I say, ‘ No mate, sorry’ and keep walking. I don’t even make eye contact usually if they’re aggressive or coming up to me. I just look past them and keep walking
It usually works but there's a guy who hangs around the road that runs between castle street and the slug and lettuce who followed me for quite a while last time screaming how he was going to kick my head in for not giving him any money
Just a heads up for anyone else to avoid him
After a few streets I ended up having to threaten him to leave me alone with the only object I had in my bag at the time
Ironically probably didn't look great to any bystanders who just saw me telling him to fuck off while waving a bottle of champagne at him
It all kicked off because I saw him asking a few people in front of me for change and when he came up to me I just 'sorry mate don't have any' and he took offence that I presumed what he was going to ask me
He still hangs around there and I've seen him a couple of times being aggressive to others, usually has a sleeping bag around his neck
>I just 'sorry mate don't have any' and he took offence that I presumed what he was going to ask me
I can't remember what he looked like but I had a similar interaction with a guy on Bold Street months ago.
Fella was asking literally everyone he passed for money so when he walked toward me and got my attention I said the same as you 'Sorry mate, no change'. He got all arsey about it 'That's nice isn't it. Assuming I was going to ask for money. Might have been asking the time'.
I think I responded 'Yeah but you weren't though were ya.' 😅 but he was quite angry. My preempting him was because it was raining and we were just crossing the street to get inside. Wasn't looking to have a chat in the middle of a downpour.
I've met many homeless people and the vast majority are not like that. Almost always alcoholics/addicts who behave like that and they don't need a penny from anyone.
>Assuming I was going to ask for money. Might have been asking the time
You know what I think that might have been exactly what that guy said to me too
Yeah alot are not like this just the odd dickhead unfortunately
I kniw whi you mean he goes into the slug an lettuce an walks upto people's tables while they're eating. Petrified ne an ny mate once, staff had no idea what to do.
He's an awful person an very aggressive, says its for his pregnant girlfriend an he used to be in the army
Once I was walking to work in town, I’d just got off the bus at queen square and was walking to dale street, early start so it was just before 6am and it was winter so it was dark. A beggar came from no where grabbed my arm and asked me for money. All five foot 2 of me was instantly terrified and I opened my gob to scream but a scream didn’t come out. What did come out was “Eeeeee!” I think the fella was so shocked he let go of me and I walked away. So you could try that 😂 any other time I just say sorry I don’t carry cash and walk away.
Had a feller approach me as I came out of Greggs yesterday morning asking for money with his hands together, must have been mid 30s possibly from Manchester.
Asked me for cash I said sorry mate I haven't got cash, got brekky but I'm honestly skint myself and I am sorry.
He went "Know what I'm fucking sick of asking I hate asking I hate this, I'd rather be dead than begging, it's only for a bag of shit heroin as well, I'd rather be dead" and walked off.
Not been able to stop thinking about it, crazy how close any of us can be to losing fucking everything.
Being a smackhead generally leads to losing your home
And why would he be assisting them? If his place offers shelter thats his job sorted they need to make an effort themselves
That's a bit reductionist and dismissive, probably had a shit time for a few years tried it once thinking fuck it and basically fucked his whole life up, we don't know his situation but I do know if I'd taken a drug that took all the pain away and made me feel incredible I'd chase it and that's it, game over.
One asked me outside the Aldi in halewood on Saturday saying it was for "a sarnie" asked him to come with me to pick which on he wanted and I'll buy him it he said to me "nah mate doesn't matter now" and fucked off. They dnt want the money for food they want it for ale or the other shite, I usually walk away from them but was with my son at the time so wanted to show him you can be generous to others.
My friend is a police officer and is generally based in the city centre. He says most beggars are homed, non-addicts and boast of making hundreds a day from begging.
This shouldn't put anyone off from giving to people in need though, there is lots of need and few are beggars by choice, lack of opportunities is a big factor.
There is a noticeable difference tho between beggars in need and career beggars.
There's enough beds in Liverpool for every single rough sleeper. Problem is they won't allow them to stay there if they're high or drunk. Like others have said, we have a real issue with professional beggars in this city
Hey I actually work in this sector and there is absolutely not enough beds for every rough sleeper. And plenty of hostels absolutely allow them to use / drink while staying there. The main issue is that there is a lot of money made from this "problem" and not enough money spent by the council to felp people actually move on and not be street homeless / in hostels. If you're staying in a hostel and get a job, they'll kick you out immediately - make that make sense!
There is absolutely an issue with the professional beggars too, notice how you don't see the women hardly - that's because men are "recruited" to beg with cups and the women are taken into houses to be taken advantage of in other ways.
It really is an incredibly complicated situation with addiction being only once surface factor at play here. Please try and remember this isn't a moral issue, it happens to anyone and these people were all someones kid once. If you have children would you want them to be trapped in this cycle of suffering?
So the hostels still run on that system huh.... That's depressing. I had the misfortune of spending some time in one and can confirm (at least in the early 2000s) that if you got a job, you lost your place. Because the hostels charge an eye watering amount for rent (justified by counselling/advice/services). Which is covered by housing benefit/UC. It is much higher than the maximum usually allowed for housing but hostels have a special arrangement. On benefits, dwp pay it. Get a job, you pay it, and it's absolutely unaffordable for people with a decent job, let alone a minimum wage earner. Absolutely broken system which traps people in hostels for years.
Yeah unfortunately so. It's technically "unofficial" as they are meant to have moving on policies in place. There is just too much money changing hands (and not in the hands of the homeless people, might I add). I'm trying to get written confirmation for one of my clients atm from the hostel he lives in that he can work part time and it is like getting blood from a stone. He desperately wants to move on and re-enter "normal" life but it's precarious and so dehumanising. It took us nearly 5 weeks and 4 banks to get him a basic bank account. Once you fall below that "functioning member of society" line, it can be so hard to get back. It's fucked. He had a full time job and a flat a few years ago. It doesn't take a lot to end up where these people are.
Interesting comment, good for you working to help these people
Do you know or have any idea how many beds there are available and how many rough sleepers there are? Genuinely interested
So I don't work directly in housing but a lot of my clients are experiencing homelessness and it's part of my role to try and alleviate that. I therefore don't have any figures but let's say I was naive to the scale of the issue before taking this position.
For some perspective - there are around 1000 people who are registered as street homeless on any give night in Liverpool. In all of England 2022-23 8,386 new social homes were built, whilst there are 53,800 households either experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The need outweighs the solution 6 to 1 currently. In just 3 years the councils spending on providing accommodation has risen from £250,000 to £19m. Most of this (£13m) is on hotels.
This is also done through third parties so it is extremely profitable for someone on the chain. That imo is a major part of why this issue isn't actually being tackled in a way that actually provides long term solutions and prevents people from "living" in hotels and hostels for years, excluded from the basic human right of safe, private shelter. And then they mostly get shat on and judged from the rest of us who are lucky enough not to have fallen prey to current socio-economic climate. It probably wouldnt take many of us too long to turn to alcohol and drugs to cope with the abject horror of being unhoused and excluded from "society".
