I'm actually looking forward to a week where there are no funerals to be conducted. As much as I enjoy them immensely and regard them as one of the best bits of the ministerial role, this last month has effectively seen a funeral for every working day; many of those I did the service for being people I knew.
Today though has been a day where bread and wine were to the fore and I managed to fit in an early Communion service at St Francis' before heading off out to enjoy visiting friends. It's odd, but after all these years it still doesn't feel like work when I'm out visiting - and I hope it never does get to feel like that. The evening saw me engaged with cadets, always a joy.
It's been a day when the benefits system of our land has been to the fore as well as I have been exposed to the challenges faced by others as they find benefits stopped, suspended and changed. The problem is that the mechanisms in place are inadequate and unable to manage to stop one benefit and start the other so that the outcome is something consistent and contiguous: And that means pain and fear and frustration for the claimant as they deal with the situation before them.
Some struggle so much that they become frozen in time, like a rabbit in the headlights, and this is not helped by the often low quality provision before them!
Lord, help us to stand with the marginalised and the poor, the disposed and the damaged people before us. You call us to act in their behalf and to make things work for them in terms of equity and justice. Mobilise your church we pray.
I thank You for the work of foodbanks and the charities with offer friendship, counsel and support - strengthen the arms of those who work with them and the consciences of those who might give aid to support them.
Showing posts with label homelessness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label homelessness. Show all posts
Friday, 31 March 2017
Saturday, 29 December 2012
Clearing the air (3) - Homelessness
Another of the issues that cause me grief is that of homelessness.
A few years back (2006) the town in which I find myself serving had one of the local characters freeze to death in a bus shelter as he endured a night in the cold conditions. At that time some of those in the town decided that they would set about 'doing something' and yet here we are, almost seven years on from his death (January 7th) and nothing has changed.
One of the town's key officials at the time told me that, 'There are no problems surrounding homelessness in the town.' This was a true statement for when homeless people arrived they were given the fare to one of two places away from here to find a hostel. The opinion was that if we 'didn't encourage them to stay, then we didn't have a problem!'
Last year we had a homeless man whose tent had been burgled and his possessions taken. Now I don't know about you but I can't imagine being reduced to living under a canvas shelter only to find your stuff has been nicked - talk about being at the furthest end of the food chain!
Anyway, at first I tried to set him up with a proper tent, food and other stuff, but this was met with opposition from some of the locals in the place I tried to site him for the night (I needed to get him somewhere safe for one night so I could see what could be done to provide a more stable and safe environment). In fact, not only did they call the police but they told them that there were two vagrants (me being the other) who had dared to set up camp in their nice little village!
The upshot of this was that I got him moved and the church let him stay in a building until such time as he could be housed - and he was, for after some seven weeks, the day before Christmas Eve last year, the man got a flat (where he remains) of his own!
So this is how it is:
1. Many of those who find themselves homeless are in that state becuase of circumstances that are not always of their own making,
2. Many of those who are homeless also suffer from mental illness and are in need of more than a handout, they need help and support to establish them, safely, within the community,
3. Many of those who are homeless have actually been members of the armed forces of this land and are often where they are because of life outside of the forces, and
4. If we took the trouble to listen to the stories they have to tell, we would find that the majority of those who are homeless are no different from you or I (in fact one, an former pupil at a prestigious public school and former legal type had suffered a major breakdown and was was in fact probably much better off, and better educated, than many of us before his tragedy).
So here's the bottom line on this topic - I will not stand by and see people treated badly from now on. Where I find homelessness and nothing being done (whether it be church, council or community) or worse still, steps being taken to act against them - I will shout and make sure everyone who has ears hears, and will keep doing so until something happens.
What about you?
And for those who are homeless and have served - a little reminder (and spur?) for the rest of us:
A few years back (2006) the town in which I find myself serving had one of the local characters freeze to death in a bus shelter as he endured a night in the cold conditions. At that time some of those in the town decided that they would set about 'doing something' and yet here we are, almost seven years on from his death (January 7th) and nothing has changed.
One of the town's key officials at the time told me that, 'There are no problems surrounding homelessness in the town.' This was a true statement for when homeless people arrived they were given the fare to one of two places away from here to find a hostel. The opinion was that if we 'didn't encourage them to stay, then we didn't have a problem!'
