Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Burnham: Don’t give money on the street
Cash ‘doesn’t always go to victims’ The rough guide to York Andy launches new homeless plan
LABOUR’S Andy Burnham wants people to stop giving money to beggars – and put the cash towards his homeless project instead.
He fears thousands of pounds, handed over with the best of intentions, is not going where it is most needed.
And he is putting his money where his heart is – by giving 15% of his own salary to his homelessness fund, in an effort to solve the issue. Today he is calling on the public to help him.
Many homeless people currently rely on donations given to them by the public in the street or on transport, for food and shelter.
But too often cash is creamed off by criminals who exploit them. Some is blown by vulnerable rough sleepers on drugs or alcohol before, as intended, it can be spent at a hostel on a bed.
Some money even ends up in the pockets of professional beggars who return to a warm home each night after a hard day’s scrounging.
So today Mr Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, is launching a project called A Bed Every Night to ensure the homeless are not just given emergency accommodation when temperatures plummet below freezing.
The plan is also backed by Man City skipper Vincent Kompany, who is donating some funds from his testimonial year. But there’s a shortfall, estimated at around £2million, and Mr Burnham hopes the public can meet it.
The mayor, who has pledged to eradicate rough sleeping in the region, said: “The best way to help people this winter is to give through the official routes rather than give on the street.
“Not everybody out there in the day time is necessarily someone who will be sleeping rough at night.
“The clear message is there are people out there using public sentiment YORK’S homeless can get training to be tour guides from next month and the first walks are scheduled for March.
Good Organisation director Kenny Lieske, said: “The project will help individuals who find themselves homeless get back into work and earn an income.”
The scheme is based on an award-winning project in Edinburgh that began in 2016 and has so far trained 15 homeless people to be tour guides in the city. and concerns about homelessness – and trying to make money out of it.
“I think there is a lot of money given that is not going to the right places.”
Homelessness official Mike Wright said: “There are gangs, mainly lower level drug dealers, that prey on beggars and rough sleepers in Manchester.”
He said some homeless victims even end up as drug-runners for the thugs.
He added: “They allow them to have a ‘begging patch’ and not be beaten up if they do ‘this, this or this’.
“They take their passports off them and their National Insurance number and say ‘you work for us’.”
At least 400 people are believed to be rough sleeping across the region.
Last year’s Beast from the East meant day after day of sub-zero temperatures so more people took up emergency accommodation for longer.
There they were given extra assistance. Mr Burnham said: “There was a chance to give them the extra support which was more likely to keep them off the streets for good.”
The mayor’s plan has been backed by businesses, charities, councils and volunteers. Already around 260 beds have been provided in night shelters, hostels and other accommodation, with more expected soon.
Insisting the scheme is more than just a “sticking plaster”, Mr Burnham added: “We remain 100% committed to ending the need for rough sleeping by 2020 and are on the verge of a massive step towards it with A Bed Every Night.
“Our aim is to provide a place for every person sleeping rough from today right through to March 31.”
He added: “Ideally, it will provide a steady base with a hot shower, hot meal and specialist support.”
Visit www.bedeverynight.co.uk