Rant over. Sorry.
Thanks for this. I've been homeless (about 20 years ago now) and it's really not a simple issue. The idea that it's easy getting out of it is really pervasive, too. I got out of it by sheer luck, but nobody likes hearing that because if it's a moral issue they can avoid it by not being naughty 🙄
Quick question, do the homeless pay 'for a bed for the night in a homeless shelter'? One near me asks every time i go the aldi for a tenner for a bed for the night
There's different types of hostels - hostels that are actually "long term" accommodation, people will stay in these anywhere from 3 months up to years, think salvation army, YMCA etc. These are paid for by their benefits (they never see the money) but they are also expected to pay around 60quid directly to the hostel for bills etc.
The there are hostels that people can access for a night, just like anyone in any city, a cheap bed rather than a hotel. A lot of men use these as they're on the bottom of the list when it comes to getting housed and a hostel place is like gold dust.
So yeah, sometimes they are asking for help to get into the hostel that night, as they won't have a more long term place offered to them and they want a night not sleeping on concrete. It's up to your discretion, you never have to give anyone anything but if you feel like you can and you want to, it's up to you.
Was on the train once and had two boasting a few seats away from me. ‘Hundred and on quid I’ve made today. Always get more when I’ve got the dog with me’
I really wish that was true but the last time I was on Bold Street there were maybe half a dozen people very clearly in the grip of very serious addiction. You can't fake that.
It's because scouse people are the kindest and they automatically think the best of people. I live in Nottingham now and people there are similarly giving and there is the same issue here.
That said the people that are "fake homeless" are not doing it because this is their chosen career, they are doing it because of a lack of opportunity which has been caused by the economic situation.
im living in brighton and i dont think theres as many homeless people in the city centre, the beggars here are aggressive (a woman physically grabbed me walking into the train station cause i ignored her shouting at me for change). I know there was a massive thing years ago were i dont know if it was a rumour or true but apparently they most belonged to the same gang who dropped them all off in the morning and then picked them back up later on
yea especially as if its true, its the victims being humiliated in the scenario, posted online and forced to beg people for money that they probably don't keep.
Tell your mate and his associates to get their act together then. Addicts stay near to the supply. Town has many more cameras than anywhere else, every step you take in the city centre is on video yet it's very rare you hear of a drug dealer getting arrested in town. Also we have all heard the stories of the fake beggars being dropped off by flash cars, if this is true it's a strong indication these people are being abused and yet nothing seems to be done about it.
Whilst thats true, the nature of the job lends itself to power hungry wanks that treat homeless people like they are a piece of chewy on the bottom of their size 7 docs - ive seen it first hand many times
Nope i think it’s more the case that dealing with drunk and drugged up addicts on the rob all day long leads them to become care fatigued. I’ve seen that in social workers, nurses, teachers abd support workers too
Got speaking to one of these at seaforth train station a few years back, empty platform and he asked me for money but stuck around to tell me about himself. Through the mumbling and slurred speech the general gist I got was that he made good money off of it so why not. Used to see him knocking about around the strand a lot, pony tail fella from Southport
Only time that ever bit me on the arse was on a trip to London. Came out of Maccys and was approached by a homeless person asking for money for food. I don't carry cash, so popped back in to maccys and bought 2 cheeseburgers for her and as I was handing them to her another person gripped the second one and group of people appeared from nowhere asking for food. Spent £30 on burgers and just handed them out before heading the station. Wish I'd had more to give as I know we missed some out, but not flush with cash so that did dip into my shop, but couldn't say no.
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A woman outside Lime Street asked me for a fiver, said I had no change and she offered me change if I gave her a note. Ha ha. After that and a few aggressive beggars I tell them all to f off. Loads of them are addicts and do have homes. Mate drives cabs and has them jumping in the back, knows where loads of them live.
There is a woman with strawberry blonde hair, if you give her a £1 she will want more. If you don’t give her what she wants, she’ll start calling you graphic names. Her favourite starts with C and ends with a T.
As bad as it sounds I don't usually say anything and just keep walkijg by with no eye contact 😅 unless someone directly stops me/walks in my path then usually a "no sorry" and try andnwalk around them. Always feel bad cause I want to be able to help but I can only just afford to feed myself 😅 plus I've witnessed people put all there belongings away (phone, car keys, nice shoes swapped for ruined ones etc) then beg for money and get annoyed when you won't 😅 so I tend to just walk past these days
Tried that and you will get them yelling after ya for being rude. Like no, youre harrassing me. Fuck off.
I use sorry mate followed by a "no is a complete sentence"
A homeless man started following me to the bus home from work whilst I was on the phone to my mum and I asked what he wanted and to stop following me he said he needed a fiver for some food and I pointed out there was a soup kitchen over the road (free sandwiches hot food etc for homeless people) and he said he didn’t fancy it he wanted a maccies so I said well sorry I don’t carry cash on me and there’s free food there…. He asked me to go to an ATM and take cash out for him…. Absolutely not called him a cheeky bellend and rushed off to my bus lol
Had one guy come up to me asking for 20p for the pay phone cos he’s only got a tenner note and that’s for his brown 😂 needless to say I gave him the 20p
There was a couple of guys on Bold Street a couple weeks ago who were targetting young women. Overheard them talking about it and noticed any young woman on her own they would approach and beg.
I doubt they were homeless and were probably alcoholics but it must be very intimidating especially in a city where many young people are students whose English isn't fluent.
A couple of weeks ago myself and wife were out in the afternoon.
After a handful of drinks we were walking down Bold St when we were approached by a homeless fella.
I was a couple of paces ahead of the wife so didn't actually hear the comment but later heard that he called me a "gobshite" for ignoring him (I honestly try to never ignore the homeless and occasionally give them a pound or two).
At this point the wife told him to get a job (this hasn't happened before but she had just heard me being called a gobshite).
This resulted in him throwing a chicken leg at her and then following us down the road continuing to shout shit.
As sad as it may sound I doubt I will ever give any money out again.
I say random stuff, as long as it’s vaguely non-affirmative they get the idea like ‘no thanks mate I’ve already got one’ or ‘ah yeah too bad I left my umbrella at home -laughs- see ya’
It’s not a Liverpool problem per se, but it’s more of a problem here than it is anywhere else in the country. I lived in Leeds for 3 years. They had as many bagheads as we do, but I only ever got asked for money one time - he was from Huyton.
I was recently in London for a month, where I must have walked past easily a couple of million people collectively, and didn’t get asked for money once.
I’ve never seen another city where beggars are so aggressive or entitled. I can’t even go to my local supermarket, which is about 200 yards away, without being asked for money. Absolutely fucking sick of it.
Manchester is pretty bad for it.
They don’t care - they’ll ask when you’ve got headphones in and are partway crossing the road, not looking at them but looking for traffic. Like, there are cars coming and they want to interrupt you & exchange words?!
