The comments on the Leader’s Blog [1] by Richard Leese on
begging and homelessness are reprehensible. It is classic demonization of some
of Manchesters’ most vulnerable.
The piece looks to draw distinctions between beggars and
the homeless while describing them in almost the same terms. For beggars
"the most likely beneficiaries are the nearest off-licence, drug
dealer" but the homeless "are people with chaotic, dysfunctional
lifestyles often with drink, drug, and mental health problems".
The Leader talks about 80% of beggars not being homeless.
What does that mean? There is a noticeable increase in begging AND the homeless
on the streets over the few years. We know that the "Lack of affordable
housing, welfare cuts, and cuts to support services" has led to an
increase in homelessness, why wouldn't it lead to an increase in begging?
Foodbanks [2] and soup kitchens can't catch everyone.
The claim that beggars are commuting from London for the
notable Mancunian generosity is ridiculous. When is the evidence for this? And are
beggars also commuting from Liverpool, Birmingham and other large cities?
As for the generosity of Mancunians, this does not extend
to the Council. This spring it cut funding to homelessness support. [3]
Since then, however, the Council has spent over £100,000
prosecuting the homeless in the city centre while at the same time promoting
the huge amount of luxury flats planned for the city centre partly funded by
£300 million of government funds. [4]
What use are the Council Leader's comments except to turn
the public against the visible homeless on the streets. It casts doubt on any
initiative announced by the Richard Leese will be anything more than a
token enterprise, that it won’t approach
the scale of action needed to properly address the homelessness crisis. Next thing you know, he’ll
be asking people not to give to the homeless.
Manchester’s generosity is better than the comments of the
Council Leader. He should do a better job of representing it. He should learn
from it.
In the meantime its to be expected that the homeless
themselves will do the best they can to look after themselves on the streets of
Manchester.
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