Forum Topic

Rough sleepers Putney High St

Has anyone reported the rough sleepers in the High St to Streetlink? They seem to be sleeping in the entrances to the old M&S building and opposite there in what was Halfords.

Katrina Black ● 2521d50 Comments

Katrina the one in Halfords entrance must have about ten duvets and was lying down eating a cake when I went past today. He was originally sleeping in the front of the Old chinese opposite the Bus Garage.

Barbara Stevens ● 2520d

well i expect he's very happy with his lot then Barbara, no need to try to get him any help!

Matt Palmer ● 2520d

I remember as a child, men sleeping beneath the trees on the path towards barns station.How far we have not come in 50 years!

Ed Robinson ● 2519d

Mat he has had the police take him from Chelverton Road, perhaps he didn't want any help. They also had free meals in Werter Rd Hall don't know how often in a week.

Barbara Stevens ● 2519d

Walked past the Halford's shop and it has been turned into a cesspit they are drunks laying on the floor. We drove past Kingston College in Kingston  yesterday and I was nearly in tears seeing this poor man trying to keep warm he must have had a problem with his leg as he had a blanket rapped round one leg. He had a shopping trolley with clothes etc. He looked like he needed an ambulance. Are people really helping them.

Barbara Stevens ● 2508d

I was in Kingston on Christmas eve and was staggered by the numbers of homeless people. Seemed like there was someone outside every third shop :(What has this country come to?

Matt Palmer ● 2508d

"What has this country come to?"EDGAR(aside) And worse I may be yet. The worst is notSo long as we can say “This is the worst.”(King Lear)

David Ainsworth ● 2508d

Barbara, there are many rough sleepers on the streets, I agree.  But there are also many charities out there to help them, maybe volunteer?  A lot of rough sleepers don't want to go into hostel beds as there are so many junkies and people with mental health difficulties and may steal from or hurt them.The best place if anyone wants to donate is Centrepoint, where they not only take young people in, but help with education and help them on the path to the future.

Bunny Payne ● 2507d

Bunny the original post was put on by Katrina. I'm sure she will be happy with your input.

Barbara Stevens ● 2507d

Thanks Barbara but I know of quite a few organisations helping the homeless. The last one was the one Rick Stein was promoting - Friends of St Barnabas. Sadly too many of these people just don't want help and won't accept it. I find it disturbing to see them there and wonder about the health implications. They never seem to be without cans and bottles so money is coming from somewhere. I'd like to see them helped even if it's only the way they do at St. James's church in Piccadilly where they let them sleep on the pews. They often have to waken them up there before the lunchtime concert starts.

Katrina Black ● 2507d

Glass door mentioned earlier in this post - info here. St Mary’s in Putney takes part in the winter shelter rotation along with other churches.  There is a church in Chelsea that provides the main outreach all year round I think one of many good charities supporting the homeless https://www.glassdoor.org.uk/whatwedo

Ruth Pates ● 2507d

Yes, sorry Barbara... hard to keep track of posts, my mistake. Happy New Year!!!

Bunny Payne ● 2507d

Yes, Happy New Year .

Barbara Stevens ● 2506d

St Mary's Glass Door 'duty night' is Monday when they provide much-needed shelter and a meal to a large number of homeless people. I believe they are always looking for good qualityused clothing to distrubute to those in need.

Leslie McDonnell ● 2506d

Agree it’s all very sad. Sometimes a quick chat with these homeless people means the world to them. It’s nice for them to have some interaction and makes them feel wanted. I took a bacon sandwich on my way into work to a chap who sleeps near Putney Bridge tube and that also went down very well!

Nick Gulliford ● 2506d

I spoke to two Policemen near TKMaxx, they said they are not allowed to get the ones in Halfords doorway to leave as it is up to the Freeholder of Halfords, the building owner. They seem to know they are on drugs etc. A lot don't won't help they said.

Barbara Stevens ● 2505d

https://www.bigissue.com/latest/social-activism/how-many-people-are-homeless-in-the-uk-and-what-can-you-do-about-it/What would be good would be if the causes were to be reduced including the problems created by and not sorted by the way Universal Credit is being implemented.  Not everybody is computer literate or has a smartphone or has access to a computer...

Philippa Bond ● 2504d

Most would spend their money on booze. Also heard that if your an alcoholic and need it. The government pays out something like £89.00 a week. Just for your booze and that's if your married with a wealthy husband. So that needs looking into.