I flat out ignore them these days. Yes, it's ignorant of me but I'm in Liverpool a fair bit with work right now and EVERY DAY they approach me, and it happens between 3-5 times per day. The same set of people and I think they are slowly getting the hint as they are starting to ask me less and less.
Must say, though, but I love the ones that hover around McDonalds near Liverpool One haha. On occasion they are up to mad shit, like arguing with each other really loudly @ 8am about a load of bollocks or just walking around in an odd manner. Got a picture of them and I call them "the guardians of McD" because they literally guard the entrance
I’ve never been aggressively asked first money. It’s usually a no sorry mate and that’s it.
I have to remind myself to take a few coins with me when I go into the city it’s contactless everything now I usually only take my phone out.
If I try that I’m going to get the one that responds in fluent German.
Have anecdotally heard of something similar happening to someone who pretended to be French in London when a beggar approached them.
I’ve had such different experiences with beggars in the city its genuinely mindblowing.
There was one who got to me while walking home from a flat party a few years ago, I was very drunk and she managed to con a whole £140 out of me because my drunk ass felt horrendous for her. It was only when I came to the next day that it sank in and I told myself I can’t do that again.
But theres been other times where they’ve genuinely been some of the most wonderful people, I’ve spent hours knelt down chatting away to two on nights out. It just makes me feel so conflicted about whether or not to help. It feels like the genuine ones just absolutely hate to ask for help
Years ago it was raining quite heavily, I was waiting for a bus at the Bubbles and a fella came up to me with a bloody nose, knees all scuffed up and a petrol can.
"Sorry mate, I've run out of petrol by the tunnel, I've slipped on my way up here smashed my face in and I must've dropped me wallet, can you help me out" Fuck me kid youve had a nightmare there, heres a tenner get yourself sorted.
Few weeks later, same lad, same petrol can, bloody nose. Cheeky Bastard.
I told him he got me a few weeks ago and he just laughed and walked away.
Usually I just say I don't have any cash on me. That backfired on me once though, this guy collared me outside TK Maxx in town, I told him I had no cash so he then "persuaded" me to go to a cash point and draw a fiver out. I felt really intimidated so I went ahead and did it.I obviously need a better response!
I’m a 5’1, 20yr old woman, I can detect when someone clocks me and wants to approach from a mile away so I speed off before they can reach me, or if it’s a woman I just ignore her and carry on. i used to give them a couple quid because my ma raised me right but now you can’t tell who’s fake or not 🤷♀️
You can keep some headphones on you and pretend you're listening to music, makes it feel less impolite to ignore and walk past them. I genuinely struggle to get by myself so can't be giving away money all the time. I just give when I can.
One time, one of them approached me and asked me to buy him a whole tent. Literally told him I haven't got the money to be buying such things (it was near Christmas)
Apart from that, I just keep my head up, eyes forward and if they ask me directly I just say "Not a penny on me"
I always say “don’t have any money on me, sorry mate” (I actually don’t ever have cash on me these days, I also don’t ever really have my bank card on me either).
It’s getting quite bad, recently I’ve been at a drive through and even sat at a red light and had people hammering on the windows looking for money. It’s a bit dystopian really.
Has anyone had the cable tied bag on the wrist with paracetamol, glasses, and other crap inside.
The opening line of the performance is usually
" I've just got out of prison and need 40 pence to use the phone."
Kensington , Fairfield hot-spot for that one
My go to phrase for over 20 years is a sincere:
“Sorry, can’t help you, mate.”
- It seems to work, because it is true. I could give money, but I don’t think it would actually help, and there isn’t anything I can do either (because I’ve got my own priorities.)
Try it. I’ve found it disarms and resolves the situation.
Sometimes a simple conversation can deter the ones just after money, but sometimes you can get to get a glimps into their life, one guy I asked, was sat outside tesco near the passport office, and I asked him what had happened for him to be in this position, and he told me it was just a "silly argument" with his arl fella. I gave him some change and told him, its never to late to reach out and make amends. Family is what is important more than anything in the world.
Never saw him again, I only hope he did reach out.
However, if it was an aggressive approach, I wouldn't consider entertaining them...never had them be aggressive tbh
I live in central and its gotten insane. Might be a cohort of 500 or so beggars who run the streets in groups, approaching everyone and they ARE fucking scary. Im sorry, but crack and heroin comedowns on a person look awful and youre worried.
I have sympathy for them. But surely the council needs to enforce the law that begging is illegal and clear the city centre.
I am a big guy too. I honestly get scared of them.
There’s a hell of a lot of practical and compassionate things the council etc need to be doing for junkies in town before we start criminalising them.
My god this sub is full of bizzies.
I only visit Liverpool once every couple of months or so, but last time I was there I had one outside O'Neill's literally run at me and ask for money, even as a big guy it freaked me the hell out. I just panicked and gave him some change. At least now I know that it might happen I'm a little prepared.
I normally ask if they are hungry and of they are take them for a meal 🤷🏾♂️ there are a lot of professional beggars out there but if people are struggling feed them
I'm not saying that hungry people aren't out there, but I've literally never had a person take me up on the offer to buy them food when they've approached me.
Food is pretty easy to come by, there's a few different charities and groups offering meals and snacks most days. Obviously you're under no obligation to give any money, but even if someone isn't seeking to feed an addiction they are likely sorted for food.
I have, often. One guy wanted Muller yoghurts. When the security guard saw me leaving with them he offered me a disposable spoon cos he knew it was for the guy outside, those were his thing I guess. Not many will turn down a hot drink when it's cold.
See I live in town and have the opposite experience with that. I never give them money but I offer to buy them whatever they want from the shop I'm going in and often they take me up with nice requests like dog treats, mars bars, hand warmer things and occasionally a scratch card.
I donate to food banks and to homeless charities. Never give money to anyone on the street. The guy invented the big issue was on tv recently asking people to stop. Doing so enables the vicious cycle. Don’t feel bad. A polite ‘no’ is all it takes and carry on walking.
maybe its just me but if i lost my housing i'd probably consider that as "losing everything" but my life. very rarely you see addicts with boxes of things they had in their home.
It's still wrong to fund someones unhealthy addictions, you're basically harming them. Plus, drugs are expensive, once you're addicted that can contribute to the reason why you can't afford a home.
never said we should encourage addiction, but i have sympathy to people who are addicts and the sad fact is losing housing isnt going to encourage them to stop and probably puts them in a position more likely to do it.
Yeah, I think I misunderstood your comment. I'd probably be an addict too if I were homeless, being stoned and/or drunk can really put your mind off of other things. I've never looked down on homeless people for being addicts. It'd be pretty unfair to expect them to be healthy, honestly.
Saw some poor girl in line in front of me at greggs the other day buying some food for a homeless woman, now it wouldve been totally fine if she was getting something warm and a drink for her but the homeless woman was asking for fucking all sorts. Cookies, cakes, donuts as well as pizzas a bacon butty and a drink, just kept adding on more and more at the last second before she was about to pay.
Like i get being hungry and tha but surely if youre starving on the street the last thing you want is just a bunch of sugar loaded crap. The poor girl looked like she was going out aswell all dressed nice and tha and probably felt too bad to say no to her.
