General Chat

I agree with you on that......there are far too many empty houses that could be used even if only temporary. Our council did once buy a very large victorian house and convert it into flats for short stay homeless people but when I had a young girl of 17 in that situation they told me she was not vunerable enough. Had she been elderly or had a baby it would have been a different tale. Needless to say the council later sold the property and no doubt made a packet. So little is done for these people and unfortunately there are too many folk who feel its 'nothing to do with them' I'll stop now before I depress myself and everyone else. I can only wish all these folks a very happy christmas and all you lot for being so kind and caring. Lets hope 2006 sees some action in this area.

Mary, it is a lovely thing you have done for this young man. Bless you. The benifit system stinks, it leaves people without nmoney for weeks, it happens all the time to our residents at the centre, i am forever on the phone to them. For 5 weeks i was providing a 16yr old girl with food as she had no money, if i hadn't she wouldn't have eaten. S services didn't want to know, if she had been 15 they might. Its all so wrong. I wish our centre was bigger, but at least we have managed to keep it going for over 13yrs. There sure are a lot of lovely people on this board. and there kindness will not go unnoticed. Shirley Ann.

Just a reminder.

The girls took the boxes round to the sleeping places last night and I think all have been given out now. Said those that opened them seemed happy to receive them. Fortunately the weather isn't as cold now. Hopefully it will remain mild over christmas for them. Regards to all who have read this thread over the last months, especially those who have responded with a little bit of help. Linda

Nudge for Shirley............Hope your residents have a Happy Christmas and a Healthy, Peaceful, and Loving 2006 ........

With a lot of help from you Maisie and your friends,my residents will have a lovely Christmas. going food shopping for them today just to get a few goodies. In the past few days i have had another mother and her 2 children come into the centre, plus a young couple with learning difficulties, who are expecting a baby in may. So as you can see it is never ending.I will be taking the presents dowm to the centre on Christmas eve, i can't wait to see their faces when i arrive with all the lovely presents i received from Maisie and her friends, i am so excited i feel like santa. lol. I want to thank each and everyone of you that made the effort to do something to help these people, every little bit helps, and i am truely grateful to you all. Shirley Ann.

Nudged for Maisie to see.

Annie thats lovely. Pity they couldn't stay open after xmas. Shirley Ann.

Annie I really think the men you are helping are going to be so glad they are near a place that you are helping in. I too sent my 'girls' home with bags of clothing last night to try to give to those who have a need. Also some trainers outed by my future son in law -- they have plenty of life left in them. Thinking of all those who need a shelter this Christmas and hoping they find one !!! Regards Linda

This thread has really been brilliant and shown that so many people have such kind hearts. I hope we can all keep this up throughout the year. It can be so easy as the winter months disappear to forget that the homeless still need our help and support. If we don't give it then who will ?

I am so glad i posted this thread, as it has made a lot of people think about the plight of the Homeless, and just maybe helped a little to show that homeless people do come from all walks of life and are homeless for all sorts of reasons. And it has certainly shown us what wonderful kind warm hearted people we chat to on this board. Thank you all very much for your surpport. Shirley Ann.

Just sitting here thinking about all that we have, though amazingly have managed to decrease the amount of gifts exchanged this year. Daughter and her friend and rest of the family here yesterday all shared a lovely time when they had completed their time at the YMCA. Then they made me think very hard with a tear in my eye: the last shoe-box they had was given to a resident's cousin -- nowhere to go, living in a squat. Has health isssues including schitsophrenia(sp?). She took herself off into a corner and opened her gift. Came back after a little while and said it was the biggest present she'd ever been given. It certainly made me think. I also now think I shall try to put together parcels through the year. Just little bits bought when I do my own shopping and put on one side will soon add up. Good wishes to all. Kind Regards Linda

I took all the presents to the centre where i work that were sent to me by Masie and her friends,plus the ones i had bought, it was a lovely feeling, they all just looked at me and asked who were the presents for? completely not for one moment expecting me to say that they were for them. when i told them that they had been sent from a lovely lady and her friends for them, the smiles on their faces was a picture, the kiddies were in bed, so i have yet to find out what their reaction was when they received theirs on xmas morning. One comment i got was .why would anyone buy me presents, i can't believe this. I just said why not, you are worth it. As i walked off to my office ( to compose myself ) the giggles and excited chatter , oh i wonder what that is etc that i heard was wonderful, they were so excited and it had made their christmas. and mine. THANK YOU SO MUCH MAISIE AND FRIENDS. And thank all of you who have helped make Christmas a little bit nicer for some. Shirley Ann.

After New Year will be the time to scour the Charity shops for those 'unwanted Christmas gifts' .............couple of friends and myself do it for each other every year..........buy something if the price is right and end up giving ourselves a box full of all sorts and so cheap. If we all did this sort of thing ready for next Christmas or even to donate to the centres to give out when someones birthday crops up it could mean so much and would cost so little.

Hello Shirley, That message you have put up today really tells us all that what we have given to others for them to enjoy at Christmas makes it all worth while.. Both Andrea, Claire and myself would have loved to have been there to see their little faces and we hope that it is a Christmas to rmember for them. It was a pleasure Shirley and you know what we have promised still stands... Hope you too relaxed and had a good time with your family. Catch you again. Love Maisie, Andrea and Claire xxx

Well the snow here is quite deep and its very cold too. here i sit with my heating full on, yet still i feel cold, even my fingers are cold as i tap away on my keyboard writing this message, so how must the people who are homeless and sleeping rough be feeling, and i wonder how many just won't survive in this weather. JUST A THOUGHT. Shirley Ann.

I wish you all a very Happy New Year. and would ask all you kind people to remember that there are a lot of people out there still with no roof over their heads, please don't forget them now Christmas is over. Remember them when you spring clean and throw things out you no longer need, Shirley Ann.

Annie, I am now in my 14th year of running our centre, and what you have seen over Christmas is an every day plight for a lot of people, it is an eye opener isn't it. fortunately most of my residents do get rehoused from our centre. just before xmas i had a mother and her 2 and 5 yr olds join me, and a young couple with learning difficulties the girl is 16 and pregnant, so we were full over Christmas. but 2 of my families have been allocated properties and will be moving into their new homes in the next 2 weeks. they are so excited , its lovely to see them so happy. But as soon as they have moved on, i will be welcoming another resident in, its a constant flow, isn't that a sad fact. I would like to say to you Annie that i think you are a really lovely person to give up your time over Christmas to help these people and i thank you for them. Linda thats really great of you ,every little bit helps and i can see how much you care by the interest you have shown.we won't beable to help help everyone its not possible, but if we help a few thats a start. Shirley Ann.

Shirley Ann - I read this in our local Parish Church magazine: 'Homelessness Sunday - The annual event, Homelessness Sunday 2006 will be held on 29 January 2006 with the theme of Build Happiness, Stop Homelessness. Homelessness Sunday brings together thousands of churches to draw attention to the devastating effects of homelessness.' I know homelessness is not just for that one day, but hopefully it will make even more people stop and think. Thank you for this thread. I do try and help with clothes and gifts and this year I will try harder. Take care and Happy New Year to everybody from Beryl

I think you do a marvelous job Shirley as do all the other good folk who bother to care. This thread has certainly shown that if people know there's a need they're more than happy to do what they can. I sometimes despair at the lack of care that is shown on a daily basis for people worse off than oursleves but you lot have restored my faith in people. Too many turn and look the other way.............you didn;t and I think that's the true spirit of christmas ! Happy New Year to you all and God Bless.