Barbara Stevens ● 2504d

I would love to see an official source for that information Barbara.... for some reason i'm struggling to think it's true...

Matt Palmer ● 2503d

And if it is true, how does one apply for the booze allowance? 🙂

Michael Ixer ● 2503d

yeah that was my second question!

Matt Palmer ● 2503d

Well Matt it is. I can't disclose anymore as the lady died a couple of years ago. The friend who told me is now with her husband. That's Life.

Barbara Stevens ● 2503d

Perhaps it is the choice of what you buy with your pension or with any other allowance?

Philippa Bond ● 2503d

Don't forget that we are now all supposed to be treated as individuals now we are supposed to have equality a woman is no longer considered to be her husband's chattel.

Philippa Bond ● 2503d

So just to be clear, you believe that if you are an alcoholic the government gives you 90 quid a week to keep you topped up?seriously?

Matt Palmer ● 2503d

Matt, I'm wondering: if the person had been working if this some unemployed benefit paid because of an illness, caused by the alcohol, preventing the person from working? My understanding is these types of payments are based on one's own NI contribution records (like pensions) irrespective one's partner's wealth or earnings, whereas benefits such as universal credits look at household incomes so a partner's financial circumstances are considered. 

Michael Ixer ● 2503d

More like put in rehab, so dependent on alcohol it was needed like drugs.

Barbara Stevens ● 2503d

Michael, I read your message again, could possibly be, as the lady had worked. But then didn't.

Barbara Stevens ● 2503d

Well that's not giving them 90 quid a week to buy booze is it?I don't want to have to give up my job to get this magic booze money, just need to know how i can register my addiction properly and then start claiming my funds.

Matt Palmer ● 2503d

Matt, google benefit for alcoholics. They seem to give more to them and drub users than somebody having trouble getting about with arthritus etc.

Barbara Stevens ● 2502d

I see from my FB feeds that the Mayor of London has an initiative with regard to homelessness ...https://www.london.gov.uk//what-we-do/housing-and-land/homelessness/end-homelessness

Michael Ixer ● 2502d

https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/mayoral/mayor-urges-prime-minister-to-help-rough-sleepersThere are quite a few London mayoral initiatives on this.  He has called on Boris Johnson to work with him on solving the problems.  (The article above was re Theresa May.  I believe the London Mayor was serving Christmas lunch to the homeless at City Hall this year.

Philippa Bond ● 2502d

Initiatives with supported housing are interesting as they may help to free up some under used properties.

Philippa Bond ● 2500d

There are a lot of inequalities in our health service.  There seems to be a pathway organised for cancer sufferers but not for Parkinson's for instance.  There are restrictions on what doctors can prescribe and refer you for and some very long waiting lists.  The lack of legal aid has caused a lot of problems with broken families who may lose their homes as a result of trying to settle custody arrangements.

Philippa Bond ● 2500d

It seems that the owners of the Halfords building have acted and the rough sleepers have been evicted. What next for them?Mewanwhile Glass Door at St Mary's Church is full to capacity each Monday night, accepting about 50 men & women for a hot meal, somewhere to sleep and breakfast the next day plus some medical and casework help.They are always very grateful for donations of warm clothing, hats, socks, toiletries which the Church can accept preferrably on a Monday.

Caroline Whitehead ● 2491d

I spotted the boarding too. In fairness to the landlord some action did need to be taken as while most of us have every sympathy for the plight of the homeless the doorway was becoming foul which I imagine would ultimately result in a public health hazard if it wasn't already.  I imagine that more will move into the M&S doorway. Hopefully a solution will be found for the rough sleepers of Putney and elsewhere. As an aside I notice that very few of the rough sleepers that I have seen actually appear to be begging.

John Geoffries ● 2491d

"They are always very grateful for donations of warm clothing, hats, socks, toiletries which the Church can accept preferrably on a Monday."Is the need seasonal or throughout the year?

David Ainsworth ● 2491d

David. Glass Door only runs the night shelters in London Churches during the colder season - about Nov-April. At other times I imagine that other Charities such as The Salvation Army or St Mungos would accept donations of clothing.

Caroline Whitehead ● 2491d

I see the council is to spend £5m to reduce carbon emissions, I would rather see most of that money helping the homeless, repairing council properties, etc. A carbon neutral Wandsworth will do sweet fa to stop global warming. Ravi just trying to buy the young vote?