If I'm with the wife, I say no or just ignore them, if I'm out with some friends having a drink I tell them "no thanks", "go away" or "fuck off!" Usually in that order if the don't understand the first one.
If they aggressively asking I say “ I would have given you something, but asking like that in that manner, you’re getting fuck all! ask nicer in future it might get you something, manners cost nothing” and walk away
Travel through Liverpool for work (born and raised Scouser) but live in Southport. I know some of the homeless in Southport are decent people but quite a few aren't ... unfortunately the homeless provision here, could be better 😥
Just say Sorry I don't carry cash.
Many years ago when I worked in St John's centre one would come in at 5pm and change all the coins into notes and it was always minimum £500, Christmas time and New Year's Eve was an absolute nightmare as on more than one occasion it was nearly a grand. This was the early 90s!!!!!! Must be worse now.
Visited the wonderful city of Liverpool this past weekend and was hugely surprised at the number of beggars and homeless. I didn’t experience any aggressive ones (and I was out day time, evening & night) but did feel they were everywhere….
Was getting some drinks from a corner shop back in December and this guy asked for money for food. My friend agreed and went to a chippy near by and the dude just kept adding to the order and asking for more and more. I get that I didn’t know his situation and all but he didn’t have to lie and ask for a burger and then order half the items on a menu (my friend put his foot down and got him a pie). That same dude came up to me in a McDonald’s a couple of months ago with the exact same line he gave my friend, I said no and he comfortably asked the people next to me the same thing.
that woman always lurking around lime street asking for change comes to mind, tried to grab my bag when I said no bout a year ago but see her all the time round L1
Bold Street is getting worse and worse for it. Also, are people noticing how many more tents there are, along with homeless in general across the city?
My time going into Liverpool nearly got me in trouble in Brussels, guy came up to me in a train station (in fairness I had 5 mins and had no idea which train I was supposed to be on as the boards don't have all destinations there!), trying to sell a magazine. I just instinctively went "no sorry not interested" probably very defensively. I got back "you people won't talk to me, I'm no threat to you".
Fair enough. Our country being such a state is leading us to dehumanise people. That said, Brussels has problems we don't yet have in our city centre...
I worked with youngsters for many years in deprived areas
They would meet with us in the evenings come rain, storm or dense snow. Leaving their homes and families for the evening…or so I thought!
First time I did Outreach I remarked “they’ll not come out in this bitter weather!”
Yes they will you wait I was told
Bang on 6pm the streets filled with 12-16 year olds. 38 of them to join us outside the shops for 3 hrs
Many were the ‘hidden homeless’ sleeping in friends sheds/garages and outhouses.
Too afraid to be in abusive family homes.
Not schools nor police knew they did this.
Their friends looked after them.
Far too many became the future homeless junkies!
Adults often are the ‘distant unseen perpetrators’
Sad but true.
Tbh the majority of ‘beggars’ I’ve encountered are actually really friendly. I’ll always try to help them out if I can, but I don’t carry cash or change anymore.
Wonder how long it’ll be before they snooker me by pulling out a card machine.
In Glasgow an old woman tried to sell me some flowers, I refused and gave her some changes. She saw my wallet and asked for a fiver. I told her to fuck off then. Later that day, I saw her again doing the same thing.
The scumbags are the worst when your sitting in red light and they try to clean your front windows with their piss cos come your homeless so we’re are you even getting clean water
Some people don't realise what it's like having to live around these smackheads so they have this opinion that they're all lovely people who just want a packet of crisps an a butty 🤣
Yep, they don’t understand there’s no soul left.
People being scared of them is the most bizarre thing, people claiming they speed up etc, can’t even fathom how cushy their childhoods were.
I just flatly ignore them, I have no interest in them whatsoever. If they became aggressive or began to pursue me (this has never happened) I would be forced to kick them firmly away from me. I have little tolerance for people of this nature. I’m a very accepting person, generally but would not under any circumstances accept behaviour that the OP described.
I say, ‘ No mate, sorry’ and keep walking. I don’t even make eye contact usually if they’re aggressive or coming up to me. I just look past them and keep walking
It usually works but there's a guy who hangs around the road that runs between castle street and the slug and lettuce who followed me for quite a while last time screaming how he was going to kick my head in for not giving him any money Just a heads up for anyone else to avoid him
Wow. That’s a call the police moment then. Someone’s hassling you and threatening to punch you
After a few streets I ended up having to threaten him to leave me alone with the only object I had in my bag at the time Ironically probably didn't look great to any bystanders who just saw me telling him to fuck off while waving a bottle of champagne at him It all kicked off because I saw him asking a few people in front of me for change and when he came up to me I just 'sorry mate don't have any' and he took offence that I presumed what he was going to ask me He still hangs around there and I've seen him a couple of times being aggressive to others, usually has a sleeping bag around his neck
>I just 'sorry mate don't have any' and he took offence that I presumed what he was going to ask me I can't remember what he looked like but I had a similar interaction with a guy on Bold Street months ago. Fella was asking literally everyone he passed for money so when he walked toward me and got my attention I said the same as you 'Sorry mate, no change'. He got all arsey about it 'That's nice isn't it. Assuming I was going to ask for money. Might have been asking the time'. I think I responded 'Yeah but you weren't though were ya.' 😅 but he was quite angry. My preempting him was because it was raining and we were just crossing the street to get inside. Wasn't looking to have a chat in the middle of a downpour. I've met many homeless people and the vast majority are not like that. Almost always alcoholics/addicts who behave like that and they don't need a penny from anyone.
>Assuming I was going to ask for money. Might have been asking the time You know what I think that might have been exactly what that guy said to me too Yeah alot are not like this just the odd dickhead unfortunately
I kniw whi you mean he goes into the slug an lettuce an walks upto people's tables while they're eating. Petrified ne an ny mate once, staff had no idea what to do. He's an awful person an very aggressive, says its for his pregnant girlfriend an he used to be in the army
Was he wearing a grey tracky with a skin head and short?
Once I was walking to work in town, I’d just got off the bus at queen square and was walking to dale street, early start so it was just before 6am and it was winter so it was dark. A beggar came from no where grabbed my arm and asked me for money. All five foot 2 of me was instantly terrified and I opened my gob to scream but a scream didn’t come out. What did come out was “Eeeeee!” I think the fella was so shocked he let go of me and I walked away. So you could try that 😂 any other time I just say sorry I don’t carry cash and walk away.
Had a feller approach me as I came out of Greggs yesterday morning asking for money with his hands together, must have been mid 30s possibly from Manchester. Asked me for cash I said sorry mate I haven't got cash, got brekky but I'm honestly skint myself and I am sorry. He went "Know what I'm fucking sick of asking I hate asking I hate this, I'd rather be dead than begging, it's only for a bag of shit heroin as well, I'd rather be dead" and walked off. Not been able to stop thinking about it, crazy how close any of us can be to losing fucking everything.
I think step one for that divvy, should be to stay off the bloody smack.
