Did you see the Panorama program re homelessness? Working people sleeping on the streets, and next day getting up and going to work. Unbelievable in the 21st century and this is considered a civilized wealthy country! Records show thousands of homeless people are working, and it is probably even higher than records illustrate. These unfortunate people can not afford, or find places to rent they can afford, because of zero hour working or low wages, especially in London.
According to one lady interviewed, a teacher, who was forced to sleep in her car said deposits on flats were £ 2000, plus a month's rent up front! All were completely out of reach.
The homeless are not all drunken drug addicts, but with their lack of prospects for improving their lives it would not be surprising if they were.
Can you imagine working by day and sleeping in shop doorways by night. Washing in public toilets with your possessions in a bag – unthinkable, and still with the strength to go on day after day!
With no-where to cook food these poor homeless people have to rely on fast food outlets cafe's or soup kitchens, how can they hope to save a deposit! Meanwhile some of the population worry if food is organic and count calories. We need more programs like this to shame the government and alert the nation.
The Grenville tower disaster is only a fraction of the problem, with a large proportion of the residents still in temporary accommodation, often one room in an hotel, dire situations, but these are the lucky ones they have a roof over their heads!
It is such a vast problem it is difficult to see a fast solution. Even the new minister in charge declined an interview and would not comment when approached.
There are many charities working with the homeless, shelters, hostels, soup kitchens; plus many people giving up their time to help others. Some radical changes must be made.
What fast solutions could be found? Caravans, caravans, caravans, caravans, caravans, etc.
Or fast build flat pack housing, there are many designs now available, that councils could create communities, rewarding working homeless for their efforts and encouraging others to find work.
The health service has a massive shortfall in funding, but certainly this is of equal magnitude, and we seldom hear it mentioned. The homeless are forgotten people!