but are not exactly awash with cash, could we fund them better? I'm not really keen on the idea of building tower blocks and housing homeless in them - that creates a stigma of that area, I think we would be naive to suggest that also wouldn't involve an increase in crime in that particular area also.....unfortunately some people no matter how much help they get, will bite the hand.....

Belfast however hasn't a patch on Dublin.....Dublin hasn't a patch on Edinburgh.....Edinburgh....London etc. So clearly it is not real passion on any government - Except the Fins -

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/dec/10/homelessness-is-not-inevitable-and-can-be-solved-these-cities-show-us-how

[Ethan Tremblay]

Working in Belfast after a gap from it after Uni I noticed this also.  Great Victoria Street is rife with homeless, drug addicts alcoholics on the street.  Working on a bank holiday, it was good to see who was truly homeless and who was begging for money. 

One guy I see is reading a book in a sleeping bag, quiet not bothering anyone and to counter that a girl is wearing a pair of white as snow trainers playing with her dog asking for money. 

The guy reading seemed to be on the street in the rain as a result of his situation, the girl with the dog seemed to be there with an agenda to beg. Both situations don’t look good, but I think 1 person could be helped, whereas the other doesn’t want helped.