Do more to help the city’s homeless

A WHILE ago a lady from England, who had visited Cardiff, wrote to your august journal concerning litter she observed on our streets.

Agreed – more could be done to keep Cardiff tidy and the public can play their part by not littering.

I might add, though, that there are worst-case scenarios in many English towns and cities. Luton, a place I passed through recently, is in that regard very bad, I thought.

This lady went on to refer to homeless people on the streets, seeming to almost see them in the same light as litter.

I don’t always give them a coin, but always speak to them as they are fellow humans who have fallen on hard times. I feel quite guilty that I can’t do more, but also very angry with those who govern us.

It is a disgrace and a scandal that here – in the capital city of Wales in 2017 – we see homeless people on our city’s streets.

Individuals, churches and charities can only do so much. We must salute the Huggard Trust and other charities, and also our churches for their work for, and with, the homeless, and it is not their fault that it is not enough.

So, who should I lobby? Do I contact my local councillor? What about the AM? Or regional AM? Or my MP? Their salaries and expenses are paid by the taxpayer. And look how they spend our money!

As an aside, we recently learned of thousands of pounds spent by civil servants working for the Welsh Assembly – on credit cards provided by said body – on lavish meals at posh restaurants and stays at expensive hotels – in the course of their jobs, admittedly. Our elected representatives are often seen to do likewise.

More should be done by councils and the Welsh Government to help these people, hopeless though some cases may seem. Roger Kendall Cardiff