We live in a time where homelessness is already greatly misunderstood by the public and those in positions of power. Initiatives aimed at dehumanising, criminalising and removing some of society’s most vulnerable from our streets does nothing more than add to the existing stigma people with no home experience.
Of course, there will always be those who beg as a trade but it’s vital that authorities fully understand motives in order not to punish those in genuine need. We are dealing with human beings who sometimes want nothing more than a smile and it is wrong that we make them feel unwelcome in the towns and cities that they call home. With the development of begging no-go zones, we are at risk of creating an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ mentality that ignores the true causes and casualties of homelessness.
Jim Dennison – Chief Executive at Simon Community NI