‘You can tell we’re not scammers as there’s no money to be made today’
HOMELESS WAKE UP ON CITY STREETS ON CHRISTMAS DAY – AGAIN
ON both Christmas Day 2016 and Christmas Day 2017, the M.E.N. published a series of grim photographs showing people waking up on the streets of our city on what should be a day of joy. Christmas Day 2018 was no different.
This year, once again, as the sun rose over the city centre too many people were curled up in grubby sleeping bags in doorways surrounded by a few tattered possessions.
Our photographer Joel Goodman walked around Market Street, John Dalton Street, Cross Street and St Ann’s Square and saw more than 20 people who had slept on the streets. There were men and woman, of all ages. He chatted to many of them. Where we have pictured their faces it is with permission.
They knew it was Christmas, but weren’t fussed; it was just another day. The only difference was that the city centre was mostly empty. Many wanted hot drinks. One woman had her belongings all around her and was looking for a trolley so she could keep her meagre possessions together.
One man, reflecting on the view that some people beg just to make money, said sadly: “You can tell we’re not scammers because there’s no money to be made today.”
Community groups were out in force trying to help. They handed out tea, sandwiches, toiletries and wrapped presents. Some provided Christmas dinner.
Over the last couple of years homelessness has become a fixture of life across Greater Manchester.
Mayor Andy Burnham has made the issue a priority, launching his A Bed Every Night scheme. It aims to give homeless people somewhere safe and warm to sleep along with hot food and targeted support to get them off the streets. There is clearly still work to be done. It’s not acceptable that people are living on the streets at any time of the year, but on Christmas Day it is particularly shameful for one of the wealthiest countries in the world.