Homeless And Pregnant In London

Some people have actually navigated to this page looking for help. Here are some important resources if you are facing homelessness in the UK yourself:

The Shelter Helpline is: 0808 800 4444

Citizens Advice Guide - Help For Homeless People - Finding Accomodation.
Shelter: Advice on Emergency Accomodation.
Shelter: Womens Refuges.
Shelter: Advice on Paying For a Home.
Shelter: Advice on dealing with Rent Arrears
Citizens Advice Bureau - Benefits
Homeless UK - Services for homeless people in the UK

For most organisations, being pregnant is considered a priority need. Make sure they are aware of this when you speak to them.

If someone is able to give me the details on similar organisations in the US, I will be happy to add them here.

My wife and I were walking through the now vibrant district of Shepherds Bush, a rather busy part of West London, recently regenerating as a result of the huge new Westfield Shopping Centre developed there. We were trying to find somewhere to eat, rather unsuccessfully. We had the luxury of deciding we would eat out, and arriving a little too late for anywhere to serve us. As we approached one particular food place, ChopChop- pictured, we came across this homeless woman sitting between shops.

What did we do? We did the same as everyone else and walked on by. But not without being deeply affected by what we saw. I was incensed to find out ways I could help her, to find charities or organisations so I could bring her to their attention. I could not really bear the thought that she would be ignored, but with my own heavily pregnant wife, it seemed to much of a risk to approach someone when you have no idea what their reaction would be. It motivated me to write this lens as soon as I came within typing distance of my computer - I put off sleep for a few hours just to get it written.

The first thing to know is it is not that I am without compassion, and not that I would not want to help somebody, but rather that I would not want to make any situation worse.

What does that mean?

The London Metropolitan Police, and many homeless charities in the capital urge people not to directly give cash to homeless people. Give food, or other things if they are wanted but not money. Money can be a curse as well as a blessing.

The thing to be really aware of here is why someone is homeless, a topic I will talk about more below. If drugs or alcohol are involved, which in a number of cases (not all) they are, then money will just further fuel a habit. If you want to donate money to help homeless people, donate it to a charity. I thoroughly recommend Crisis.

Crisis are a UK charity who help to provide shelter, food, advice, education and general support or care for homeless people. It is these things that are needed more than straight cash.

I was with my pregnant wife also - which means I understand that there are few times in a womans life when they more need support. But because I could not tell if this woman was on drugs, or would respond abusively, I did not want to approach her at that time. It inspired me to think about what I could really do for her though, as she is in a situation nobody should be in.

People are homeless for a number of reasons. If you read the other stories on this page, about my encounters with the homeless, you will begin to build a picture of how and why it can occur. Seeing someone homeless and pregnant should make you think even more about why they are there. From most of these reasons, it should become clear that your direct cash will not help them much compared with some good advice from a professional on this. The best way to help them to get this help is to donate or volunteer for an organisation like Crisis UK where you will receive training to aid homeless people.

The first reason that most people think of is that someone runs out of money. In the UK there are many safeguards to prevent this. Even if councils and benefits agencies are slow to move, there are homeless shelters, then a huge range of advice for seeking housing, housing benefit, income support, job seekers allowance,debt counselling, writing off debt and so on. I speak as someone who has the experience of being a student welfare officer when I say that there is a very strong and broad system to support most people in a bad situation. This reason alone, is very unlikely.

The second may be that they are an asylum seeker or immigrant. Immigrants who are legal are generally required to prove that they are able to support and shelter themselves before they are allowed a VISA to stay in the country. However, anyone who has bypassed this mechanism will not have been subject to those checks, and may not have enough money. They will also not be entitled to support from any of the benefits system, whom they may also be avoiding to avoid the attention of Immigration Control. Good advice and counselling, as well as shelter will help. Some types of Visa for totally legal immigrants do not allow any recourse to public funds, so somebody who did have accomodation but suddenly finds themselves without may be in trouble. These are generally work or student Visas, and these people should be able to seek support and advice from both Citizens advice and their sponsor to deal with difficult times.

