Commuters are running for trains, glad to leave work behind for the weekend. The hideous behemoth which is the Selfridges building sits like some weird alien space station; glinting smugly in the evening sunshine, wringing another few hundred pounds out of eager shoppers before it closes.
Less than a hundred yards around the corner, this is happening
Behind nearly every upright under the covered walkway between New Street Station and Moor Street Station is a bundle of carrier bags, a stained duvet or simply a pile of cardboard. These are all bed reservations for the evening. No-one moves them. The owners leave their worldly possessions to reserve their space safe in the knowledge that no-one else will steal them or take their pitch.
The homeless situation in Birmingham is out of control. It's been a complete shock going to work in Brum after 20 years away to see the extent of it.
It makes me so sad.
I can't help wondering if these poor people have parents, brothers, sisters, or aunts and uncles. Why do no family members help them?
ReplyDeleteEveryone has a story I guess.
DeleteAs you say so very sad.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is :(
DeleteIt makes me sad as well, and I fear it is going to get worse. The gap between the haves and have nots is widening. The security nets that were there to prevent this are disappearing. Mental health, drug and alcohol services and homeless charities are losing their funding. It is happening all over the country including beautiful Cornwall which has some of the poorest areas in the country. On a recent walk along a beautiful river I came across a little tent among the trees containing someones worldly goods. No heating, no sanitation, in the U.K. 2016.
ReplyDeleteBeggars belief doesn't it?
DeleteYet our shores are still open to more...why don't we look after who we have first? x
ReplyDeleteDon't get me started on that one!
DeleteIt always makes me so sad to see this. I watched the programmes about homelessness on BBC1 a couple of months ago. It's such a complex problem and the solutions take a lot of time and manpower. We had a homeless night shelter in our town but they lost the premises which dealt a huge body blow to those who used it when it closed. I had my name down to help but sadly it wasn't to be. Arilx
ReplyDeleteThere are so many disused buildings which could be utilised. Funding is always going to be an issue sadly as is manpower as you rightly say.
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