Comment Rising homeless numbers in our city shame all of us
people there with problems. It’s not a good idea; too many people with the problems I’m trying to escape from.”
By 3am, the half moon was high in cloudy sky, and striding down the city centre, through the locked-up German Market, we met a little group including, Gaynor, an older woman who everyone called ‘mum’. She was bipolar, self-harmed ‘to let things radio to listen to. And some books.” What kind of books, I asked. “Anything, by Jackie Collins or Maeve Binchy. A bit of escapism!”
Through the German market we walked, and the numbers kept climbing. And its those alone who seem most vulnerable.
A few of the people you meet, are recently out of prison. Pitched into hostels will little support, and often at risk of abuse from other drugusers in the house. So, they prefer the relative safety of the streets. But it hadn’t worked out for Neil. He’d been robbed of everything. All he had, he could fit in his parka pockets. That was all he had.
Most shocking of all was the new reality that we now have disabled citizens sleeping rough.
By the locked up chalet-style stalls in the German market, decorated with a rampant Father Christmas, we met a man who’d lost both legs. Sleeping in a doorway. Next to his wheelchair.
And he wasn’t the only disabled citizen we counted. Up in the arcade round the corner was a veteran who’d lost half a leg. All he had to keep him warm was a thin sleeping bag and a Help For Heroes sweatshirt. It was heartbreaking.
How has it come to this? Over the last few years the number of rough sleepers has soared as austerity bites deep. I’m not allowed to reveal the numbers we found this year. But put it this way: last year, I finished our count around 3am. This year, I didn’t get home until after 5am.
The toxic mix of cuts to addiction services, a mental health system buckling under the strain, benefit cuts and sanctions, Universal Credit, an under-funded probation services and a simple shortage of affordable homes, have together created a vortex is knocking record numbers of our neighbours to the pavement.
This scandal cannot go on. It shames us. It is not morally acceptable for the Second City in the fifth richest country on earth. This is a magnificent country, full of kind and compassionate people. The St Basil’s Sleepout the following night boasted record numbers of fund-raising. Ordinary people are coming together to help. It’s time the government got behind them.
Liam Byrne is Labour MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill
This scandal cannot go on. It shames us. It is not morally acceptable for the Second City in the fifth richest country on earth.