Last year we had a homeless man whose tent had been burgled and his possessions taken. Now I don't know about you but I can't imagine being reduced to living under a canvas shelter only to find your stuff has been nicked - talk about being at the furthest end of the food chain!
Anyway, at first I tried to set him up with a proper tent, food and other stuff, but this was met with opposition from some of the locals in the place I tried to site him for the night (I needed to get him somewhere safe for one night so I could see what could be done to provide a more stable and safe environment). In fact, not only did they call the police but they told them that there were two vagrants (me being the other) who had dared to set up camp in their nice little village!
The upshot of this was that I got him moved and the church let him stay in a building until such time as he could be housed - and he was, for after some seven weeks, the day before Christmas Eve last year, the man got a flat (where he remains) of his own!
So this is how it is:
1. Many of those who find themselves homeless are in that state becuase of circumstances that are not always of their own making,
2. Many of those who are homeless also suffer from mental illness and are in need of more than a handout, they need help and support to establish them, safely, within the community,
3. Many of those who are homeless have actually been members of the armed forces of this land and are often where they are because of life outside of the forces, and
4. If we took the trouble to listen to the stories they have to tell, we would find that the majority of those who are homeless are no different from you or I (in fact one, an former pupil at a prestigious public school and former legal type had suffered a major breakdown and was was in fact probably much better off, and better educated, than many of us before his tragedy).
So here's the bottom line on this topic - I will not stand by and see people treated badly from now on. Where I find homelessness and nothing being done (whether it be church, council or community) or worse still, steps being taken to act against them - I will shout and make sure everyone who has ears hears, and will keep doing so until something happens.
What about you?
And for those who are homeless and have served - a little reminder (and spur?) for the rest of us:
Friday, 30 December 2011
Tamworth Borough Council - A tip of the hat
I often find myself frustrated by the actions of government (local and national) and many of the statutory bodies but when you see something done, and done well, it is only right and proper that you acknowledge it. So I am giving a round of applause to the housing department of Tamworth Borough Council (TBC) for their managing to provide a solution for one of the homeless (they do exist in Tamworth despite the claims of some that there are none!) and provide it well.
Not only that but they managed to do it the day before Christmas Eve (Christmas Eve Eve?) and did a thoroughly professional job in the walk round and hand over phase of the process too.
I need also to recognise the work of Bromford in the whole process.
It is good to see the system work and work well - not always the case I'm sure but when it does it needs to be recognised because after all, the whole area of housing is one of depleted social housing stock, people trying to portray things as they aren't and great competition, all of which adds up to pressure for those who are employed at the coal face. So to them - THANK YOU for a job well done.
Pax
Not only that but they managed to do it the day before Christmas Eve (Christmas Eve Eve?) and did a thoroughly professional job in the walk round and hand over phase of the process too.
I need also to recognise the work of Bromford in the whole process.
It is good to see the system work and work well - not always the case I'm sure but when it does it needs to be recognised because after all, the whole area of housing is one of depleted social housing stock, people trying to portray things as they aren't and great competition, all of which adds up to pressure for those who are employed at the coal face. So to them - THANK YOU for a job well done.
Pax
Thursday, 22 December 2011
Church - where crisis and failure take on flesh
Government and statutory bodies legislate over homelessness but it is, more often than not, Church that engages with the reality of it.
Public opinion pontificates about the state of society, the demise of values and standards and the breakdown of the family but is, more often than not, the Church that finds itself engaged in and with the places where the rhetoric becomes flesh.
When the tutting classes are unfolding their newspapers and talking cobblers about the homeless getting what they deserve and how there is always work to be found if someone really wants it, the Church, once again, is to be found dealing with the realities.
In a week where temperatures have soared such that we will see less homeless people die over the Christmas period (something that demonstrates how little 'those people' care for the sensitivities of nice people) we ill still be living in the reality that across the UK there ar still around a quarter of a million homeless people and although many of those will 'bed hop' or find some form of accommodation (albeit perhaps very temporary) there will still be something around five thousand people sleeping on the streets of our capital city!
The figures this week speak of a life expectancy of 43 for homeless women and 47 for homeless men.
Now I am sure some reading this will point to alcohol, drugs and other 'brought upon themselves' conditions fort such an early demise, but there are other influences and factors behind the obvious and if we were to but take just a little time to understand them we would find that the underserving homeless are often anything but.
