Rough sleeping in London

It would be good if employers could be incentivised to provide accommodation to young workers.  I had accommodation provided when I first started working in London, and I know my employers still have accommodation available across London.  The NHS used to provide nursing accommodation but sold a lot of it off.  Perhaps reduced tax or reducing the “benefit in kind” tax on low paid employees who get staff accommodation?

I’d want to know that the actions are generating positive measurable results. 

Is it possible to create  a small app to help people?

I would love to see London using the Housing First approach, which has had great success in other countries e.g. Scandanavia. It sounds simple but so rarely happens: give someone a home and then work to ensure they have the support in place to sustain it.

I don't know why this survey focuses on my impressions of homelessness so much. It doesn't matter if I think more people are rough sleeping than last year, it matters if they are and you at city hall should have these numbers. These questions smack of PR management and not addressing the problem. 

In terms of actions Londoners can take, we can elect officials who are serious about resolving the issue of rough sleeping. 

The recently added announcements on the Overground about homelessness ("if you see someone who is homeless or asking for money...") seem to me to be misapplied. They seem designed to discourage begging by giving passengers an "excuse" to ignore people, rather than aimed directly at helping people in need.

I would suggest that these announcements be changed to give more information about where people can donate or how to direct someone to support, or replaced or supplemented by announcements and posters speaking directly to people in need.

London, especially the city centre and some outer areas, is full of ostentatious wealth and displays thereof, including but not limited to huge, empty homes owned as investments, as well as vast displays of consumerism. Rough sleeping and begging are most prominent in the city centre, in the shadow of expensive new buildings and shops, restaurants, hotels and cafes selling luxuries.

The wealthy individuals and organisations who profit or otherwise benefit from owning property and businesses in London could surely be doing more to "give something back" and reduce the grotesque displays of inequality, rather than placing all the burden on cash-strapped local government and compassionate members of the public.

Unfortunately, I suspect that telling retail chains and property owners that the sight of impoverished people in the shadow of their wealth is unacceptable is liable to simply lead to more measures to "shoo people away" such as anti-homeless spikes, rough sleepers being hosed down or assaulted, etc.

I don't know much about the root of the problem named rough sleeping and also I hope to understand  how the City council is managing the problem in order to see  all picture and how  can we improve something.

It's a big problem,I agree.

Be good to have advice on what is best to do for someone begging have  card with address of local salvation army centre and asked how they could get there 

.have talked about streetlink and rung for a couple of people who wanted me too

would be helpful to know how people could get referred to a hostel if they would like to try one.

Hi I’ve seen an unused guest house in martindale Road  in Hounslow it’ has not been used  in years so why not turn that into a shelter house for homeless people and similar properties can b used as well. Cuts to allowance given to foster( CHilDREN ) NOT THE FOSTER PARENTS should b made and that money used to improve the roads ,hospitals  and other areas

Local Ccouncils, need to make it eeasier for pprivate or ccouncil ttenants to rent a spare room to hhomeless ppeople 

Bidding wars and taking properties off the market are the biggest problems.  Base rates should not be raised and preferably lowered - they increase mortgages.

I worked for a local autbority fof nearly 30 years and strongly  believe in social housing for those not in a position to buy their own or rent privately. However, I tbink Right To Buy was a political decision to reduce social housing stock, and we now see the results. I am fortunate to own my own home but never received any discount from either the government, council or private sector. It is very difficult to remove a incentive (bribe) once given. However, RTB should stopped now, if someones financial position improves while social renting they should either continue renting or obtain a mortgage and purchase in the private sector

I am a great admirer of John Bird and The Big Issue which creates a positive channel for people to help people out of homelessness. 

It gives the vendors a chance to regain their self-respect.

Mental Health Services are only of use if peple wish to use them.  The mentally ill homeless should be sectioned and treated for their own good.

And why is the "God Bless You" gang allowed on the streets?

I would like to see empty office blocks made available to rough sleepers in some sort of studio apartment way. It would cost minimal to adapt something like this as the building is already there, plumbing and heating sources are also available.

If the right protections/background checks and support for the individual person is put in place - there is many homes with empty bedrooms that people could support a rough sleeper in. The Mayor could then provide incentives for the the public to help support this.

I work for a Mind charity shop and whenever a person in need of clothes comes in, we try and find something for them. Also, any clean linens like sheets, towels, blankets even sleeping bags we take them to the church nearby that also runs a soup kitchen. The same happens with clothes that may be a bit bobbly but otherwise perfect.