Adam Tripp ● 2491d

OK, thanks. The existence of a time limit may help to impel me to actually have a sort out.

David Ainsworth ● 2491d

How about being able to breathe on the street?

Philippa Bond ● 2491d

I was talking to the guy outside Halfords/TKMaxx the other day.  He seems to have a bad alcohol or drug problem and it was hard to get any sense out of him, but he was friendly and happy to chat.  I'm assuming one of the charities has approached him, but I wonder if he would take on any shelter?

Bunny Payne ● 2491d

Link to info on the Glassdoor charity - this is the one working with StMary’s and other churches for the winter shelters, and has a year round presence in Chelsea https://www.glassdoor.org.uk/

Ruth Pates ● 2490d

The rough sleeper that had been in Halfords has received many visits from outreach teams over the last 72 hours. He wasn’t around today so hopefully has taken up an offer in a hostel. Positively Putney BID have today installed planters in front of M&S. These should stop anymore rough sleepers aswell as absorbing pollution. Hopefully tenants will be in both vacant sites soon. The rough sleepers in PHS have had their profile raised this week so all should receive support.

Nicola Grant ● 2490d

Just had a Mayor of London message about homeless shelters during freezing conditions if anyone wants to contribute here's the details. Sorry I don't know how to condense this!From: "Mayor of London" Subject: FreezingDate: 18 January 2020 at 11:35:29 GMT The weather is set to take a turn in London this weekend, with temperatures plummeting below zero at night. Freezing conditions like this are particularly tough for rough sleepers.For the first time this year, I am opening emergency cold weather shelter space across the capital, making sure homeless Londoners have a warm place to stay. This shelter space will stay open throughout the weekend and until temperatures improve, providing vital support to some of our most vulnerable Londoners. You too can #HelpLondonsHomeless this winter. Here’s how you can support: Donate to our coalition of London homelessness charitiesBy donating, you are helping the amazing charities we work with to provide around-the-clock support to rough sleepers off the streets for good. Generous Londoners like you have already raised over £50,000 for the London Homeless Collective and every contribution they receive means more rough sleepers can be helped.If you’re out braving the cold, you can also donate on the go across the capital. See an interactive map of TAP London contactless donation points.If you see someone out in the cold, download the StreetLink London app and connect rough sleepers to my Rapid Response outreach team. The team works throughout the year, responding to your alerts and helping rough sleepers reach local services. It only takes a few minutes to make a difference.Take action via StreetLink Thank you in advance for your support during the freezing temperatures. Together, we can help more homeless people off the streets for good. Thank you,Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan If you no longer wish to receive emails from us please unsubscribe or update your preferences to make our emails more relevant to youThis email is from City Hall, The Queen’s Walk, London, SE1 2AA www.london.gov.uk

Katrina Black ● 2489d

Nicola, looks a lot better as Halfords was getting really filthy with rubbish as well. Went past yesterday and the planters cover the whole front of M&S. Perhaps the men will be able to get help with a drink problem. One of the men always walked about with a woman and was housed near the old Putneymead site. That might have now been closed as housed a few people as very large house.

Barbara Stevens ● 2488d

This is one of the problems Barbara, there are very few detox and rehab places that these people can go to, even if they wanted to.I don't know much about the American system, but it seems that most people who have these problems and get into any sort of trouble, are sent to rehab instead of jail.  Why can't we do the same here?  I would gladly have some of my taxes put forward for this kind of help.

Bunny Payne ● 2488d

Many of the homeless charities help with people to recover from what can become a snowballing effect of personal setbacks.  Many are also unable to access the help they need because they are not computer literate or dp not have access to the electronic gadgetry necessary.  You may find that you can become a 'friend' to the charity or a volunteer.  You can also donate to the foodbanks.

Philippa Bond ● 2487d

http://www.putneysw15.com/default.asp?section=info&page=conglassdoor003.htmThere is a wish list and a list of things they wanted here in November when the article was posted with a telephone no.  You could check whether they still want anything as they continue until April.How easy is it to get referrals for treatment?  I understood that it was difficult.  I also understood that many were afraid to go to hostels because there were so many people there sharing and some of them were likely to be violent and to steal their few possessions.

Philippa Bond ● 2486d

A lot wont go to hostels as they are usually alchohol and substance free institutions .If they are happy to share a shop doorway why not a room in a hostel ?

Andy Pike ● 2486d