Street Pastors

Yes that’s a Good & Interesting concept, but not sure how that would work .

It is not just alcohol which causes people to be on the street - often it is to do with mental health and sometimes people just find a devastating change in their circumstances causes it - many different reasons. More places. which are safe and warm. for them to stay maybe an answer,

It's not just the traders in alcohol who are to blame. We should be looking at ourselves. Why do we accept that some people are homeless? Why don't we put pressure on the powers that be to make sure that are homes available for everyone? Why don't we put pressure on the powers to provide the necessary support and social care that would help to keep some from becoming homeless in the first place? It's OK us saying it's not good enough but do we actually do anything ourselves? I'll admit mea culpa. I may buy someone a sandwich and hot drink but I don't complain to the powers. Perhaps we should all make regular complaints to our MPs. We are many and they are few.

It isn't as simple as that vampire, many homeless are drug addicts or alcoholics, many refuse shelter because they cannot continue taking drugs or drinking. How many rehab centres would be needed, all staffed , nurses, doctor, cook, cleaners, and no one can be forced to stay in these centres.

The street pastors go on the streets to help, usually young inebriated, folk in the early hours who are lost, shoeless (they give out flip flops) and need first aid. They're not dealing with homeless. That's why I think the makers of booze and the bars and clubs that sell to young folk who usually drink to excess should pay for this service.

I can understand your point Newquay but the same could be said of food outlets selling unhealthy foods , should they contribute to treating the obese ?

Newquay I agree in principle, but one of the problems is that young people often drink excessively at home (it's cheaper) before going out. I do think pubs, clubs and bars should take more responsibility and 'happy hours' should be done away with or taxed punitively. It is illegal to serve alcohol to a drunk person, or to buy alcohol on behalf of someone who is drunk, yet very few licensees are prosecuted.

Which channel was the programme you watched on Newquay?

The flip flops aren’t always through poverty but through drunken girls tottering around on very high heels and falling
I m afraid Anniebach is right and a lot of the rooms in hostels are not used as the homeless do not want to engage in the rules of no drink no drugs I know our local hostel is not full but there are still young homeless people choosing and I mean choosing to sleep in shop doorways because that way they can take their drugs ..... and yes there are big programmes to help anyone to get off drugs if they want to

Oh I give up. Sod the homeless. They've obviously brought it on themselves and really enjoy being hungry and cold.

Homelessness and 'choice' - I could write a book!
Hostels that have available rooms and yet people are choosing instead to sleep on the streets are obviously having problems. This article describes people who would rather sleep on the streets than go into a hostel and explains their reasons for doing so. In my town we get many people who would rather sleep on the streets to get away from the prevalence of drugs and alcohol in the nearby hostel.

No one said that Vampirequeen only being realistic about SOME homelessness

We seem to have strayed from the discussion about street pastors !

Recently a relatively young man died in my home town. He was well known to many having sat on the street at the same place for many years. As soon as he died we had many people (who never knew him) commenting how awful it was, he should have been offered help, etc etc.

But this young man had been offered countless help over the years, spare rooms in homes, hostels, medical care, etc etc. His family had tried over and over again. Sometimes an individual just does not want to change their ways.

Street pastors - do a wonderful job, keeping vulnerable young people safe. It is a sad reflection on society that we need them, but I am grateful to all those who are willing to go out on cold windy nights to take a lot of the pressure off the emergency services.

Hello Granny activist, sorry about my delay in replying, busy weekend and now DGC had a sleepover (or rather, let's see how long we can stay awake over!) and now tired and miserable-DGC as well as me!
Anyway the prog wasn't just about street pastors it was on BBC1 about vicars in the countryside.

The street pastors in my city are out from 9pm to 4am on Friday and Saturdays.
They give out flip flops so the girls don't cut their feet on broken glass and also hand out small lollipops, this seems to work well as its difficult for a lad to look "hard" while sucking a lolly.
They are all volunteers and do a great job.

I know the Pastors are volunteers but who pays for lollies and flip flops? Bet the breweries, pubs etc don't! Wonder if they're ever approached?