Homeless epidemic in UK

@android (895)
April 20, 2012 4:21pm CST
There is a 37% rise in homelessness in UK and I am one person who this recently happened to. Thanks to a friend of a friend I now have somewhere to live but it's happening to a lot of people right now. For those that don't know: 32 people die each week in UK after wrongly being kicked off medical benefits There is a 37% increase in the amount of rough sleepers Housing benefit cuts have left many people homeless The average age of death of a rough sleeper is 43 Just what on earth is going on with welfare reform in UK?? It's disaster!!
1 person likes this
5 responses
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
1 May 12
You poor thing. Did you loose your job and had to go on unemployment and it ran out? or are you disable and can't work?
@android (895)
4 May 12
I was disabled so I could not work, but then they gave me a medical assessment and said I was fit enough to go back to work but because of that reason they stopped ALL of my income! I was made homeless at the exact same time and they left me to rot on the streets. They claimed to offer help, but when I actually went for that help they just turned me away again and again. The UK government are NOT out to help the homeless, not in any way, shape or form. In fact they're just making people homeless.
@roberten (3128)
• United States
22 Apr 12
android, minus a few pockets around the world, homelessness is a problem everywhere, right about now. I am sorry for your specific situation and hope you see better days real soon. The financial state of the world is a disaster, we are all suffering the same epidemic. Self-help is the key to restoration, governments cannot be counted on to provide for individual needs. We all have to find what works for us and then put our shoulders to the wheel and move along.
@android (895)
22 Apr 12
Well, it was government that decided to cut off all of my income at the exact same time I was made homeless. Not just government, but even homeless charities, organizations, citizens advice, etc all don't provide any real help or even advice.
@GemmaR (8517)
21 Apr 12
Some of the statistics about homelessness in the UK are shocking, and it is an unfortunate side effect of the recession at the moment. Because so many people are losing their jobs, this has meant that they are no longer able to pay their mortgage so they lose their homes. People should be given a lot more support when they are having money problems so that they don't end up on the streets because this is not good for their health and they will end up seriously ill and might even lose their lives because of not having a home.
@android (895)
4 May 12
Yes true and they then get left out of the welfare loop so they are not entitled to anything, there is no security for them. 32 People die each week on the streets of the UK after WRONGLY being kicked off sickness benefits.
@petersum (4522)
• United States
20 Apr 12
This is what happens under conservative governments! No that isn't a political statement - just a plain statement of fact. I left the UK in 1984, having taken as much as I could stand of Margeret Thatcher. I still maintain that the best place for the British is anywhere outside of the UK.
@android (895)
21 Apr 12
I have been considering getting some funds togethers to leave this country for a while. I feel like a slave.
@NailTech (6874)
• United States
20 Apr 12
I'm sorry to hear that about the homelessness. I'm glad you do have a place to stay now though, thank God. It is scary being out there without a home, I'm sure, I fear that in my future all the time for some reason. Can I ask a question, what is a rough sleeper? Is it someone who has trouble sleeping on a daily basis? If it is, then should I be worried? I'm 48 and have recently diagnosed with some things that are worrisome. The world needs to be shaped up again in all countries, and make easier to live----- it's 2012 for goodness sake, and this kind of thing should be be happening anywhere anymore.
@android (895)
21 Apr 12
When I say a rough sleeper I mean a homeless person who has to sleep on the streets... Or in the park... Or on a bench or in a shop doorway. Welfare reform in the UK due to New legislation introduced in January has seen homelessness soar and once you're in that trap there is no way out unless you are Lucky.