Manchester Street Homeless

Yesterday I went back out on the streets in Manchester city centre to update the homeless people I had previously spoken to about my campaign in their name. I was accompanied by the Change4Good project manager, Damian, which is my charity’s homeless outreach project that got 48 people off the streets last year.

Allow me to highlight what I came across, discussions I had and what homeless people told me along the way.

First person we spoke to was a man in his 50s on Mosley St, absolutely filthy, dirt ingrained in his skin and no doubt what so ever that he is rough sleeping. We discussed his options and services available, he said he was fine, knew where the services were based and thank us for stopping and checking on him. He was a new face to my team so they will look for him daily and start the process of building trust so he will accept help from us at a date in the future. This isn’t easy work with quick results.

Second person was known to my team and was featured recently in the news for having his face slashed while in Piccadilly Gardens on a Saturday afternoon. The 18 inch scar starts at his ear and follows his jawline and crosses his chin. This man is an alcoholic and sleeps rough. He had fresh bruises on his face and explained he had been fighting the day before.

Next we bumped into a former rough sleeper my team helped to access support. He now comes to the city centre to sell the Big Issue. I am not a fan of the Big Issue and 10 yrs in this field I cannot see what it achieves, except selling magazines. This gent told me his experience of Spice addiction and his battle to come off it. Fortunately, he beat it, is now clean and has his own place. It has left him with paranoia and he finds it hard speak to new faces and trust people. He explained that when he was sat begging he would look at people walking past and hate them for their perfect lives. He hated everyone who spoke to him, who gave him money and food. He thought it was only him in the world who was unhappy and living in despair. He still has black thoughts but is fighting through it.

Damian then spotted a young woman begging on Market St and we approached her. He said he had never seen her before and she looked young, approx 20yrs. Damian spoke to her (he’s the expert and professional) to make sure she was safe. She was very clean and stated she was fine and didn’t need any help. We left her alone. Damian informed me that his initial opinion is she is not rough sleeping but begging for money for her handler. Young women are now being used by boyfriends / handlers to make money. Let’s be honest, they are being pimped out. The male will be nearby to watch out for her and to collect the money. This is now becoming more and more common. Why? Young woman make more money begging.

Again on Market St we stop and chat to a regular face with a sign stating he needs money for a hostel. Damian asks him how is his flat in Bury, he replies stating that his Housing Officer is coming around next week to look at his repairs. Damian asks about his sore leg and has he been to the doctors yet. The answer is no. Damian shakes his head and reiterates his leg ulcers will only get worse if they are not treated. The man agrees.

Half way down Market St we notice a small crowd around a man on the floor. We approach to see 3 women trying to talk to a man lying on the floor in his own vomit. A 16yr old boy is teasing the man and calling him a Spicehead. Damian tries to calm the man down and wipes the sick from his face. One woman is on the phone for an Ambulance. 30 seconds later the man jumps up and runs away. The effects of Spice are fast and the partial recovery is also fast. Nothing more we can do so we move on.

I then see several homeless people I remember from last month. I went over and sat down for a chat and ask how they were. Last time there were 3 of them, now only 2. All in their late 50s. Their friend was hospitalised the day before when he collapsed in the street. Nothing had changed in their lives since last we spoke, still trapped in a destructive situation. They are the politest people I have met for a while; I don’t mean politest homeless people, I mean in general. This is the part of my day which really upsets me, they remind me of my uncles when I was a kid. They want help and would accept help if it met their needs, but unfortunately what is on offer would only split them all up. I fully understand that some rough sleepers are complex, have major issues and refuse to acknowledge they need help, but this group should be an easy fix and yet we fail to help them move on. Our system in Manchester truly is broken and not fit for purpose.

My last encounter is with a man who runs a squat in the city centre. My charity has just started to visit the squat to help those inside to access help and support so we can move them out into their own homes. The man who runs it has the best intentions and wants us to help the people inside access the services they are entitled to. These individuals may be hidden from view, but they still need help and support otherwise they risk being back on the streets if and when the squat is closed down. I am not making a judgement on squats, that is not my place, but it is common sense that we try to help all people to move into better lives before they reach a crisis point.

What a day! Mentally exhausting, so many ideas and comments I need to process. And then the reality sinks in, nothing is going to change for these individuals. The system is broken, we have no leadership, the Council has no courage to tackle the issue and slowly we are all becoming use to seeing people living on the streets so it will not be an important issue for much longer, and we will go back to worry about GM foods or fox hunting or saving the whale.

Vote to make a difference on the 3rd May. If you live in the city centre vote for me: Nick Buckley your Independent candidate.

I can’t promise I will make a difference, but I can promise I will give it my all and hold every other politician to account for the decisions they make on our behalf.

Try something different in May, vote for experience and knowledge! #VoteNickBuckley

For more information on my campaign and manifesto, visit: www.nick4homes.co.uk