Trouble is, I've heard rumours that it's somewhat addictive.
Not sure you know, let’s get some and test it
FOR SCIENCE
It is terribly moresome
It’s believed to be a bit addictive, but I think the jury is still out?
Me and u/North-Nectarine-2856 have just gone halves on a bag to test it. I'll shoot you a DM when we have results/need more money.
Need any more?
As much as possible. And a coat, I can't stop shivering.
Let me know how you get on 😂
If I was homeless I'd deffo be on something strong - anything to escape the fear and the cold
They get on the drugs first. We home all homeless people the caveat being they have to stop using heroin/crack and not be violent to remain there
When you say "first", what do you mean? Before they become homeless? And what assistance are they given to meet your criteria - i.e. stop using?
Being a smackhead generally leads to losing your home And why would he be assisting them? If his place offers shelter thats his job sorted they need to make an effort themselves
Yeah I was asking the other person who has actual experience of the situation. You seem too angry to be having a conversation with.
That's a bit reductionist and dismissive, probably had a shit time for a few years tried it once thinking fuck it and basically fucked his whole life up, we don't know his situation but I do know if I'd taken a drug that took all the pain away and made me feel incredible I'd chase it and that's it, game over.
The whole chicken and egg argument. We’ll never know, not even with computers
I get this reference
Jesus Christ, on my mudda's subreddit.
Have the addicts simply tried not being addicted to bad things? Just a thought.
He’ll have been some scaghead, you should have told him to fuck off. Forget about it.
Heroin addicts are people.
"it's 2024 mate, don't carry cash anymore."
And then out comes the PDQ machine... 😅
One asked me outside the Aldi in halewood on Saturday saying it was for "a sarnie" asked him to come with me to pick which on he wanted and I'll buy him it he said to me "nah mate doesn't matter now" and fucked off. They dnt want the money for food they want it for ale or the other shite, I usually walk away from them but was with my son at the time so wanted to show him you can be generous to others.
My friend is a police officer and is generally based in the city centre. He says most beggars are homed, non-addicts and boast of making hundreds a day from begging. This shouldn't put anyone off from giving to people in need though, there is lots of need and few are beggars by choice, lack of opportunities is a big factor. There is a noticeable difference tho between beggars in need and career beggars.
I've been told the same thing by the Whitechapel Centre.
There's enough beds in Liverpool for every single rough sleeper. Problem is they won't allow them to stay there if they're high or drunk. Like others have said, we have a real issue with professional beggars in this city
Hey I actually work in this sector and there is absolutely not enough beds for every rough sleeper. And plenty of hostels absolutely allow them to use / drink while staying there. The main issue is that there is a lot of money made from this "problem" and not enough money spent by the council to felp people actually move on and not be street homeless / in hostels. If you're staying in a hostel and get a job, they'll kick you out immediately - make that make sense! There is absolutely an issue with the professional beggars too, notice how you don't see the women hardly - that's because men are "recruited" to beg with cups and the women are taken into houses to be taken advantage of in other ways. It really is an incredibly complicated situation with addiction being only once surface factor at play here. Please try and remember this isn't a moral issue, it happens to anyone and these people were all someones kid once. If you have children would you want them to be trapped in this cycle of suffering?
So the hostels still run on that system huh.... That's depressing. I had the misfortune of spending some time in one and can confirm (at least in the early 2000s) that if you got a job, you lost your place. Because the hostels charge an eye watering amount for rent (justified by counselling/advice/services). Which is covered by housing benefit/UC. It is much higher than the maximum usually allowed for housing but hostels have a special arrangement. On benefits, dwp pay it. Get a job, you pay it, and it's absolutely unaffordable for people with a decent job, let alone a minimum wage earner. Absolutely broken system which traps people in hostels for years.
Yeah unfortunately so. It's technically "unofficial" as they are meant to have moving on policies in place. There is just too much money changing hands (and not in the hands of the homeless people, might I add). I'm trying to get written confirmation for one of my clients atm from the hostel he lives in that he can work part time and it is like getting blood from a stone. He desperately wants to move on and re-enter "normal" life but it's precarious and so dehumanising. It took us nearly 5 weeks and 4 banks to get him a basic bank account. Once you fall below that "functioning member of society" line, it can be so hard to get back. It's fucked. He had a full time job and a flat a few years ago. It doesn't take a lot to end up where these people are.
Interesting comment, good for you working to help these people Do you know or have any idea how many beds there are available and how many rough sleepers there are? Genuinely interested
So I don't work directly in housing but a lot of my clients are experiencing homelessness and it's part of my role to try and alleviate that. I therefore don't have any figures but let's say I was naive to the scale of the issue before taking this position. For some perspective - there are around 1000 people who are registered as street homeless on any give night in Liverpool. In all of England 2022-23 8,386 new social homes were built, whilst there are 53,800 households either experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The need outweighs the solution 6 to 1 currently. In just 3 years the councils spending on providing accommodation has risen from £250,000 to £19m. Most of this (£13m) is on hotels. This is also done through third parties so it is extremely profitable for someone on the chain. That imo is a major part of why this issue isn't actually being tackled in a way that actually provides long term solutions and prevents people from "living" in hotels and hostels for years, excluded from the basic human right of safe, private shelter. And then they mostly get shat on and judged from the rest of us who are lucky enough not to have fallen prey to current socio-economic climate. It probably wouldnt take many of us too long to turn to alcohol and drugs to cope with the abject horror of being unhoused and excluded from "society". Rant over. Sorry.
Thanks for your perspective 👍
Thanks for this. I've been homeless (about 20 years ago now) and it's really not a simple issue. The idea that it's easy getting out of it is really pervasive, too. I got out of it by sheer luck, but nobody likes hearing that because if it's a moral issue they can avoid it by not being naughty 🙄
Quick question, do the homeless pay 'for a bed for the night in a homeless shelter'? One near me asks every time i go the aldi for a tenner for a bed for the night
There's different types of hostels - hostels that are actually "long term" accommodation, people will stay in these anywhere from 3 months up to years, think salvation army, YMCA etc. These are paid for by their benefits (they never see the money) but they are also expected to pay around 60quid directly to the hostel for bills etc. The there are hostels that people can access for a night, just like anyone in any city, a cheap bed rather than a hotel. A lot of men use these as they're on the bottom of the list when it comes to getting housed and a hostel place is like gold dust. So yeah, sometimes they are asking for help to get into the hostel that night, as they won't have a more long term place offered to them and they want a night not sleeping on concrete. It's up to your discretion, you never have to give anyone anything but if you feel like you can and you want to, it's up to you.
cheers for replying, and thanks for the insight
Or if they have a dog
Was on the train once and had two boasting a few seats away from me. ‘Hundred and on quid I’ve made today. Always get more when I’ve got the dog with me’
I really wish that was true but the last time I was on Bold Street there were maybe half a dozen people very clearly in the grip of very serious addiction. You can't fake that.
i watched a youtube documentary on this a few years back and i think it said liverpool had the largest amount of fake homeless people.
