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I'm American so as ignorant as I'm sure this sounds... Are the people who become homeless in London doing so for significantly different reasons than over here?
by gnsdrths 3y ago
I'm American so as ignorant as I'm sure this sounds... Are the people who become homeless in London doing so for significantly different reasons than over here? Because most of the homeless in my city (a fairly large California coastal) aren't significantly engaged in any of the things you're alluding to and frankly would probably be happier with a bike that charged their phones since the ones who aren't just living in tents outside the 'clinic' typically roam the tourist districts to pan handle. The main issue I imagine that might be inconvenient for them is the ease of theft.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- Waterluvian 3y agoI’m not sure of the demographics in your region but are you sure your perception of homelessness is correct? Or is it just a bias where you only see the ones who aren’t busy trying to dig out?
- gnsdrths 3y agoMost of the homeless in my city migrated here from outside of the city (and often State) to come here for our weather, services, and lax attitude towards drug use as far as demographics go. We're a navy town so there's also a tragic sub-group of veterans with mental health issues but the bulk of our homeless (we actually use the term "transient" as side context) don't fall into this category and mainly came here for the conveniences. I'm sure there are some who are trying to "dig out" as you say but it's certainly not most of them and for the ones who aren't trying to do so a bike with charging capabilities would be both a mobility boost (again assuming theft wasn't a concern) and a general utility boost (smartphones are largely ubiquitous amongst our homeless and are actually extremely valuable as tools since they're both navigation aids and access points for online services offered to them in my city). This is why I was asking what the demographics of the homeless in London are like since if they resemble our population then the bike wouldn't be such a terrible idea (but I'm also still unsure about the practicality since while some of our homeless ride bikes most get around via public transit and so just putting chargers on busses would probably be more pragmatic as a service to them).
- DoctorOetker 3y ago> so a bike with charging capabilities would be both a mobility boost (again assuming theft wasn't a concern) and a general utility boost. From article: > Talbot's product takes advantage of the fact that, without having to pay to take out one of these bikes, their chain will still move when pedalling backwards. There is no mobility boost. It warms my heart someone is trying to think of ways for the homeless to recharge any portable electronics, but I think buying a solar panel, battery, charge management electronics would be of more immediate help. Regarding the issue of theft, a sort of exoskeleton with styrofoam panels to stay warm during winter, and a heat exchanger to keep not just temperature but also inside humidity under control would be very welcome. But it seems not much research is going into housing in the shape of a suit, nor in clothes designed to be worn for very long durations at a time.
- gilleain 3y agoI don't know the demographic breakdown of London homelessness, but I do walk around the city (of Westminster) a lot and have read the Big Issue a fair bit. There are all sorts of reasons to be homeless in London, including (in no particular order): * Drug/alcohol problems * Domestic abuse * Prison * Mental problems * Financial disaster Obviously there is overlap between these, and some can cause the others. Also note that being 'homeless' does not just include literally sleeping on the streets (as many do) but also staying in temporary hostels, couch-surfing, and so on. London is not the sort of climate that it is comfortable to sleep outside, even in a tent. It is difficult to imagine many people that would be 'transient' on the street given any alternative options. Of course it is possible, and there are long-term homeless people who might even plausibly enjoy some of the benefits of the 'freedom to live under a bridge', but I _suspect_ the majority are in a very bad place and want to get out of it.
- jeffbee 3y agoEvery aspect of your statement is false and you can't have gained this understanding from speaking to actual homeless people in California. California homeless are from their local area and they just ran out of money. This has been demonstrated over and over again. For example, of Alameda County's 10k homeless individuals, 82% were living in Alameda County before they became homeless and 96% were living in California at that time. They don't come to our county for the services, because there aren't any. The idea that homeless people migrate around to find good weather and free stuff is just propaganda. No significant subpopulation of homeless people does that.
- tmpX7dMeXU 3y agoI’m all but certain that this says a lot more about perception than the actual attributes of people sleeping rough in your area.
- exabrial 3y agoI'm all but certain you're certain you're incorrect. I would invite you to do a ride along with your local police, local EMS / Fire Rescue if allowed, to develop a more informed opinion, as they spend a significant amount of time interacting with the homeless population.
- enragedcacti 3y agoHave you considered that people who are called specifically to emergency situations might not have the most representative sampling?
- exabrial 3y agoI would invite you to prove the opposite is true actually, because what I said seems far closer to reality.
- DANmode 3y agoPossibly a better view than the rose-colored glasses perspective many have from viewing the "comfortable" homeless. No one's perception of the homeless in these discussions seem to take into account the person that died last week, I guess is what I'm getting at.
- HWR_14 3y agoI'd imagine panhandling gets money that the desperately need. It's not an idle activity that can be replaced by "generate electricity" at no cost to them.