As we pray in our churches this Christmas Eve perhaps we might care to think of those who are homeless. Those who are on the streets because of:
+ Abuse - mental, physical and sexual
+ Mental Illness - Homeless people present double the symptoms of mental illness than those who are 'homed'
+ Military Service - the Military Covenant is to become law, but for the many (almost 25% of London's homeless as an example) medals, combat experience and having served their nation makes no difference at all - in fact it is a major factor for where they are now!
+ Folly - There are people on our streets who have made the wrong choices (haven't we all at some time?) but in each one of these people the image of the invisible God is made visible and in each of them is the potential to show God's grace and effect, potentially, restoration - we just need to be wise about it?
And so, this Christmas as we speak of a Saviour born in poor circumstances, sleeping in a stable, let's remember those for whom a stable would be luxury.
Pax
Public opinion pontificates about the state of society, the demise of values and standards and the breakdown of the family but is, more often than not, the Church that finds itself engaged in and with the places where the rhetoric becomes flesh.
When the tutting classes are unfolding their newspapers and talking cobblers about the homeless getting what they deserve and how there is always work to be found if someone really wants it, the Church, once again, is to be found dealing with the realities.
In a week where temperatures have soared such that we will see less homeless people die over the Christmas period (something that demonstrates how little 'those people' care for the sensitivities of nice people) we ill still be living in the reality that across the UK there ar still around a quarter of a million homeless people and although many of those will 'bed hop' or find some form of accommodation (albeit perhaps very temporary) there will still be something around five thousand people sleeping on the streets of our capital city!
The figures this week speak of a life expectancy of 43 for homeless women and 47 for homeless men.
Now I am sure some reading this will point to alcohol, drugs and other 'brought upon themselves' conditions fort such an early demise, but there are other influences and factors behind the obvious and if we were to but take just a little time to understand them we would find that the underserving homeless are often anything but.
As we pray in our churches this Christmas Eve perhaps we might care to think of those who are homeless. Those who are on the streets because of:
+ Abuse - mental, physical and sexual
+ Mental Illness - Homeless people present double the symptoms of mental illness than those who are 'homed'
+ Military Service - the Military Covenant is to become law, but for the many (almost 25% of London's homeless as an example) medals, combat experience and having served their nation makes no difference at all - in fact it is a major factor for where they are now!
+ Folly - There are people on our streets who have made the wrong choices (haven't we all at some time?) but in each one of these people the image of the invisible God is made visible and in each of them is the potential to show God's grace and effect, potentially, restoration - we just need to be wise about it?
And so, this Christmas as we speak of a Saviour born in poor circumstances, sleeping in a stable, let's remember those for whom a stable would be luxury.
Pax
Tuesday, 13 December 2011
December - Housing Month?
Looks like this is going to be my housing month as I have spent a fair amount of time trying to get hold of people on the telephone, writing letters relating to benefits (or more accurately, lack of benefits) for people and trying to unravel numerous issues relating to how those who have little appear to:
a. Have it taken away,
b. Not have it offered in the first place, and
c. Find themselves at the very back of the queue in what, to my perhaps cynical mind, appears to be an exercise in making the homeless so stressed out that they either throw their bid for housing or benefits in the bin or flip out and behave such that they get binned as a result of their actions.
One of those I am working with has been offered accommodation and was under the impression that the keys would be handed in a week ago and then they would be able to have a look and if acceptable, move in. The keys have apparently been handed in today and the relevant people are saying that it will take something like four weeks before they can make it available. When I pointed out that this means that there will be a homeless person on the streets over Christmas it was evident that the person dealing with the case wasn't in the slightest concerned and mumbled about 'heavy workloads and doing it according to their procedures' and that there wasn't anything that they could do about that.
I am stunned that such rigid attitudes exist at a time when we find so many properties sitting vacant, the weather is getting increasingly Winter-like (at last) and the potential for a death over Christmas (by weather or other means) becomes an increasing likelihood.
Mind you, an improvement from some dealing where I have been told that the council is doing< "Its statutory minimum!" ie. Nothing, other than give the homeless person a few bob and send them off to be one of the most invisible things in the world, 'someone else's problem'! Or as one councillor recently boasted, "We don't have a homeless problem in our town!" Of course we don't, we send them somewhere else and come up with reasons to move them on.