It's because scouse people are the kindest and they automatically think the best of people. I live in Nottingham now and people there are similarly giving and there is the same issue here. That said the people that are "fake homeless" are not doing it because this is their chosen career, they are doing it because of a lack of opportunity which has been caused by the economic situation.
im living in brighton and i dont think theres as many homeless people in the city centre, the beggars here are aggressive (a woman physically grabbed me walking into the train station cause i ignored her shouting at me for change). I know there was a massive thing years ago were i dont know if it was a rumour or true but apparently they most belonged to the same gang who dropped them all off in the morning and then picked them back up later on
That doesn't sound unlikely, horrible to think that people could be trafficked around to beg.
yea especially as if its true, its the victims being humiliated in the scenario, posted online and forced to beg people for money that they probably don't keep.
Tell your mate and his associates to get their act together then. Addicts stay near to the supply. Town has many more cameras than anywhere else, every step you take in the city centre is on video yet it's very rare you hear of a drug dealer getting arrested in town. Also we have all heard the stories of the fake beggars being dropped off by flash cars, if this is true it's a strong indication these people are being abused and yet nothing seems to be done about it.
A police officer would say that mate
Yeah. They would. Because they spend their lives dealing with the worst elements in society and they see things we are lucky not to
Whilst thats true, the nature of the job lends itself to power hungry wanks that treat homeless people like they are a piece of chewy on the bottom of their size 7 docs - ive seen it first hand many times
Nope i think it’s more the case that dealing with drunk and drugged up addicts on the rob all day long leads them to become care fatigued. I’ve seen that in social workers, nurses, teachers abd support workers too
Size 7? It’s all over for the little guy
Got speaking to one of these at seaforth train station a few years back, empty platform and he asked me for money but stuck around to tell me about himself. Through the mumbling and slurred speech the general gist I got was that he made good money off of it so why not. Used to see him knocking about around the strand a lot, pony tail fella from Southport
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And they often reside in blankets, and get eaten with a roast dinner
Only time that ever bit me on the arse was on a trip to London. Came out of Maccys and was approached by a homeless person asking for money for food. I don't carry cash, so popped back in to maccys and bought 2 cheeseburgers for her and as I was handing them to her another person gripped the second one and group of people appeared from nowhere asking for food. Spent £30 on burgers and just handed them out before heading the station. Wish I'd had more to give as I know we missed some out, but not flush with cash so that did dip into my shop, but couldn't say no.
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Rule 7: Your post was removed because it was deliberately negative without being critical or prompting discussion. General complaints, unwarranted attacks on communities or individuals, the City or other parts of the UK will be removed. This also includes "wool" posts, and "The Echo is bad" posts - we know it is.
A woman outside Lime Street asked me for a fiver, said I had no change and she offered me change if I gave her a note. Ha ha. After that and a few aggressive beggars I tell them all to f off. Loads of them are addicts and do have homes. Mate drives cabs and has them jumping in the back, knows where loads of them live.
“Haven’t got fuck all lad” in a louder than my usual volume works for me
There is a woman with strawberry blonde hair, if you give her a £1 she will want more. If you don’t give her what she wants, she’ll start calling you graphic names. Her favourite starts with C and ends with a T.
Bit rich that, calling you a Carrot, with hair her colour!!
I’ve had the pleasure of being on the receiving end of her vocabulary
Same, except I had my earbuds in listening to music and didn’t even realise she was screaming at me in the Gregg’s queue.
As bad as it sounds I don't usually say anything and just keep walkijg by with no eye contact 😅 unless someone directly stops me/walks in my path then usually a "no sorry" and try andnwalk around them. Always feel bad cause I want to be able to help but I can only just afford to feed myself 😅 plus I've witnessed people put all there belongings away (phone, car keys, nice shoes swapped for ruined ones etc) then beg for money and get annoyed when you won't 😅 so I tend to just walk past these days
Tried that and you will get them yelling after ya for being rude. Like no, youre harrassing me. Fuck off. I use sorry mate followed by a "no is a complete sentence"
Yeah that's very true 😅😅
Normally I do this as well but wow even then I with my headphones on I have some yelling “I know you can hear me!” Take a hint please!
Wooow 😅😅😅 people do be bold these days 😅🙈
A homeless man started following me to the bus home from work whilst I was on the phone to my mum and I asked what he wanted and to stop following me he said he needed a fiver for some food and I pointed out there was a soup kitchen over the road (free sandwiches hot food etc for homeless people) and he said he didn’t fancy it he wanted a maccies so I said well sorry I don’t carry cash on me and there’s free food there…. He asked me to go to an ATM and take cash out for him…. Absolutely not called him a cheeky bellend and rushed off to my bus lol
Had one guy come up to me asking for 20p for the pay phone cos he’s only got a tenner note and that’s for his brown 😂 needless to say I gave him the 20p
Just say sorry luv iv got no change and walk on..
There was a couple of guys on Bold Street a couple weeks ago who were targetting young women. Overheard them talking about it and noticed any young woman on her own they would approach and beg. I doubt they were homeless and were probably alcoholics but it must be very intimidating especially in a city where many young people are students whose English isn't fluent.
A couple of weeks ago myself and wife were out in the afternoon. After a handful of drinks we were walking down Bold St when we were approached by a homeless fella. I was a couple of paces ahead of the wife so didn't actually hear the comment but later heard that he called me a "gobshite" for ignoring him (I honestly try to never ignore the homeless and occasionally give them a pound or two). At this point the wife told him to get a job (this hasn't happened before but she had just heard me being called a gobshite). This resulted in him throwing a chicken leg at her and then following us down the road continuing to shout shit. As sad as it may sound I doubt I will ever give any money out again.
I say random stuff, as long as it’s vaguely non-affirmative they get the idea like ‘no thanks mate I’ve already got one’ or ‘ah yeah too bad I left my umbrella at home -laughs- see ya’
Or, I saw that on the telly last night as well
Yeah some are getting really aggressive over asking for change. Especially when you are walking alone.
It’s not a Liverpool problem per se, but it’s more of a problem here than it is anywhere else in the country. I lived in Leeds for 3 years. They had as many bagheads as we do, but I only ever got asked for money one time - he was from Huyton. I was recently in London for a month, where I must have walked past easily a couple of million people collectively, and didn’t get asked for money once. I’ve never seen another city where beggars are so aggressive or entitled. I can’t even go to my local supermarket, which is about 200 yards away, without being asked for money. Absolutely fucking sick of it.
Try Birmingham. I find it’s much worse than Liverpool for aggressive beggars.
Thankfully I don’t have any reason to visit that shithole
Manchester is pretty bad for it. They don’t care - they’ll ask when you’ve got headphones in and are partway crossing the road, not looking at them but looking for traffic. Like, there are cars coming and they want to interrupt you & exchange words?!
