No Fixed Abode
posted by Jess Sains
The University of Exeter this week published a study that suggested that homelessness needed to be dealt with more promptly. This, the study suggested, would help stop individuals from falling rapidly down the spiral of homelessness.
This week, also, another study on homelessness pointed to the extent that it is an issue in North Devon’s largest town, Barnstaple. Last year an official government appraisal of the homeless in Barnstaple suggested that there were only five people of no fixed abode in the town (this census, I understand was taken by counting how many people were asleep in shop doorways on one given night). However, the North Devon Journal this week reports the figure is more like 35. For those who had worked in drop-ins or been to the “soup kitchen†provided by the Barnstaple Poverty Action Group (BPAG) this was no surprise, it even sounds a little bit low.
Of course, there are a number of fine organisations working against the tide (in North Devon this week some £300,000 in funding was removed from those working with people with drug and alcohol issues – which although it is not necessarily tied in to homelessness is often linked). In Exeter there is St Petrock’s, which works with homeless persons to widen their skill base and build their independence. There is also EHAG, the Exeter Homeless Action Group and in North Devon there are the PAGs (poverty action groups) of Barnstaple, Torridge (based in Bideford) and Ilfracombe. Such organisations of course throw up questions about whether they merely help the middle-classes feel better about themselves because the can buy a couple of tins of Buy One and Get One Free tinned peaches and assuage their guilt about the situation capitalism leaves those with less luck or money in. Even if we feel this as a symptom of such groups, they still help a large number of people who cannot afford to put food on the table that night or just need someone to chat to.
But how do we ‘nip homelessness in the bud’? How does one stop someone having their relationship break down and lose their home? How does one stop addiction? How does one stop debt, poverty, loss, depression? Well, as a nicely placed Lefty I think I could tell you how to stop a lot of this stuff, but then I work in social care at the same time – am I capitalism’s apologist? Yes, I have a home, money, a job, a car and I am only addicted to eating too much but I can help empower you!!! What a scary thought; time to look away from the mirror.
One thing we must remember, however, while we fork out charity is that some people do choose to be homeless. While the conventional fear may be to be without our houses (our little piece of glorious England…), our families, our cars or without the countless other consumer trappings other individuals may fear just as much the idea of being trapped by those trappings. So, they make the ultimate escape from society, by living their lives their own way.
Poverty, and homelessness, it seems are a symptom of capitalisms hierarchy but then again, so many of the homeless people I know are the most empowered in their life choices, as well…
If you liked this story, you could buy us a coffee --------------------------------------------------------------------February 2nd, 2008
