More homeless now vulnerable, councils cannot just say, "go away, die"

[Cyclone]

The average life expectancy of a homeless person in the UK is just 47.

 

The 'disease' that is homelessness is one that that can be very easily cured

 

This simple isn't true, most homeless people are not homeless because there are no homes available for them, it's far more complicated.

You trivialise a complex problem and try to make it fit into the preconceived idea that lack of housing is the source of all problems.

 

That said, the court judgement is a good thing if it means more help is available to people who need and want it (the want being a key bit, you can't help someone who doesn't want or won't accept the help).

[onewheeldave]

Its relevant as the inference is homelessness causes early death, but I remember reading about how its other factors that cause early death.

Factors other than those that are part of homelessness? There are lots of factors that cause early death, for example, long term regular exposure to extreme cold- but that is part-and-parcel of homelessness (it's very rare for non-homeless people to suffer long term regular exposure to extreme cold).

 

 

 

In fact its usually other factors that cause people to become homeless in the first place and keep them there. Mental illness combined with substance abuse is the major cause of homelessness in the UK.

Could equally well be correlation, rather than causation. Not that it's that relevant in the first place whether a person is homeless as a result of substance abuse, mental illness or something else.

 

Many homeless start to abuse substances after becoming homeless. Alcohol is used as a way to deal with the extreme cold.

 

http://www.crisis.org.uk/data/files/publications/Homelessness%20-%20a%20silent%20killer.pdf][/url]

 

There is a high proportion of deaths due to drugs and alcohol, which together

account for over a third of all homeless deaths. Problems with drugs and alcohol are

often a contributing factor to someone becoming homeless, conversely problems with

drugs and alcohol can develop as a response to homelessness, as people use drink

and drugs as a coping mechanism to deal with the harsh realities of being homeless.

Four out of five people start using at least one new drug since becoming homeless.7

Alcohol and drugs can be used by homeless people as a coping mechanism, as a

way of dealing with cold and pain and as way of escaping from a very harsh

existence. It is unsurprising then that homelessness can cause or exacerbate drug

and alcohol use.

Many homeless people who abuse alcohol or drugs also have mental health

problems (‘dual diagnosis’) and substance related problems “are often a symptom of

acute and multiple underlying needs”8

.

It is also far more difficult for people to address their drug or alcohol problem whilst

homeless. 40% of homeless alcohol users believe that a lack of stable housing is the

main barrier to their recovery.9

R

[Berberis]

I wonder if this to make tenants look after the property and garden plus pay what is owed and act in a responsible way. otherwise the tenancy agreement would not be renewed.

 

Ask yourself this question. When you last set foot in a social housing estate, how did you feel? Did the area look tidy and a nice place to live? Usually not.

 

I remember one estate (I think in Barnsley) where the local council, in an effort to spruce up the place, installed new wooden fencing for all social housing tenants in the summer. By the end of the winter a council worker noticed the fences almost all gone. They couldn't work out why until the spoke to a few people and realised they had ripped up the fencing and used them as fire wood.

 

---------- Post added 14-05-2015 at 10:20 ----------

 

Many homeless start to abuse substances after becoming homeless. Alcohol is used as a way to deal with the extreme cold.

 

I think you have read too much into the article you quote. It clearly states:

 

Problems with drugs and alcohol are often a contributing factor to someone becoming homeless, conversely problems with drugs and alcohol can develop as a response to homelessness, as people use drink and drugs as a coping mechanism to deal with the harsh realities of being homeless. Four out of five people start using at least one new drug since becoming homeless.

[harvey19]

I presume "Boomer" in his post was bemoaning the fact that it was 5 years and not less therefore helping to avoid the above happening and nip any problems in the bud.

[Cyclone]

Ask yourself this question. When you last set foot in a social housing estate, how did you feel? Did the area look tidy and a nice place to live? Usually not.

 

I remember one estate (I think in Barnsley) where the local council, in an effort to spruce up the place, installed new wooden fencing for all social housing tenants in the summer. By the end of the winter a council worker noticed the fences almost all gone. They couldn't work out why until the spoke to a few people and realised they had ripped up the fencing and used them as fire wood.

You vote liberal but actually believe this?

 

I doubt there are any housing estates that are purely council housing these days, the right to buy has existed for 30 years.

But I can think of plenty that are perfectly pleasant, clean and populated with nice people.

[alchresearch]

What's not good new is the government is planning maximum council tenancies of 5 years

 

Do you mean you have to be a tenant of five years before you can buy your council house?

[discodown]

Anyhow, how are the homeless tret?

 

It depends. Are you vulnerable?

 

If a homeless person presents to their council they are asked a lot of questions and the questions determine if a person is 'vulnerable' and in need of help.

 

Single? GTFO and go and die on the streets.

Absolute rubbish. Its true to say that single people are the lowest priority but thats because parents are a higher priority but single people are provided accomodation where there is some but there is only so much allocation to go around.

 

Source: I work for sheff council in the housing dept and liase with homeless all the time

[Berberis]

You vote liberal but actually believe this?

 

I doubt there are any housing estates that are purely council housing these days, the right to buy has existed for 30 years.

But I can think of plenty that are perfectly pleasant, clean and populated with nice people.

 

I didn't say it happened yesterday nor did I say every house did the same thing.

[Cyclone]

I didn't say it happened yesterday nor did I say every house did the same thing.

 

You said that they are not "usually" not a nice place to live or tidy.

[Berberis]

You said that they are not "usually" not a nice place to live or tidy.

 

They aren't. Of all the worst places to live in Sheffield. All had large numbers of social housing. Some were so bad they demolished them (manor top for example)