We are in the middle of a homelessness crisis.

For the second year in a row, England has reported an increase in the number of people sleeping rough. An estimated 3,898 people were experiencing homelessness on a single night in fall 2023, an increase of 27% from the previous year.

The number of people sleeping rough is 61% higher than 10 years ago and 120% higher than when data collection began in 2010.

And while most people are aware of the harsh realities facing the homeless — especially as the colder months approach — confusion remains about how to help them.

Some people worry that giving money directly will only provide temporary relief; others argue that there’s nothing wrong with offering a little respite.

Another argument against giving money directly is that it could fuel addiction – but is this risk overestimated?

Even charities are divided on how best to help.

The Salvation Army has previously said that handing out cash directly risks “trapping” people in the “endless cycle” of homelessness and rough sleeping.

The charity’s director of homelessness services, Nick Redmore, said the root causes of homelessness were complex, but were often the result of relationship breakdown, mental health issues, addiction or abuse during childhood.

“Members of the public are right to be concerned and we commend anyone who tries to help when they see another person in distressing circumstances,” he said.

“Giving money to someone living on the streets is a personal choice, but it will only help alleviate their immediate need. Unfortunately, it will not end their sleeping on the streets.”

In researching this article, we conducted a survey of thousands of LinkedIn followers – and the results suggest the public is reluctant to hand over money…

“I’ve been there – this is why you should donate money directly”

Leigh Fontaine, head of services at homeless charity St Mungo’s, was left homeless for around four months after being evicted at short notice from a property he was renting.

Now, ten years later, the 38-year-old says giving money to a homeless person was a choice, but it was “a really great opportunity to have human interaction.”

He said: “I don’t think giving someone £2 or £3 is going to solve the problem of homelessness, but it does give someone the opportunity to have some respite and comfort in a really difficult time. difficult.

“Sometimes giving money to someone here or there can help ease the pressure of life on the streets.

“I don’t think people always understand how difficult it is to live on the streets.

“When I was homeless, I would spend several nights outside before I could approach a member of the public. When you’re homeless, you feel unworthy and it takes away your humanity. It’s really embarrassing to have to ask for help. help.

“Most of the time I encountered people who were rude or dismissive and I might impose some of those judgments on you about drugs and alcohol.

“For the few people who gave me money and engaged in conversation with me, it was really humanizing.”

Leigh said that while it was not a myth that homeless people could use money to buy drink and drugs, those worried about how their money would be spent might instead make a donation to a regulated homeless charity.

He added: “I think it would be a lie to ignore the fact that a large population of homeless people still struggle with drug and alcohol addiction, but it is an addiction, it It’s an illness and it’s a need for support.

“And a person with substance abuse needs should not be a barrier to helping people in need.”

Geoff Hawkins, 56, became homeless 11 years ago and now lives in a Salvation Army shelter in Warrington.

He said the idea that giving money to homeless people fueled their alcohol and drug use was not fair.

“I’m not saying no one was doing it… but the people I met on the street were in the worst situation of their lives,” he said.

“Donating food or to charity is the best way to help”

Claire Sullivan, of Trinity Homeless Projects in London, said there was “no right or wrong” when it came to choosing to give money directly to homeless people on the streets.

“If you want to buy someone food, buy them food,” she said.

Ms Sullivan said it was also worth asking people sleeping rough if they were getting help.

“You could be their first conversation of the day and you could be their biggest support system just by offering to help,” she added.

“With money, it’s a contentious conversation and my answer is: if you want to give money to someone who is homeless, give it to a charity like ours, because 10 £ are very useful.”

Ms Sullivan said £10 could provide 10 people with a meal, new pillows or bedding.

As for other costs, emergency hostel costs around £400 a week and supported accommodation costs around £250 a week, she added.

“It really could be you.”

Geoff and Leigh have shared their own stories of homelessness in the hope that people realize it can happen to anyone.

Geoff said he had been an “ordinary man” before losing his job and everything “went pear shaped”.

The father of five, who suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and arthritis, served as a city councilor for more than 35 years.

After a medical examination at work, his health was deemed too poor and he had to leave his job. This led to the breakdown of her 20-year marriage and mental health issues.

With no savings, Geoff suddenly found himself “homeless and sleeping in a tent”, before finally finding a place in the Salvation Army hostel.

“I went to work and then came home and that’s when it happened,” he said. “Everything can go wrong in the blink of an eye.”

Recalling life on the streets, Geoff said: “It’s one of the worst things you can live in. Walking around every evening wondering who is behind you and who is in front of you.

“You think it’s horrible during the day, but then night comes and you’re walking the streets freezing to death.”

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Geoff said he is now in a better place and is taking it “one day at a time”.

“I’m slowly getting there and things are getting better,” he added. “I now volunteer in the kitchen here and also help with other tasks like picking up litter.”

Leigh said people sleeping rough often faced barriers due to not having an ID card, basic documents, bank account or address.

“Once you get into that sleep cycle the hard way, you’re anchored to it,” he said.

“It’s pretty hard to get by.”

Leigh tells a story of “bad timing and bad luck.”

“I had just finished college at the time and was on unemployment, so I didn’t have money for bail,” he said.

“I’m sure people reading this will think they won’t end up homeless, but it was literally a three-month period of one bad event after another.

“I come from a working-class background and my family isn’t rich. At the time, I was separated, so I didn’t have a lot of other support to fall back on.”

Leigh said that most of that time he was “hidden homeless,” couch surfing with friends and crashing parties in warehouses just to avoid the streets.

This only ended for him when he fell ill and had to be hospitalized.

What help can we provide on a daily basis to people sleeping on the streets?

Leigh said a local day center in your area is one option and another is to contact StreetLink, but help is not immediate.

At St Mungo’s, £65 could help a frontline worker reach someone sleeping rough and £29 could help provide essentials to someone in a St Mungo’s hostel.

“I think homelessness is 100 percent solvable,” he said.

“I think what happened during the pandemic is proof of that.

“It was really sad to see some of the amazing things like COVID response hotels disband once the pandemic was over. A lot of those people had to get off the streets.”