Touched by plight of the homeless

Letter: 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