"Rough sleeping" - Britain deals with homelessness

[Cowperson]

In a city of eight million Londoners, barely 300 camp out on the streets at night.

Do you agree with the approach taken by lawmakers and authorities?

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto.../International/

Cowperson

[browna]

In London, the Rough Sleepers Unit is regarded as a great success by everyone from conservative politicians to the most radical of homeless advocacy groups.


I think there's your answer right there.

The first phase didn't happen over night (5 years), but it did what it was meant to do in a intense, yet constructive manner, with both sides coming out ahead, in turn treating the homeless in a dignified manner.

Those that continue to rebel and circumvent the law, have to be dealt with in some manner, since they've had every opportunity to get thier lives back in order enough to get housing. "You can't help those who don't want to help themselves", as it were.

Extrapolate this sucess in Calgary...means roughly only 24 people sleeping on the streets.

[Claeren]

Very interesting approch, i am impressed.... it is a VERY difficult problem and successes are few and far between.

Claeren.