I struggle with this and as we approach the sixth anniversary of the death of a local character who froze to death in a bus shelter (Mick Weir, 7th January 2006) I am saddened, appalled and shamed by the attitudes of those who serve our community and the community itself (church and secular) in their complacency. When Mick Weir died the locals put their hands in the pockets and raised £1k as a tribute - the next person who dies because they aren't housed (and want to be - not all will accept or want a bricks and mortar home) will be the next tribute to him!
What's happening where you are?
Who's getting the stuff that's arriving at our door if it's no you?
Our communities need churches that are engaged, involved and not only being the difference but 'encouraging' those who work for (and represent) us to do what is right in a timely fashion.
Pax
a. Have it taken away,
b. Not have it offered in the first place, and
c. Find themselves at the very back of the queue in what, to my perhaps cynical mind, appears to be an exercise in making the homeless so stressed out that they either throw their bid for housing or benefits in the bin or flip out and behave such that they get binned as a result of their actions.
One of those I am working with has been offered accommodation and was under the impression that the keys would be handed in a week ago and then they would be able to have a look and if acceptable, move in. The keys have apparently been handed in today and the relevant people are saying that it will take something like four weeks before they can make it available. When I pointed out that this means that there will be a homeless person on the streets over Christmas it was evident that the person dealing with the case wasn't in the slightest concerned and mumbled about 'heavy workloads and doing it according to their procedures' and that there wasn't anything that they could do about that.
I am stunned that such rigid attitudes exist at a time when we find so many properties sitting vacant, the weather is getting increasingly Winter-like (at last) and the potential for a death over Christmas (by weather or other means) becomes an increasing likelihood.
Mind you, an improvement from some dealing where I have been told that the council is doing< "Its statutory minimum!" ie. Nothing, other than give the homeless person a few bob and send them off to be one of the most invisible things in the world, 'someone else's problem'! Or as one councillor recently boasted, "We don't have a homeless problem in our town!" Of course we don't, we send them somewhere else and come up with reasons to move them on.
I struggle with this and as we approach the sixth anniversary of the death of a local character who froze to death in a bus shelter (Mick Weir, 7th January 2006) I am saddened, appalled and shamed by the attitudes of those who serve our community and the community itself (church and secular) in their complacency. When Mick Weir died the locals put their hands in the pockets and raised £1k as a tribute - the next person who dies because they aren't housed (and want to be - not all will accept or want a bricks and mortar home) will be the next tribute to him!
What's happening where you are?
Who's getting the stuff that's arriving at our door if it's no you?
Our communities need churches that are engaged, involved and not only being the difference but 'encouraging' those who work for (and represent) us to do what is right in a timely fashion.
Pax
Monday, 12 December 2011
Someone Ought To Do Something!
Ironically, coming on the day that I have realised that I hate someone, I find that they might be the same person who builds our church, brings relief to those caught up in debt, resolves all the ills of the global banking excesses and counsels those people who tick us off by their errant lifestyles.
I've had a telephone call from a lovely Christian person who has rung to tell me that they have noticed a new person begging in the centre of town. Apparently they looked really cold this morning as they sat in the covered shopping area begging.
I asked what the caller had done regarding the new addition to our community and asked what their name was.
"Oh, I don't know, " was the response, "I didn't talk to them. I just noticed they were there and thought that someone needed to do something about it, so I rang you."
Well, the good news is that 'someone' will do something about the new arrival (going to have a look now) but it's sad that people can identify needs but don't set about addressing them but pass them on to someone else.
Perhaps the Good Samaritan needs a rewrite whereby the hero of the piece merely phones someone who then takes care of the battered Levite?
When you see a need this Christmas (and after Christmas too) could you do more than just pray - because good as it is, there's something more that needs to be done. Mind you, it wasn't that long ago that one of our beggars (Mick Weir) froze to death in a bus shelter and despite all the good intentions, determined words and posturing, we haven't moved on from the attitudes and haven't made any provision for people such as him.
Perhaps we're waiting for someone to do it?
I've had a telephone call from a lovely Christian person who has rung to tell me that they have noticed a new person begging in the centre of town. Apparently they looked really cold this morning as they sat in the covered shopping area begging.
I asked what the caller had done regarding the new addition to our community and asked what their name was.
"Oh, I don't know, " was the response, "I didn't talk to them. I just noticed they were there and thought that someone needed to do something about it, so I rang you."
