In the news

Speaking of Oz: The current pile on is "Mass immigration caused the rental crisis".

Followed by all the racists coming out of the woods venting about how there aren't even any aussie born children in their kid's school anymore, and so on. After decades of gamifying property ownership and rewarding it with negative gearing, combined with no investment in infrastructure or planning or anything. It's a fucking joke.

Don't get me wrong, the current rental crisis is real. But blaming immigrants for it is just the dumbest laziest way to contextualise it.

Also a joke to pin this on the current government, as if this stuff was caused within the last 6 months.

the current government

Aren't both parties pretty much the same*, other than a few licks of paint? Both in hock to BigMining, and both eager to prevent any movement away from a two-party system.

* caveat - I know very little about Aussie politics.

Isn't this just old-fashioned winner-takes-all politics in a nutshell? Both main parties hate each other and try to amplify the differences in policy to try to imply more plurality of politics than is really the case. But both hate any new upstarts who want to take away their gravy train even more than they hate each other and they will gang up on anyone or anything trying to upset the status quo.

On certain aspects, yes, but there are proper differences from what I can see ... A much less jingoistic approach to foreign policy being one example

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/nov/30/six-times-more-newly-homeless-families-than-new-social-houses-england-data-shows?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

In 2010 the social housing budget was cut by...wait for it...63%!

Genuine questions: Are there tent cities in the UK? Or areas where people living out of their cars non-recreationally go? Contrasted with the States, it’s much less apparent where homeless and car-dwelling families go in the UK.

Milton Keynes used to have a real issue with tents in the underpasses around the Central shopping centre, but apparently they've sorted it out

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/nov/07/rough-sleeping-milton-keynes-rehousing-suella-braverman

When I can back to the UK recently I was shocked by the homelessness. There's no reason people shouldn't have some where to sleep safely.

I listened to something the other day, forget where it was. They were speaking to someone who said the worst thing is they'd rather chance it on the streets than deal with the people in hostels who attack you/rob you whilst you sleep.

I can't imagine how disturbing it must be to try and snatch a couple of hours sleep here and there for fear of being attacked

Are there tent cities in the UK?

Not really, there are small 'villages', e.g. this one in Camden. 3 weeks ago the police chucked all the tents and belongings in a bin lorry https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-67392992 Every large group of homeless people gets cleared away sooner or later because of trespassing or obstruction laws. They have to stay out of sight in ones and twos where they can more easily be assaulted by drunks and bullied by police.

From doing bits of homeless outreach a large part of the issue is that for any addicts on the street most hostels have a no booze/using rule, which means they'd rather be outside and high than trying to obey a hostel's rules. Fear of attack was mentioned sometimes, but never seemed like the main driver of street-sleepers. None of this is to negate the abject failure of social provision for addicts/ex-military/mental health sufferers who make up the vast majority of rough sleepers.

most hostels have a no booze/using rule

No dogs either.

Lots of sleeping bags in fast city centre that past years... Some scattered tents under bridges.

As much as the psni has serious issues the plod here seem ti be mostly compassionate towards the homeless.

Drug addiction has become a serious issue, with vulnerable people being trafficked from East Europe to work in drug gangs.

I know one, her ex is still on the street and she's been struggling ti access housing benefit etc. She testified against the gang, but got very little help.

There are thousands of people living in vans, bastard government has changed the law to allow them to be moved on more easily or their homes confiscated so they are harder to spot.
A mate of mine has been living around Brighton for years in various spots that have debatable ownership.

All of Europe has a big homeless problem right now it just depends where you are whether you see it or not. When I was living in London in forest gate I saw a bit but not tent city levels but now I'm living in Lyon bang in the in the city I see way more. Loads of tents in underpasses, the local authority put out portaloos which at least shows a basic level of humanity but it's miserable to see, especially now the weather's turned, it must be horrible.

Not saying the UK situation isn't particularly bad but the cost of living crisis is a nightmare all over Europe.

As much as the psni has serious issues the plod here seem ti be mostly compassionate towards the homeless.

Hmm, when a relative was in PSNI Armagh, they enjoyed picking up the local homeless at night and dumping them in other towns to see how long it took them to get back. That or phoning callboxes beside where they were sleeping pretending to be kindly hotel owners offering them a warm bed, so they went to the hotels to humiliate themselves.

I've just found out a friend from my teens is homeless with HIV and severe mental problems on the streets in Belfast - would like to hope there's some compassion out there for him.

My parents spent 3 months in Paris (they usually live out in the west of France) by Stalingrad a couple of years back. They were shocked at the sheer volume of people sleeping in makeshift shelters and tents there. Used to be a huge encampment alongside the motorway on the way into Paris from the east but that got cleared after the pandemic I think.

Even in Luxembourg you find small tent "villages" hidden in the wooded parts around the city.

As you say, all of Europe.

Broadly speaking, homelessness is a symptom as much as a problem in and of itself. This govt have pulled so much funding out of welfare, social housing, mental health support, addiction support etc. that seeing people on the streets is the tip of a societal iceberg.

Succinct and, sadly, accurate.

Well I know one cop was shit towards the woman I mentioned, it's mostly unfortunately. At least there are no raids and I have seen cops help people.

Shit, is he getting help from the local homeless groups? PM me if you want, can't do much but maybe I can at least get him some clothes or something.

Shit, is he getting help from the local homeless groups?

I really don't know - I've heard third hand and haven't seen him in 25 years. I'm told he's refusing help from his family but has support on the street. But thanks for the offer.

Yes. See youth violence too.

All of Europe has a big homeless problem right now it just depends where you are whether you see it or not. When I was living in London in forest gate I saw a bit but not tent city levels but now I'm living in Lyon bang in the in the city I see way more.

Downtown London is shocking, Paris even more. Very sad.

The question stemmed from scenes from post-2008 US of multi-generational families living in vans, and tent cities nowadays.

There's a thread:

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/321903/

Regatta definitely not trying to cover up that they use Chinese prison labour…

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/01/chinese-prisoners-id-card-apparently-found-regatta-coat-lining-derbyshire