Homelessness and Christmas.
- thomasjlb10
- Dec 23, 2020
- 3 min read
This year, more than ever, the homeless have had an extremely hard year. Now in the middle of winter the homeless face issues of hunger, shelter, hyperthermia, and COVID-19. It's important to not forget about these people in situations such as homelessness as in my opinion everyone deserves a Christmas no matter how big or small.
Back in March of this year, people living on the streets were moved into the empty hotels as part of the government movement, 'Everyone In', which provided them with a safe place protected from the pandemic. However, this movement didn't last for the whole year and instead put the homeless back at risk over the summer. You may be wondering 'why don't they just go and stay in a hostel?' Many homeless do not feel comfortable doing so as they feel at risk from other members of society. Damien from a BBC 3 documentary comments on the fact he is an ordinary member of society. In hostels, there are robbers and criminals that he does not feel safe around. If non- homeless don't stay in hostels for those reasons, why should he, and put himself at risk. Damien's point is very valid. When people think of the homeless they often think of criminals and that they have done something wrong to put themselves in this position, but this is rarely the case. Homeless people end up in their position for many reasons such as family crisis, job loss, housing issues, addiction, and many more. As of December 2019, 280,000 people were sleeping rough in the UK, but with the rise in job loss due to the current pandemic these numbers have risen. In reality, these people are no different to us so it's important to spread kindness and positivity to everyone, especially people like the homeless who we often choose to ignore or forget about.
Last week I went out to the streets and tried my best to help the homeless. I donated 4 care packages which included, food, water, hats, gloves, and a small first aid kit. Although it isn't much I could tell that it made a difference to their days. You may have noticed charities such as 'Crisis' and 'Shelter' are doing lots of TV and social media advertisements. They need donations to support the homeless at this time of year. You don't have to donate much however even a little amount does make a difference. Soup Kitchens are also running at the moment, so if you can, give back to your community and go and volunteer at them and help the homeless get food this Christmas. Christmas is the time for giving and receiving.If you receive clothing for Christmas it may be a good time to get rid of old clothes you do not need or want anymore. You can either directly donate to the homeless as I did. If you do use this method, remember to wear a mask and try and keep your distance as best you can. Alternatively, you can donate to homeless charity shops. If you can't donate anything, it's a great chance to educate yourself and others. Read up about homelessness and stories of it. In addition, spread the message and raise awareness on social media and through your friends and family.
If you have been interested in this post stay tuned. Currently, I am writing my EPQ: 'Are homeless people to blame for their situation: a UK study over the past 50 years' and I will post it on my website in a few month's time once it is completed.
Links to donate
Happy Holidays!
thomasjlblog
23 December 2020
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