Well, the good news is that 'someone' will do something about the new arrival (going to have a look now) but it's sad that people can identify needs but don't set about addressing them but pass them on to someone else.
Perhaps the Good Samaritan needs a rewrite whereby the hero of the piece merely phones someone who then takes care of the battered Levite?
When you see a need this Christmas (and after Christmas too) could you do more than just pray - because good as it is, there's something more that needs to be done. Mind you, it wasn't that long ago that one of our beggars (Mick Weir) froze to death in a bus shelter and despite all the good intentions, determined words and posturing, we haven't moved on from the attitudes and haven't made any provision for people such as him.
Perhaps we're waiting for someone to do it?
Monday, 7 November 2011
Mostly Blessed?
Before someone asks why yesterday was 'mostly blessed' let me explain:
The day was one of those with multiple services and the first of a six-week 'Mission-Shaped Introduction' course (which was really well populated). From the gentle said Eucharist and into the All-Age service, which was a blessing on a number of levels we had lunch to celebrate my beloved's birthday and then back into the course. Setting up, checking powerpoint presentations, checking video clips and putting out the drinks and biscuits, setting out the chairs (which I wildly underestimated) and then, of course, clearing away afterwards.
Back home and some fireworks, bit of cake (still my beloved's birthday don't forget) and a need to be resolved. But I can't resolve it. I have a person in need of a place of safety and the church building is already taken and those who I hope can help are nowhere to be found! In the end we came up with a 'sort of' solution but more and more the need for us to have a couple of houses converted to support those who have found themselves homeless presses hard against my conscience.
Councils are keen to do their 'statutory minimum' when it comes to housing and some are keener to offer the fare for a journey to somewhere else than provide within its own boundaries. Good Christians in the place where I live are there and will offer a place for a night but the numbers are small and the need is often great and this, tonight, weighs heavily.
We need to offer more than a few bob or a, "Be blessed - go well<" response - we need out councils and our society to offer more than that and the Church should be speaking and acting as the public conscience (for truly the public seem rarely to have one these days).
The question, "What Would Jesus Do?" is surely tempered with the question, "What Did I do?"
2:12 - it's a cold, clear night and as I pull the plug and head off for bed I wonder what more I can do, where have all the Christian soldiers gone?
Pax
The day was one of those with multiple services and the first of a six-week 'Mission-Shaped Introduction' course (which was really well populated). From the gentle said Eucharist and into the All-Age service, which was a blessing on a number of levels we had lunch to celebrate my beloved's birthday and then back into the course. Setting up, checking powerpoint presentations, checking video clips and putting out the drinks and biscuits, setting out the chairs (which I wildly underestimated) and then, of course, clearing away afterwards.
Back home and some fireworks, bit of cake (still my beloved's birthday don't forget) and a need to be resolved. But I can't resolve it. I have a person in need of a place of safety and the church building is already taken and those who I hope can help are nowhere to be found! In the end we came up with a 'sort of' solution but more and more the need for us to have a couple of houses converted to support those who have found themselves homeless presses hard against my conscience.
Councils are keen to do their 'statutory minimum' when it comes to housing and some are keener to offer the fare for a journey to somewhere else than provide within its own boundaries. Good Christians in the place where I live are there and will offer a place for a night but the numbers are small and the need is often great and this, tonight, weighs heavily.
We need to offer more than a few bob or a, "Be blessed - go well<" response - we need out councils and our society to offer more than that and the Church should be speaking and acting as the public conscience (for truly the public seem rarely to have one these days).
The question, "What Would Jesus Do?" is surely tempered with the question, "What Did I do?"
2:12 - it's a cold, clear night and as I pull the plug and head off for bed I wonder what more I can do, where have all the Christian soldiers gone?
Pax
Tuesday, 12 April 2011
Home Interests Versus Foreign Aid
I received this from a friend:
I'm still scratching my head at this one.
British Homeless go without eating.
British Elderly go without needed medicines.
British Mentally ill go without treatment.
British Troops go without proper equipment.
British Veterans go without benefits they were promised.
Yet we donate billions to other countries before helping our own first.
Have the guts to re-post this. 1% will re-post and 99% won't have the guts!!..
Having worked in poorer nations, I see the comments above as being relative, but have enough truth in them to make people respond, and respond negatively, which I assume is the purpose of the post.
I am reminded of the words of Mark 7: 25 - 30:
"Immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone."
