Bit of a strange question coming from me - I'm not often described as being a 'feelings' person.
Anyhoo, the impact of this virus is taking hold where i live in the UK - shops not opening, bars and restaurants half empty etc... Over the course of the past few years there has been a very noticeable increase in the number of homeless people living rough on the streets of my home town. These people typically seem to get by (relatively) day by day through handouts from passersby with which they then buy food and drink. It has occurred to me, if we go into a lock-down situation how will these unfortunate people survive? No money from passersby and few places from which them can seek refuge.
I am wondering what can be done to help them. Any ideas?
I was thinking similar, though it's important to distinguish between homeless and rough sleepers - the latter being a smaller group and potentially facing greater disruption.
There seem to be a significant number of rough sleepers in Manchester city centre, which will now be emptying out.
As well as buying food and drink with the money they beg, I'm sure quite a few fund drug habits. How's that gonna pan out? Can't see dealers offering interest free loans.
Donate to your local homeless charity/soup kitchen directly.
It is going to be tough. A few quid, or a bit more if you can, to a homeless charity. Some food for the food bank. I suspect there will be a lot of people near the edge and struggling. I'm sure most of the gig economy workers that are losing their jobs don't have a stash of savings to fall back on.
I volunteered in the homeless sector for many years and would make little, if any, distinction between homeless and rough sleepers.
Highly likely the death rate in that group has increased significantly but it's also a group characterised by a range of underlying health conditions which haven't been treated.
As for drug supply, illegal highs are typically from China so availability has been limited for the past 2 months.
They will be having a particularly shit time.
There are a number of government and charity shelters in every city. Few if any are there because of no places.
99% people you see bundled up in blankets in the street are homeless because the units don't allow drugs, drunkenness or violence. They're on the street because they've been kicked out them all.
Others that are begging might not be homeless, but living below the poverty line.
