[Wolves] OT: 2 Live8 tickets possibly available - Hyde Park this Saturday 2nd July

[Lee Parkes]

On Wed, Jun 29, 2005 at 05:27:40PM +0100, fizzy wrote:
> --- Lee Parkes <leep at bogus.net> wrote:
> > Not exact figures
> 
> http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_homelessness/documents/page/odpm_home_024898.hcsp
> 
> 504 rough sleepers in England per night, mostly by
> choice.
> 
> Sure, things aren't perfect (far from it) but to
> dismiss the Government's efforts as laughable is
> naive.

Somehow that figure seems far too low. Speaking as someone who has spent a fair
amount of time in London then I'd say that 504 could account for London alone.
Plus it depends on what you define as "rough". I'd say anyone that doesn't 
have a non-movable abode cold be classed as sleeping rough[*]. Plus how many are
there that can't be found? A census of such a class of people is notoriously
difficult. Some (most?) homeless people will be wary of officials trying to
count them. Especially if it's through choice, they don't want to be found.

I think we may have to agree to disagree on this. It is my *personal* opinion
that not enough is done to help the people in need in this country before we
help others. By all means help everyone, especially if the country is in a 
position to do so. But how many countries sent rescue teams to the flood in
Cornwall? How many to the severe winds in the South a few years back? 

Lee

[*] Yes, it's a simplistic view, there are people on benches, doorways and
abandoned buildings. Counting them is like herding cats.

-- 
--
leep at bogus.net DOC #25 GLASS #136 www.mud-dog.org
I Need A Reason To Stand Up And Fight
Need To Believe What I See - The Silver Drop - Mnemic