Here we have a foreigner coming to Jesus asking for healing for her child. There are a few ways to interpret this story. The first being that once the 'children' are fed and full, then the dogs (the name for Gentiles i.e. foreigners) can be fed. Meaning that we look after our own first and then, when all are replete, we will turn our attention to the foreigners. The question here is, "Will we ever have enough for others?"
Another is that the children are being fed and so the dogs can eat what falls to the ground from their plenty. They realise that they aren't allowed at the table, but from the much that the children have, enough falls to provide also for them. The question here is, "Will we ever be good stewards of what we have or will we continue to be wasteful and profligate?"
Is this about us, or about others?
Why are homeless people homeless and what do we, and those who post the comments above, what do they do about the homeless? My experience is that they complain that not enough is being done by the welfare state rather than get involved. It becomes all about them and their actions (or inaction) and expectations of others doing something (after all, that's what we pay taxes for).
Drugs for the old? Aren't they in receipt of free prescriptions? Is this a statement of fact or just manipulative and sensationalising the situation for their own ends?
Mental Health issues? Working in this area (I'm a Vicar, it's what we do!) has shown me that we live in a society which tolerates the mentally ill badly, provides for them scantily and supports them woefully. But this is about more than money (although more would be useful)!
I have to say that the equipment situation is improving and it's more logistics than anything else that appears to be the problem a lot of the time (if what I'm told is true) rather than cash. I'd be more supportive if the reference was about establishment and manning!
I deal with a number of British Veterans and whilst I don't always think we honour the Covenant to the full, and whilst I see a great many errors and frustratingly awful procedural things, these are organisational rather than financially motivated. Lost files, stuffed up medical issues and the like rarely have anything to do with finances.
So I have posted the piece here.
Do you think we should feed our own first? Where do we start feeding others and being responsible for others in the global village that is the world?
Pax
I'm still scratching my head at this one.
British Homeless go without eating.
British Elderly go without needed medicines.
British Mentally ill go without treatment.
British Troops go without proper equipment.
British Veterans go without benefits they were promised.
Yet we donate billions to other countries before helping our own first.
Have the guts to re-post this. 1% will re-post and 99% won't have the guts!!..
Having worked in poorer nations, I see the comments above as being relative, but have enough truth in them to make people respond, and respond negatively, which I assume is the purpose of the post.
I am reminded of the words of Mark 7: 25 - 30:
"Immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone."
Here we have a foreigner coming to Jesus asking for healing for her child. There are a few ways to interpret this story. The first being that once the 'children' are fed and full, then the dogs (the name for Gentiles i.e. foreigners) can be fed. Meaning that we look after our own first and then, when all are replete, we will turn our attention to the foreigners. The question here is, "Will we ever have enough for others?"
Another is that the children are being fed and so the dogs can eat what falls to the ground from their plenty. They realise that they aren't allowed at the table, but from the much that the children have, enough falls to provide also for them. The question here is, "Will we ever be good stewards of what we have or will we continue to be wasteful and profligate?"
Is this about us, or about others?
Why are homeless people homeless and what do we, and those who post the comments above, what do they do about the homeless? My experience is that they complain that not enough is being done by the welfare state rather than get involved. It becomes all about them and their actions (or inaction) and expectations of others doing something (after all, that's what we pay taxes for).
Drugs for the old? Aren't they in receipt of free prescriptions? Is this a statement of fact or just manipulative and sensationalising the situation for their own ends?
Mental Health issues? Working in this area (I'm a Vicar, it's what we do!) has shown me that we live in a society which tolerates the mentally ill badly, provides for them scantily and supports them woefully. But this is about more than money (although more would be useful)!
I have to say that the equipment situation is improving and it's more logistics than anything else that appears to be the problem a lot of the time (if what I'm told is true) rather than cash. I'd be more supportive if the reference was about establishment and manning!
I deal with a number of British Veterans and whilst I don't always think we honour the Covenant to the full, and whilst I see a great many errors and frustratingly awful procedural things, these are organisational rather than financially motivated. Lost files, stuffed up medical issues and the like rarely have anything to do with finances.
So I have posted the piece here.
Do you think we should feed our own first? Where do we start feeding others and being responsible for others in the global village that is the world?
Pax
Monday, 28 February 2011
The Homeless - legally doing too little!