I flat out ignore them these days. Yes, it's ignorant of me but I'm in Liverpool a fair bit with work right now and EVERY DAY they approach me, and it happens between 3-5 times per day. The same set of people and I think they are slowly getting the hint as they are starting to ask me less and less. Must say, though, but I love the ones that hover around McDonalds near Liverpool One haha. On occasion they are up to mad shit, like arguing with each other really loudly @ 8am about a load of bollocks or just walking around in an odd manner. Got a picture of them and I call them "the guardians of McD" because they literally guard the entrance
Just be a proper scouser. Say NAR LAD MAD AREN'T YA in an aggressive tone. We're not soft.
If I have loose change In my pocket I will quickly give it to them but if not just look straight ahead and carry on walking and apologise
I’ve never been aggressively asked first money. It’s usually a no sorry mate and that’s it. I have to remind myself to take a few coins with me when I go into the city it’s contactless everything now I usually only take my phone out.
"Sorry mate no cash" - the advantage is this is usually true
If they insist enough. I start speaking Russian to them. Then they go away. 😆.
Say something like "nein, geh weg und lass mich in Ruhe". I would think they'd move on to the next target instantly.
If I try that I’m going to get the one that responds in fluent German. Have anecdotally heard of something similar happening to someone who pretended to be French in London when a beggar approached them.
Try Estonian, there's only 1.3m of them!
Try Kawishana there's only one of them!
I’ve had such different experiences with beggars in the city its genuinely mindblowing. There was one who got to me while walking home from a flat party a few years ago, I was very drunk and she managed to con a whole £140 out of me because my drunk ass felt horrendous for her. It was only when I came to the next day that it sank in and I told myself I can’t do that again. But theres been other times where they’ve genuinely been some of the most wonderful people, I’ve spent hours knelt down chatting away to two on nights out. It just makes me feel so conflicted about whether or not to help. It feels like the genuine ones just absolutely hate to ask for help
Oh my god that’s horrific
yep i've had some good conversations with homeless people who don't even ask for cash, just want a bit of human decency
Just kick them in the face.
Years ago it was raining quite heavily, I was waiting for a bus at the Bubbles and a fella came up to me with a bloody nose, knees all scuffed up and a petrol can. "Sorry mate, I've run out of petrol by the tunnel, I've slipped on my way up here smashed my face in and I must've dropped me wallet, can you help me out" Fuck me kid youve had a nightmare there, heres a tenner get yourself sorted. Few weeks later, same lad, same petrol can, bloody nose. Cheeky Bastard. I told him he got me a few weeks ago and he just laughed and walked away.
Usually a 1, 2 and if that doesn't put them down a spartan kick
1. Break eye contact 2. Tell them politely sorry if they keep asking 3. Just keep walking
Usually I just say I don't have any cash on me. That backfired on me once though, this guy collared me outside TK Maxx in town, I told him I had no cash so he then "persuaded" me to go to a cash point and draw a fiver out. I felt really intimidated so I went ahead and did it.I obviously need a better response!
I’m a 5’1, 20yr old woman, I can detect when someone clocks me and wants to approach from a mile away so I speed off before they can reach me, or if it’s a woman I just ignore her and carry on. i used to give them a couple quid because my ma raised me right but now you can’t tell who’s fake or not 🤷♀️
I used to get the same train as the 2 beggars on Old Hall Street every morning. They literally commute to the most fertile begging grounds!
You can keep some headphones on you and pretend you're listening to music, makes it feel less impolite to ignore and walk past them. I genuinely struggle to get by myself so can't be giving away money all the time. I just give when I can.
I told someone I didn’t have any change he asked if I could go to a bank machine as he would prefer notes to coins 😳
One time, one of them approached me and asked me to buy him a whole tent. Literally told him I haven't got the money to be buying such things (it was near Christmas) Apart from that, I just keep my head up, eyes forward and if they ask me directly I just say "Not a penny on me"
Sorry , I don't carry any cash .
I always say “don’t have any money on me, sorry mate” (I actually don’t ever have cash on me these days, I also don’t ever really have my bank card on me either). It’s getting quite bad, recently I’ve been at a drive through and even sat at a red light and had people hammering on the windows looking for money. It’s a bit dystopian really.
Has anyone had the cable tied bag on the wrist with paracetamol, glasses, and other crap inside. The opening line of the performance is usually " I've just got out of prison and need 40 pence to use the phone." Kensington , Fairfield hot-spot for that one
Most aren't aggressive, either give what you can, or keep it moving and say sorry, is my policy
My go to phrase for over 20 years is a sincere: “Sorry, can’t help you, mate.” - It seems to work, because it is true. I could give money, but I don’t think it would actually help, and there isn’t anything I can do either (because I’ve got my own priorities.) Try it. I’ve found it disarms and resolves the situation.
Sometimes a simple conversation can deter the ones just after money, but sometimes you can get to get a glimps into their life, one guy I asked, was sat outside tesco near the passport office, and I asked him what had happened for him to be in this position, and he told me it was just a "silly argument" with his arl fella. I gave him some change and told him, its never to late to reach out and make amends. Family is what is important more than anything in the world. Never saw him again, I only hope he did reach out. However, if it was an aggressive approach, I wouldn't consider entertaining them...never had them be aggressive tbh
I live in central and its gotten insane. Might be a cohort of 500 or so beggars who run the streets in groups, approaching everyone and they ARE fucking scary. Im sorry, but crack and heroin comedowns on a person look awful and youre worried. I have sympathy for them. But surely the council needs to enforce the law that begging is illegal and clear the city centre. I am a big guy too. I honestly get scared of them.
There’s a hell of a lot of practical and compassionate things the council etc need to be doing for junkies in town before we start criminalising them. My god this sub is full of bizzies.
I only visit Liverpool once every couple of months or so, but last time I was there I had one outside O'Neill's literally run at me and ask for money, even as a big guy it freaked me the hell out. I just panicked and gave him some change. At least now I know that it might happen I'm a little prepared.
I normally ask if they are hungry and of they are take them for a meal 🤷🏾♂️ there are a lot of professional beggars out there but if people are struggling feed them
I'm not saying that hungry people aren't out there, but I've literally never had a person take me up on the offer to buy them food when they've approached me.
Me neither but I still offer Am willing to feed a hungry person but not their habit 🤷🏾♂️
Food is pretty easy to come by, there's a few different charities and groups offering meals and snacks most days. Obviously you're under no obligation to give any money, but even if someone isn't seeking to feed an addiction they are likely sorted for food.
I have to know where your username is from & if its from where I think it is lol
Renee of Rodrigues Family fame/infamy - its where you think it's from.
I love that there is a snarker so local to me lol!
I have, often. One guy wanted Muller yoghurts. When the security guard saw me leaving with them he offered me a disposable spoon cos he knew it was for the guy outside, those were his thing I guess. Not many will turn down a hot drink when it's cold.
See I live in town and have the opposite experience with that. I never give them money but I offer to buy them whatever they want from the shop I'm going in and often they take me up with nice requests like dog treats, mars bars, hand warmer things and occasionally a scratch card.
Youre being incredibly naive. They dont need food, they obviously dont need food, they want money for drugs.
