I agree with motormad (for once) on this (although someone might have difficulty absconding with a 54" plasma screen without him noticing).

Unless you know them, it's a big risk to invite someone into your home. Accommodation needs to be provided, properly supervised by people who know what they are doing.

If you read the thread you may realise that the idea came from me, AH merely picked up on my idea. He is a politician after all.

Now I am going to show my ignorance here and welcome some education on the subject............. but why, with our generous benefits system and with immigrants and asylum seekers being accommodated as soon as they come into the country, does anyone need to be homeless in Britain??

It isn't quite as generous as its sometimes portrayed. Regrettably much is clouded by abuse. At the very base are those who simply can't cope. That includes people with self inflicted problems as well., Taking a rational view, most of them simply need to get a grip and sort themselves out. But the world isn't rational. What's being proposed here is not any attempt to solve their problems - simply to provide a safety net.

This is a real life situation, happening as I type.

Someone I know has suffered a breakdown after struggling to raise their child alone (absolutely no fault of their own), keep a job, put food on the table and pay the bills. The consequence is no job, time in hospital, and they have now lost their home, and the child is with the previously absent parent. This person is not drug or alcohol dependant. This person has however found themselves dangling over the edge. The benefit system was no help to this person as they were working, paying a mortgage etc. There really is only so much help you can get in this situation. The CAB were as helpful as they could be, but the hole kept getting deeper and deeper.

Thankfully, a place in a hostel has been found for this person. It could have been much worse.

Before anyone asks, I have offered for them to stay with me, but I'm out of town these days which would take this person away from potential employment opportunities, and their health professionals who are still caring for said person (there really isn't any work where I am at the moment). My door remains open to them though.

I'm not going to go into any details about the situation as it's a real person, and is an on going problem at the moment, but there really are people for whom the often perceived luxurious benefits system doesn't work.

Sorry if my post seems a little jolty. I have one eye on the screen, and the other on a ten month old

Agree, thanks for raising Penelope. It's something that's been brought up many times in the past when these issues have hit the headlines, but I can't find a serious reference of any council actually doing it. Not sure why - guess H&S, insurance, landlords etc?? - anyone know why or got any examples of success?

I suspect its trying to find something that is really suitable. Would need easy access from the street, toilets and showers in close proximity, ideally a food preparation / store area, plus a biggish area with easy clean floor. I suppose it would also help if we could offer some free resource to adapt / help keep clean etc.

The rules for immigration have already been posted on another thread. Your assertion is not based on reality.

I would imagine mental health problems plays a big part in homelessness.