Touched by plight of the homeless

Thursday 2nd July 2009, 8:00AM BST.

homesLetter: I saw the BBC programme  entitled Rich, Famous and Homeless. One participant refused to sleep in such awful conditions and went home.

The other four were moved to tears and openly crying about the reasons some of the homeless are forced to live on the streets.

Their life consists of begging for money, for food and being spat at for doing so, sleeping in shop doorways, being very tired, cold, dirty, hungry and feeling rejected by society.

One of the volunteers, Bruce of Corrie fame, said he would jump into the River Thames after five nights of sleeping rough if no help was available.

Their lot did not improve permanently until they were put into a hostel.

Things we take for granted like sleeping in a warm, clean bed, food and an available bathroom – the basics in life – are a luxury.

The Salvation Army at Oakengates, Telford, did an excellent job last week by highlighting that a homeless man was sleeping under a bandstand and walking around sopping wet.

Another man in the same circumstances was sleeping rough amongst rubbish and living on a bottle of cola and a packet of biscuits for two days.

Luckily the Salvation Army, because of volunteers and local donations, were able to help them.

Everything I have heard and seen recently has moved me to tears.

How does it make you feel? Do you feel moved enough to donate?

If so, a recent article in the local press by the Salvation Army Oakengates Kip project asked for donations and volunteers to help the local homeless people.

Kip project head officer Alan Olver can be contacted on (01952) 256007.

Brenda Byatt

Stirchley


  1. 1
    Robert

    God bless the Salvation Army. Not for them the quasi-business charity of those who spend millions on television advertizing. Homelessness is a national disgrace that has worsened under labour and will grow significantly worse through the recession. When we pour billions into the EU for MEPs and corrupt officials to line their pockets and live in opulence, you wonder if things have really changed so very much from the middle ages.

    Report abuse



Free e-Supplements

TWITTER

Shropshire Star on Twitter Shropshire Star on Twitter

Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.

Lifestyle

Interactive Dining Out map Interactive Dining Out map

Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.

LIVE traffic updates

Road, rail and airport - latest Road, rail and airport - latest

Our new, live traffic and travel updates service - check before you set out.

OUR NEW APP

Get the new Shropshire Star app Get the new Shropshire Star app

Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.