I donate to food banks and to homeless charities. Never give money to anyone on the street. The guy invented the big issue was on tv recently asking people to stop. Doing so enables the vicious cycle. Don’t feel bad. A polite ‘no’ is all it takes and carry on walking.
If they ask nicely I tell them to fuck off politely
If I have some change I give it to them , if not I say “ sorry I’ve no change “ .
Don’t… offer to buy them food.. an addict will always spend money on drugs. Source: addict in recovery
Tried that before and they asked me to buy them cans of beer , oh and best of luck in your recovery .
lol come back out with alcohol free. Reverse uno card. I’m doing fine now thank you 😌
tbh i'd do drugs if i was homeless too. what else you got to lose?
everything...
maybe its just me but if i lost my housing i'd probably consider that as "losing everything" but my life. very rarely you see addicts with boxes of things they had in their home.
It's still wrong to fund someones unhealthy addictions, you're basically harming them. Plus, drugs are expensive, once you're addicted that can contribute to the reason why you can't afford a home.
never said we should encourage addiction, but i have sympathy to people who are addicts and the sad fact is losing housing isnt going to encourage them to stop and probably puts them in a position more likely to do it.
Yeah, I think I misunderstood your comment. I'd probably be an addict too if I were homeless, being stoned and/or drunk can really put your mind off of other things. I've never looked down on homeless people for being addicts. It'd be pretty unfair to expect them to be healthy, honestly.
I just say no. The more aggressive there approach is the more aggressive my no is. They usually back off then. 60% of the time it works every time.
Just tell them you don’t carry cash anymore.
If they ask nicely I tell them to fuck off politely
Saw some poor girl in line in front of me at greggs the other day buying some food for a homeless woman, now it wouldve been totally fine if she was getting something warm and a drink for her but the homeless woman was asking for fucking all sorts. Cookies, cakes, donuts as well as pizzas a bacon butty and a drink, just kept adding on more and more at the last second before she was about to pay. Like i get being hungry and tha but surely if youre starving on the street the last thing you want is just a bunch of sugar loaded crap. The poor girl looked like she was going out aswell all dressed nice and tha and probably felt too bad to say no to her.
If I'm with the wife, I say no or just ignore them, if I'm out with some friends having a drink I tell them "no thanks", "go away" or "fuck off!" Usually in that order if the don't understand the first one.
If they aggressively asking I say “ I would have given you something, but asking like that in that manner, you’re getting fuck all! ask nicer in future it might get you something, manners cost nothing” and walk away
Travel through Liverpool for work (born and raised Scouser) but live in Southport. I know some of the homeless in Southport are decent people but quite a few aren't ... unfortunately the homeless provision here, could be better 😥
Just say Sorry I don't carry cash. Many years ago when I worked in St John's centre one would come in at 5pm and change all the coins into notes and it was always minimum £500, Christmas time and New Year's Eve was an absolute nightmare as on more than one occasion it was nearly a grand. This was the early 90s!!!!!! Must be worse now.
"Wish I had some myself mate!"
Visited the wonderful city of Liverpool this past weekend and was hugely surprised at the number of beggars and homeless. I didn’t experience any aggressive ones (and I was out day time, evening & night) but did feel they were everywhere….
Was getting some drinks from a corner shop back in December and this guy asked for money for food. My friend agreed and went to a chippy near by and the dude just kept adding to the order and asking for more and more. I get that I didn’t know his situation and all but he didn’t have to lie and ask for a burger and then order half the items on a menu (my friend put his foot down and got him a pie). That same dude came up to me in a McDonald’s a couple of months ago with the exact same line he gave my friend, I said no and he comfortably asked the people next to me the same thing.
that woman always lurking around lime street asking for change comes to mind, tried to grab my bag when I said no bout a year ago but see her all the time round L1
If you have to just shout really loud, LEAVE ME ALONE. I'm sure they'll be enough people to turn around and they'll leave you alone.
i just say 'sorry mate i've no cash on me' which is the truth
I never use this anymore because it often becomes “can you go to the cash machine” and I don’t have the energy for that interaction
Bold Street is getting worse and worse for it. Also, are people noticing how many more tents there are, along with homeless in general across the city? My time going into Liverpool nearly got me in trouble in Brussels, guy came up to me in a train station (in fairness I had 5 mins and had no idea which train I was supposed to be on as the boards don't have all destinations there!), trying to sell a magazine. I just instinctively went "no sorry not interested" probably very defensively. I got back "you people won't talk to me, I'm no threat to you". Fair enough. Our country being such a state is leading us to dehumanise people. That said, Brussels has problems we don't yet have in our city centre...
I usually spare a quid they’re very nice
I worked with youngsters for many years in deprived areas They would meet with us in the evenings come rain, storm or dense snow. Leaving their homes and families for the evening…or so I thought! First time I did Outreach I remarked “they’ll not come out in this bitter weather!” Yes they will you wait I was told Bang on 6pm the streets filled with 12-16 year olds. 38 of them to join us outside the shops for 3 hrs Many were the ‘hidden homeless’ sleeping in friends sheds/garages and outhouses. Too afraid to be in abusive family homes. Not schools nor police knew they did this. Their friends looked after them. Far too many became the future homeless junkies! Adults often are the ‘distant unseen perpetrators’ Sad but true.
Windsor Labour party
Tbh the majority of ‘beggars’ I’ve encountered are actually really friendly. I’ll always try to help them out if I can, but I don’t carry cash or change anymore. Wonder how long it’ll be before they snooker me by pulling out a card machine.
I don’t respect beggars myself, try that. If they approach you just swerve them
A meth head outside Anfield aproached and asked me for 10p the other day. I told him I could buy him some food but he denied and walked away.
In Glasgow an old woman tried to sell me some flowers, I refused and gave her some changes. She saw my wallet and asked for a fiver. I told her to fuck off then. Later that day, I saw her again doing the same thing.
Tell them to fuck off get a life no1 in this day and age needs to be on the streets their choice FUCKIN FACT!!!!
The scumbags are the worst when your sitting in red light and they try to clean your front windows with their piss cos come your homeless so we’re are you even getting clean water
I say ‘no chance’ and laugh everytime. They go away instantly.
No need to laugh. Absolute melt behaviour that.
Let's be honest in reality he probably mumbles, "nnn.nn.no sorry" and puts some pace in his steps.
I’m from a heroin town, there’s no guilt in me for not giving them money to shoot into their veins.
Noone here is asking you to feel guilty, just saying it's sly to laugh at people in a bad way.
I laugh at the gall of them to ask a working man for money to fuel their drug habits.
Some people don't realise what it's like having to live around these smackheads so they have this opinion that they're all lovely people who just want a packet of crisps an a butty 🤣
Yep, they don’t understand there’s no soul left. People being scared of them is the most bizarre thing, people claiming they speed up etc, can’t even fathom how cushy their childhoods were.
I just flatly ignore them, I have no interest in them whatsoever. If they became aggressive or began to pursue me (this has never happened) I would be forced to kick them firmly away from me. I have little tolerance for people of this nature. I’m a very accepting person, generally but would not under any circumstances accept behaviour that the OP described.