Beggars, homeless, street drinkers & drug users in Sheffield!

[kidley 48]

You keep saying these things without providing any evidence to back it up. Rather than expending energy telling people not to give money I would rather that energy spent on actually helping these people.

 

My Bold

 

I would think you have read most if not all of this thread, So my question to you is, how would you help a person who has a home, in receipt of benefits, who chooses to be an addict and to feed his/her addiction, goes out and begs off strangers?

[Fudbeer 12]

A few weeks ago I realised it was getting out of hand so I decided to keep a score of the number of times I was approached and asked for money on my journey through the city

Whilst walking from the train station to Morrison's in Broomhill on a Sunday lunchtime I was asked for money 37 times

 

Does not surprise me I visit town most Sundays and the % beggars to members of the public is big.

 

They also seem to be particularly determined/desperate.

 

You will be asked many times if you are in the Division Street/West Street area.

[SkylinePhoto 10]

A few weeks ago I realised it was getting out of hand so I decided to keep a score of the number of times I was approached and asked for money on my journey through the city

Whilst walking from the train station to Morrison's in Broomhill on a Sunday lunchtime I was asked for money 37 times

 

Wow. That is a very long walk.

 

You should've asked the beggars for a £1 so you can get the bus.

[pattricia 575]

You keep saying these things without providing any evidence to back it up. Rather than expending energy telling people not to give money I would rather that energy spent on actually helping these people.

 

Helping these people ?

[Guest makapaka]

Helping these people ?

 

Yes helping people - A bit like helping little poochie-woos.....

 

Except this time it helps human beings.

[bogey1972 10]

I’m becoming embarrassed by Sheffield. The good folk of our city really need to stop encouraging these beggars by not giving anything to them. As has previously been posted there are other vehicles for donating to if you want to help the genuine homeless and be sure your money reaches someone who really is in need. A work colleague of mine has seen the doorway beggars who litter our city centre each day meet up in the morning before being allocated patches to beg in. They have then been seen later in the day paying what can only be described as a rent collector for the privilege of begging in their patch. Unacceptable, undefendable and morally wrong. Please please stop giving these people money and food.

[Padders 2,862]

Amazing as it sounds, people have refused accommodation based on the fact "it's too far for me to go"- it was half an hour on foot from the city centre. Exact quote was "why the hell should I have to walk home. I won't walk anywhere". Followed by abuse.

 

---------- Post added 03-11-2017 at 12:03 ----------

 

 

I think you'd be surprised how little has changed!

 

It's exactly this. You're facing an impossible task of trying to engage people when they can make £100-200 a day begging.

 

Take The Big Issue. What incentive is there for people to engage with them, go through the meetings and supervision required, be shown how to pay their taxes etc, when they see they can make more sitting and doing nothing and not face their problems?

 

Been reading this thread with interest, people being stopped 37 times by beggars, suggest"s to me their must be hundreds plying their trade in the city centre. I can"t believe there making upwards of £200 per day, I really can"t.

[lectrolove 10]

Been reading this thread with interest, people being stopped 37 times by beggars, suggest"s to me their must be hundreds plying their trade in the city centre. I can"t believe there making upwards of £200 per day, I really can"t.

 

Y'know the only place I've been actively begged from, as in being approached/harassed/followed, is in Waitrose car park where it's happened a few times. I've seen plenty of beggars sitting next to cash machines etc but none have accosted me. I'm amazed by the figure of being stopped 37 times.

[pattricia 575]

Yes helping people - A bit like helping little poochie-woos.....

 

Except this time it helps human beings.

 

Yeh, but the dogs aren’t alcoholics or drug users !

[eadingtone 10]

There is definitely a homeless issue in Sheffield, and although a lot of the "beggars" are scam artists, there are also a lot of people who genuinely need and want help. Just difficult to tell who's who sometimes

[AmberLeaf 10]

Yeh, but the dogs aren’t alcoholics or drug users !

 

I think most of them dogs are nicked

[pattricia 575]

I think most of them dogs are nicked

 

Really ? That’s even worse.