Homelessness in the 21st Century
As our main political parties gear up for another general election and try to hogwash us with glistening manifestos offering prosperity to all and affordable housing by the bucket load, pause and try and see it from the perspective of someone who has to live their lives on a day to day basis in a shop doorway or anywhere they can find the minimum of shelter from the elements. Unfortunately government neatly glosses over this growing epidemic and allows the numbers on our street to grow, and its not just adults who are forced to live life on our streets, its children as well who share this vulnerable lifestyle.
Why are people forced to live on the streets?
When we walk around every major city in the United Kingdom, you will always come across a young adult or even a mature adult sleeping rough, so what goes through our mind at this, for the most we turn a blind eye and move on. However, all these people probably had a perfectly normal life until fate decided to intervene. Once these lonely and vulnerable men and women lived at home but something changed, physical and sexual abuse are a major contributing fact to why many a forced out of their homes and seek sanctuary on the streets. Another contributing fact is addiction, whether drugs,gambling or alcohol they all have a devastating effect on family life and without the proper access to help and support many addicts are forced to live and maintain their addiction on the streets.
Why in the 21st century do people still live in abject poverty?
Globally the number of the world populous who are living in abject poverty runs into the hundreds of millions and the access to food and water is a daily struggle for many but why?. Sadly many countries on our planet are run by militia and terrorist factions and so lack a proper democracy, which doesn't allow for a proper elected government to control the financial and commercial outputs of the country, and therefore creates a lack of wealth and the infrastructure to create a stable economy. However, even in countries with healthy economies, there are many who live under the stigma of poverty because of many factors which include, unemployment, low earnings, poor benefits and housing conditions. It is a sad fact that even in the 21st century the United Kingdom falls into this category. There are many people in UK who are forced to go visit food banks to ensure there children get a balanced meal everyday if they can. Another failing of our governmental system is the lack of proper sanitary goods for young girls at school and needs to be addressed urgently so that young girls can face their periods with some sort of hygienic dignity.
Not forgetting Mental Health
One of the most troubling concerns about are street dwellers is the rising number of homeless suffering with mental health conditions. There are many homeless people suffering with different forms of mental health which include schizophrenia, bipolar, depression and other psychosis, without proper access to the correct medication, these sufferers will continue to see their mental health deteriorate and many resort to suicide as the only way out.
There are many charitable organisations that offer help to the homelessness and try to restore their faith in humanity and to them I offer a debt of gratitude. But as we enter the festive season, just grab a moment and think about those who won’t be joining in the celebrations this Christmas and maybe visit one of the many homeless charities and make a small donation. so at least someone on the street has access to a hot meal and a clean,warm environment.