Where I find myself operating there is a policy whereby the homeless are supported by those in authority by them being afforded the 'statutory minimum' provision. What this really means is that the town considers itself to have no homeless and should any of these awful people arrive, they are given the fare to one of the large cities north or south of us, so that they can be hosteled.
When discussing this with a member of the council they continually used the term 'statutory minimum' and when challenged over this, the response was that anything less would be unlawful and anything more would encourage the 'wrong sort' of people to come to our town. Not only that, but offering them housing or other support would merely perpetuate the problem, the homeless need to be made to stop being homeless and settle down (somewhere else?).
It seems that this attitude also prevails within Westminister's bounds regarding the topic of soup kitchens with their, "If you feed them, they will come," approach to the homeless.
A couple of years after my discussion with the councillor, we had a well-known local tramp die of exposure whilst sleeping rough in a bus shelter. There was an outcry and the public were outraged and civic leaders postured and spoke out about 'doing something' and here we are, at the close of the 2010/11 winter with still nothing done and any public, or morally-driven, sense of purpose now gone.
About three years ago I approached the housing department and told them that I would organise a charity and bunch of volunteers to attempt to deal with homelessness where we are. All they had to do was provide a pair of down-at-heel houses and we would provide, and manage the funding, of temporary accommodation.
This was greeted rather negatively with various reasons (we don't have the housing stock) and various attitudes (if we did that, people would come here and we don't have a homeless problem at the moment) and loads of well-meaning inactivity (well, nothing has happened so it is inactivity whether those who read this and feel guilty/angry/whatever like it or not!).
So before people get on their high horses over Westminster, can I suggest that you stop and look at your own community and see what is offer there? I imagine that you will find pretty much the same, and if not 'Well Done' now take a look at the next place along the road from you and ask yourself, "How can I influence, aid or support them?
If we take one of the quotes from Westminster and change the name, I wonder how many of us could say the same for our place of residence or ministry?
My Town believes that food handouts only serve to keep people on the streets longer, damaging their health and life chances.
Well? rather than all the posing and self-righteous blog-writing, what are we going to do about it? Not Westminister (unless you live there) but where you live. An opportunity for a 'Churches Together' project. A need to get together and raise up candidates for our local councils.
We need to stop muttering, writing and being outraged and start being the difference!
Now, before the next winter
Pax
When discussing this with a member of the council they continually used the term 'statutory minimum' and when challenged over this, the response was that anything less would be unlawful and anything more would encourage the 'wrong sort' of people to come to our town. Not only that, but offering them housing or other support would merely perpetuate the problem, the homeless need to be made to stop being homeless and settle down (somewhere else?).
It seems that this attitude also prevails within Westminister's bounds regarding the topic of soup kitchens with their, "If you feed them, they will come," approach to the homeless.
A couple of years after my discussion with the councillor, we had a well-known local tramp die of exposure whilst sleeping rough in a bus shelter. There was an outcry and the public were outraged and civic leaders postured and spoke out about 'doing something' and here we are, at the close of the 2010/11 winter with still nothing done and any public, or morally-driven, sense of purpose now gone.
About three years ago I approached the housing department and told them that I would organise a charity and bunch of volunteers to attempt to deal with homelessness where we are. All they had to do was provide a pair of down-at-heel houses and we would provide, and manage the funding, of temporary accommodation.
This was greeted rather negatively with various reasons (we don't have the housing stock) and various attitudes (if we did that, people would come here and we don't have a homeless problem at the moment) and loads of well-meaning inactivity (well, nothing has happened so it is inactivity whether those who read this and feel guilty/angry/whatever like it or not!).
So before people get on their high horses over Westminster, can I suggest that you stop and look at your own community and see what is offer there? I imagine that you will find pretty much the same, and if not 'Well Done' now take a look at the next place along the road from you and ask yourself, "How can I influence, aid or support them?
If we take one of the quotes from Westminster and change the name, I wonder how many of us could say the same for our place of residence or ministry?
My Town believes that food handouts only serve to keep people on the streets longer, damaging their health and life chances.
Well? rather than all the posing and self-righteous blog-writing, what are we going to do about it? Not Westminister (unless you live there) but where you live. An opportunity for a 'Churches Together' project. A need to get together and raise up candidates for our local councils.
We need to stop muttering, writing and being outraged and start being the difference!
Now, before the next winter
Pax
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