The third are those hiding from something. This could be a number of things, each worth their own section alone. It may account for the largest number.

Hiding from the law - Somebody may become homeless to avoid the law. They may have, or think they have committed a crime, and by having no fixed abode, they make themselves essentially missing and invisible. They may have unspent convictions. This group are one good reason to be a little careful when approaching or talking to homeless people. It is likely to be a small minority though so don't tarnish all homeless with this brush.

Hiding from debt - some people have an almost unbearable amount of debt they are hiding from. They may have county court judgements against them or had their home or possessions repossessed by bailiffs. These people really need counselling and advice to deal with it.

Hiding from domestic abuse - this may be a parent or partner who would have subject them to much torment to drive them to this. This kind of person really needs a kind ear, an adviser who knows where to find safe shelters and even to deal with the abusive person so the homeless person can get back on their feet.

Runaway youngsters count as hiding from something - and may tie with the domestic abuse or many other of these categories, parental arguments, parental drug abuse, parental neglect or simply have such a disagreement with their parents that they do not know where else to go. They need advice, counselling, a friendly and non-judgemental ear. Sending them straight back is not always the best answer.

Hiding as a witness of crime - Somebody may have witnessed a crime of a serious nature, and feel too threatened to even live in their home. This person needs counselling.

Hiding after a traumatic event - This person has been subject to or experienced a very traumatic event - they seriously need advice, counselling and help. They are living in their own hell.

The fourth are those people with some kind of mental health problem. Perhaps some of the above fall into this category, but some quite serious mental health issues, if untreated and undiagnosed, if ignored, may lead someone to homelessness. They may not have the capacity to deal with getting their own benefits or money, and may not have the support network to help them in hard times. These persons, more than any of the above, need a professional. Volunteering/donating for either a homeless charity like Crisis or Mind - National Association For Mental Health is the best way you can help this group.

Finally, a person who is homeless may have a problem with substance abuse like alcohol or illegal drugs. This may drive them from working, from their home, out of the benefits system. It may make them unable to seek advice or deal with others. It may also make them volatile, violent and abusive and even lead to criminal behaviour. Giving this type of person money is plain and simple destructive - a very bad idea. If you really wish to help, then donate and volunteer for Crisis or Addaction - The UK's largest drug and alcohol treatment charity. I repeat - never give this kind of person money.

Once, when I worked near Oxford Street, as I walked from work every day, I would spot the same homeless chap, sat on the pavement outside, reading a book. He read different books, many of them.

After passing him for a few months and noticing that he was not begging, I decided (which may be foolhardy of me) to chat with him. Anyone who knows me will tell you I chat fairly easily. The chap was fairly small build, about a similar age, and had clearly been sleeping rough. Given that he was always reading, it was unlikely that he was on drugs.

Anyway, it turned out he was a very intelligent guy. He read lots of fiction books. I asked him what he liked. His rule was he would read almost anything,but it could not physically be too large or heavy (for obvious reasons), and he would not read bibles or textbooks. I brought him a few books that I would have otherwise taken to a charity shop, and we talked about them. I never found out what he did once he had read them - he did not have huge stock of books, so perhaps he donated them on.

It turned out that he used the street internet booths and had his own email address. In London, bizarre as it may seem, homeless people in the centre can get access to the net relatively easily.

I never really did get to find out why he was homeless. Not being a professional myself, I really did not know how to approach the question, or if I should. I didn't want to upset him.

He was there for about a year, and was never any trouble. Eventually he went. I would like to think he got things sorted.

Another encounter I had was in Camden Town.

I had actually had a little to drink,
and was about to wait for a night bus.

A homeless person came to ask me for money.
I was at the time a lot younger and naive then,
so I did give him what money I had -
although being a student,
it was basically a bunch of coppers and bits.
But I also talked with him.

I asked him why he was there,
why he was asking for money.
He had been drinking,
but then so had I,
so I thought nothing of it.
Who was I to judge someone else drinking,
when I had done so myself on the same night?

