There were 3,898 people estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2023 in England. However, as I wander the streets, I am sure there is much more than this.
Research suggests that up to 3 percent of people sleeping rough in England are veterans. This means around 300 to 400 veterans end up on the streets every year, and up to 4,000 require urgent support to find accommodation.
Across English regions and Wales, the highest percentage of people identified as homeless was in London; 24.8 percent of all people identified as homeless were located in this region (3,460 people).
Many of these British soldiers suffer from PTSD and get no support at all, yet they have fought for their country, served in the British Armed Forces and then just get thrown to the ground to fend for themselves.
Sadly, many former soldiers and other military personnel can become vulnerable after service to their country and not well equipped, and many need help and guidance but they’re not getting that.
Did you know there are more than 260,000 long-term empty homes in England, yet the government tells us there is insufficient accommodation?
Since so many individuals lack a house, many unoccupied properties exist. All that has to be done is locate the owners of these properties and collaborate with them to repurpose them for families in need.
These empty homes are not only a waste of much-needed resources but could also be a problem in themselves with fires and drug users getting into them.
Additionally, children break into them and use them as a lair; as a result, they attract antisocial conduct.
Many become homeless due to life circumstances such as substance abuse, marital breakdown, job loss, mental or physical health issues, or inability to pay rent. All of this causes a great deal of stress on people.
I have personally witnessed unoccupied council or housing association properties for several months before someone enters to tidy them up, either due to a death in the family or an eviction due to antisocial activity. It’s unacceptable, and housing organisations and municipalities who act carelessly in this regard ought to pay the rent on the house they would have been able to obtain. When you consider the amount of money involved, it is incumbent upon British voters to choose the best use and destination for this money because the UK government doesn’t care about its citizens, but boat people they’re happy to give millions to!
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 