I walk past here daily and have noticed in the last few months the situation get worse and worse.

The number of tents in the little stretch of land in the middle of the road seems to increase every day, and there's also tents, random bags, belongings, furniture and rubbish spilling into the pavement and bus stop now too.

Obviously feel bad for anyone going through homelessness, but surely this is a public health hazard at this point. I'll report to the council today, though doubt much will be done about it.

Edit: For those saying "why don't you donate to a homeless charity instead of posting on reddit?!?!". I literally do donate money every month to a homeless charity.

It's also important to shine a light on what is happening on our streets. Pretending like this is not a huge problem helps literally no one.

https://england.shelter.org.uk/donate

by the-glimmer-man

32 comments

  2. It’s a strange choice of location right next to a really busy stretch of road which isn’t easy to cross. They’ll get moved on at some point by the council.

  3. You’re right its absolutely out of hand that people are forced to sleep on the street because they have no other choice.

  5. Honestly at this point I wonder if they should consider making proper shelters in these spaces. I know there have been pilots on doing the same over carparks – using marginal space for good. It is always an ethical and efficient use of money to provide homes for the homeless.

  6. I’m sure they aren’t enjoying being homeless either
    mate

  7. I’m old enough to remember a political leader promise to eradicate homelessness. Then everyone went and voted for Boris and his oven ready Brexit.

  8. There is a greater degree of safety in numbers, and be under no illusions, the homeless life is a dangerous life. Whilst, no, it is far from ideal or sanitary, there is no better place for any of them to be and it’s not like they’re diminishing an area of otherwise outstanding cultural, architectural or historical significance.

    I’m all for them being allowed to build what community and safety they can in the absence of support.

    Want to fix it? Start donating to a homelessness charity, or lobbying your MP. Coming on Reddit with “look at these dirty homeless people coming together” helps nobody.

    “Let’s move them somewhere less visible” hides the problem. Look at it. See it. Be appalled by it. Then act constructively to solve it, rather than seek for it to be moved to somewhere you personally don’t have to look at it.

  10. If you have an issue with people being homeless, just imagine them as urban campers to ease your rose-tinted view.

    That said I get it’s not a nice sight and they do need help, be grateful not to be in their situation.

  11. To be fair, homelessness as a whole is getting out of hand. It has been getting worse the past decade and a half especially. It’s such an awful life for the homeless the live, and deep cuts to public services and the voluntary sector have made their plight and situation worse. David Cameron’s so called ‘Big Society’ was one of the biggest con jobs in British politics and policy.

  12. When my mate was homeless about 20 years ago there was a waiting list of 6 months for a bed in a shelter. I’d imagine that waiting list is longer now considering there has been an increase in rough sleepers since then.

  13. I like the way OP is disgruntled that “not much will be done about it” Someone spare a thought for OP

  14. Lol “public health hazard having homeless on my daily route, can we just put them somewhere we cant see them? Its a public health hazard for my eyes.”

  15. I’m sorry but it is better that they are together for safety and also solace, you know? Where do you expect them to go?

  16. Also on the diagonal opposite corner. There’s a large encampment there

  17. I work near there and I agree it is dramatic to look at. The actual people are grand, I’ve never seen them hassle anyone. It is jarring to look at surrounded by offices etc. I am sure the council are aware, it’s kind of hard to miss, but what can they do? Moving them on isn’t really fair either

  19. COVID proved that our government can in fact house these people.

    The pandemic ended and apparently so did their concern for the homeless.

    Shameful.

  21. I blame the councils. They have plenty of power to resolve this issue. They charge more and more each year and deliver nothing but disappointment and lack of accountability.

    There is a difference between homelessness through mental health/addiction and those who are there to abuse the system to their benefit.

    This kind of encampment requires ignorance from authorities to exist

  22. It’s a complete failure of the system that this public health crisis is allowed to fester while people are left with no safe alternatives.

  23. All that is happening is these homeless folks get kicked out of 1 area and then go to another. A lot were removed from the Park Lane centre reservation, under the A40 near Paddington and other areas. They just move.

    Its gotten to the point where the staff at Paddington let the homeless sleep in peace inside the station.

    After this is reported, eventually all of them will be forced to move. Its really annoying that they were removed from Park Lane because the super wealthy didn’t want to look at them, and btw TFL is paying out its arse to keep them away.

  24. Wow didn’t expect to see this in my feed today!

    Not from London but happened to be there today for a meeting at UCLH and was really shocked and saddened to see the number of homeless tents there.

    Is this a recent thing or have they been set up there for a while? Imagine being so near to the hospital is something of a draw?

  25. Didn’t labour gov make it legal to be homeless ie took away powers to move them
    On. 

  28. Ideally there would be safe and warm places provided for them by the government – but there aren’t.

    I imagine it’s also slightly safer for those camping to be around others camping that they know, and in areas like this where any attacks on them are more visible. I remember a story years ago of a lone tent that was in an underpass set on fire by some vile teens as the person inside it slept.

  29. I remember when London didn’t have big homeless encampments for a while!

  30. It’s not just in London unfortunately.

    I was in Liverpool today and while there’s not a long stretch like your first two pictures, they are all dotted up and down the main shopping strip.

    It’s sad to see especially when you know there’s so many empty properties around not being used by anybody.

  31. So very sad. Being homeless especially in the colder months must be awful. 

     I’m not religious, but I remember what my Grandparents always told me when I asked about things like this as a kid. “There but for the grace of God go I”. 

  32. This makes me emotional because I lived not far from there and that’s the very place I lost my mental health in 2019 and was put on medication for 6 years

    I’ve since been going through domestic abuse and have been homeless 6 times in 2 years. Donating to charities these days doesn’t seem to do much. The police and council need to actually step up and do a better job. I was told when I was homeless each time there’s a 6 month waiting list and for some reason if you live in a house you’re prioritised faster? Makes no sense. Look at the state of the NHS. Look at the state of the housing in general. This country seems to not be able to help itself therefore I worry its never going to help the vunerable

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