But for the grace of God go I.

I was waiting in the bus station, after a morning at the gym, when this guy with a great big backpack, with a rolled up rubber exercise mat on the top came and sat by me.
So I struck up conversation with him, I asked him have you been on a camping holiday, he replied no sir I sleep on the streets.
Firstly I couldn't believe it, he was so clean well shaven with a goatee beard.
He was such a pleasant guy that I continued my conversation with him.
How long have you slept on the streets I asked him, thirty years he replied.
I asked how do you go on for money, he replied he begged, do you not get any dole money, no he said I don't get any help from the authorities at all.
He said that he begged for enough for food and found that the people who give, are the least likely ones, like the pensioner or even children.
I make enough to travel by bus as well, I think he read my mind then, that was going to be my next question.
Not once did he ask me for a few bob.
He told me the secret of living on the street is to know the best place to kip down, and where you can get free food or very cheap food, he said he was on the way to get a free dinner at a church.
He went on to say that his secret was to stay clean and tidy, and it seems to work, he went on to say that I wouldn't have spoken to him if he had been scruffy and unshaven.
I said I wasn't sure, but maybe I still would, but for the grace of God go I.
Anyway as I was leaving the bus I dropped a couple of quid in his hand, he looked at me gob smacked.

Re: But for the grace of God go I.

I met quite a few gentlemen of the road when working for a voluntary organisation , we used to ask them in and give them a cup of tea and a biscuit . We weren't allowed to give them money
Most of them were lovely chaps often with sad stories to tell. Some had mental health issues and were a bit scary .One had been an accountant then lost everything, he was quite happy with his life though.

Another elderly chap was standing side on when he came to the door, when I let him in I noticed half of his face was missing He never mentioned it .

There is a whole subculture of homeless people out there that most people never come into contact with. The experienced ones among them know where to go for a meal or a nights sleep indoors with a shower.

Re: But for the grace of God go I.

He seemed to be a decent chap Arthur, down on his luck but as you say it could happen to anyone, especially in these uncertain times. He has his situation in hand and knows how to cope, that's half the battle, I wish him all the luck he can get.
I would have been surprised if you hadn't dropped him a few bob, knowing your kind nature.

Re: But for the grace of God go I.

As an athiest, I don't think that any deity comes into it, but I get the meaning.

During my working life (I retired early), I had the good fortune to work in a number of cities, and they all had people on the street. Amsterdam was the worst for 'professional beggars', some were well dressed and quite benign, while others were agressive louts. I kept hoping that I'd see some of them ending up face down in a canal, but I expect that there are laws against dumping ***t in them.

By contrast, the ones in Hamburg were a relatively respectable bunch who abviously knew the best doorways to sleep in. Karstadt was OK, but Peek&Cloppenberg was much better! The German red cross, and the Salvation army came round every evening tending to medical and food needs. I never saw them giving any trouble.

I had no time for the ones in Edinburgh. Just try walking down Princes Street and you soon tire of telling then to **** off and get a job.

Other places had their 'street people' too. I avoided them and didn't feel in the least guilty that my employer paid for a 4* hotel and gave me a generous per-diem.

Still, there but for a good job and probably more good luck than I deserve, there go I.

Re: But for the grace of God go I.

I'll ignore your post George!!!
Whether Christian or not, I think we should respect human life, these people you mention, could have been some of those Meg mentioned :-----Most of them were lovely chaps often with sad stories to tell. Some had mental health issues and were a bit scary .One had been an accountant then lost everything, he was quite happy with his life though.

The guy I spoke to told me, if he went to the job centre and asked for a job, they ask his address and they refuse him straight out.
People who have no fixed abode can't get much out of this life.
They need a break not to be dismissed as dross.
Paul Young

Re: But for the grace of God go I.

Hardly down on his luck if he's been on the streets for thirty years, it sounds like he's made a damn good career out of it....

Re: But for the grace of God go I.

Wrinkly, I think you need to distinguish between those in genuine need and those who are agressive, threatening and abusive. They are basically criminals - demanding money with menaces - and should be dealt with.

As plantman says, some of them probably make a damn good living out of it.

Re: But for the grace of God go I.

There is no need for anyone to "live on the streets" in GB. It is their choice.

Re: But for the grace of God go I.

Some people have no choice, it is the lesser of two evils .

Re: But for the grace of God go I.

Given the choice of living on the streets or spending a bit of time in hostels while waiting for permanent placement I know what I would do.

What I do believe is that a great many people are "on the streets" and even in prison when in reality they should in one of the many mental asylums that sadly were closed and replaced with Psychiatric hospitals with a totally different function.

Care in the community has for the most part become no care in the community.

There are of course those in the Inner Cities who can make hundreds of pounds per day begging, and that is a recorded fact, especially those here from Romania. We should take a leaf from France's book on that one.