A HOUSING CRISIS LIES AHEAD (Homelessness and street begging)

Member Name: somerton

Product:	Homelessness and street begging
Date:	08/10/06 (131 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: none

Disadvantages: Homelessness levels shows the true ''state of the nation''

House prices over the last 20 years have out-stripped wages. First time buyers have found it increasingly difficult to get on the property ladder. Along with high house prices, has come high rental charges in the private sector. Some ten years ago, the M.P., Mr. Nick Rainsford predicted '' that the country would need a further 4.4million homes by the year 2016''.
Since the sell-off of council houses provided no further income for building new housing stock, the availability for cheap, affordable, local authority housing has almost reached zero. Many councils have fewer than a couple of dozen ''ready to go'' properties, which are properties available for immediate occupancy.
The local authorities have found themselves paying out
millions of pounds annually in Housing Benefit, instead of being allowed to build new affordable properties as a lasting solution.
ALL OF THE ABOVE HAS CAUSED A MAJOR HOUSING SHORTAGE WHICH IS SURE TO GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER.
This has become evident in the increase of homelessness and rough-sleeping over the same 20 year period. Of course, not every homeless person is a victim of poor housing policy. Some have contributed to their own demise.

A HELPING HAND
On a humanitarian level, what is the best way to help street dwellers/ beggars?
Well I agree with Lellagrace on not giving them MONEY.
I rarely if ever do so. If the sign says ''cold and hungry'' then I tend to give them food and a cup of coffee.
It is sad that a large number have to rely on night shelters, charities and the like.
BUT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS BY THE CHOICES WE MAKE AT THE BALLOT BOX.
Our best way to help short term and to attack the problem long tern is to insist, as a nation, that the money be found for the building of local authority properties to be recommensed.... NOW!!

If we dont, we will, in a matter of decades, find ourselves stepping over street-dwellers as we go about our business.
A MAJOR HOUSING CRISIS IS WAITING JUST AROUND THE CORNER.... Are you listening Messrs Cameron, Brown and Campbell?

Summary: ACT NOW BEFORE DISASTER HITS US