This issue isn't as black and white as you paint it. A veritable industry has grown up in which people, in an attempt to demonstrate compassion at Christmas, come to provide support for the homeless. Hundreds of people come to London from all over the country to participate. All well and good but they are now back at home and their charitable acts will have attracted yet more homeless people to London's streets as similar facilities may not be available in other towns.A significant proportion of the homeless have drug, drink and mental health problems. If your wife had been verbally abused and physically threatened on Shepherd's Bush Road by a group of homeless men you would perhaps have a more rounded view of this issue.Short term solutions designed to salve the conscious of BBC luvvies and others who involve themselves in the problem for a few days a year cause more problems than they solve.
Ellen Kearney ● 6379d