His answer was that he had failed.
That his life was already a failure.
I pointed out "you are quite young,
surely you can still go out and do something".
He told me again,
he was a failure,
that he did not really want to try any more.

This feeling of hopelessness from him was quite a shock to me,
to see this young man,
not much older than I was at the time (about 20),
consider their life a failure and over.

I did not know if he had just had a drink to lift his spirits
or was actually an alcoholic,
and now I would not have given him money.
I am glad to have spoken to him.
I do not know if his hopelessness drove him to drink
or drink drove him to it,
if indeed he was an alcoholic.
One or two drinks does not make someone an alcoholic,
I wont assume that someone homeless with a drink is an alcoholic.

My meagre few pennies may have bought him another drink
or possibly a little bread in a supermarket.
Who knows, but it did not,
could not help him much.
Hopefully, however stopping to speak with him,
my attempted words of encouragement,
trying to tell him that he was still young,
he still had some worth,
that there is plenty out there,
if only he would keep on trying,
would help him.
perhaps this would help a great deal more,
easily more than a few pence.

This is the person that Crisis and Addaction are here to help. They would be able to give him the longer term support he would need to rehabilitate, to rebuild his life and carry on.

There was once a chap I met in Gloucester,
who slept rough near or in the Cathedral Grounds.

One who perhaps, more than others
shows how very different homeless people are,
and that they are still people,
with their own quirks, desires, habits
and hobbies, artistries or masteries.
He was a very friendly man,
a proper polite English gent,
hair greying to white,
but still a full head,
he was in good spirits
and appeared to be in good health.

He would draw beautiful pictures,
Of Gloucester's historic Cathedral.
This homeless man wrote articles,
for the local newspaper.
He was clearly articulate,
Educated and an intelligent person.
He had his own reasons for not living in a home
but was not on drugs and was very polite.

The most amusing and quirky thing,
was his distaste for pasties.
Not far from his pitch,
where he sleeps at night,
and sketches or writes in the day,
is The Pasty Shop,
making pasties of many sizes and tastes.
People would see him sleeping rough,
assume he needed food
and buy him a pasty.

They would perhaps assume that being homeless,
all taste was put aside,
He told me that he really could not stand them!

He seemed like a very happy person,
although I have no idea how deep or superficial this was.

Given that he was articulate,
intelligent and able to write and drawm
things that could definitely earn
should he need them,
it was not a lack of money that put him on the streets.
He did not seem so very bitter,
or upset about it at the time.

This man was an inspiration to me,
and should be to any.
His homelessness did not make him,
any less of a man,
any less of a great person,
any less of a quirky person,
any less able to express his desires.

If you see someone homeless, or more seriously homeless and pregnant and it touches you, think about what you can do for them. Try to understand their situation if you have the time and you are in a position to help them.

Do not give them cash outright. It not only may not help, but it may even make a situation worse or perpetuate it.

Be careful who you approach - you do not know what their reaction will be. If you are trained to deal with potentially difficult people, fine. Think before putting yourself or your partner at risk.

Do not judge every homeless person badly - I have met some quite pleasant ones. This may mean slowly building a rapport with a person you see regularly who has always been pleasant and polite. Talking with them may be a great help to them- it can be quite a lonely existence.

Finally - the best way you can help is to support through the homeless charities and organisations. Buy the Big Issue every now and again, it is not a bad read.

Charities that can help:
Shelter - The Housing and Homelessness Charity
Crisis - UK Homeless Charity
Mind - National Association For Mental Health
Addaction - The UK's largest drug and alcohol treatment charity

Title image is from MorgueFile.com (it is not of the woman of whom I speak).
The shelter Logo belongs to Shelter - The Housing and Homelessness Charity

Photo of Gloucester Cathedral taken from the Cathedral green.
Photo of Camden Lock is from MorgueFile.com.
The photo of a restaurant interior is actually of ChopChop in Shepherds Bush.

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