Why we must not shy away from homelessness and street disorder
Homelessness, begging and related street activity are among the most difficult issues reported through FixASB. They demand compassion. But they also demand action.
People sleeping rough may be vulnerable, unwell, in crisis or in urgent need of accommodation and support. FixASB does not treat homelessness itself as anti-social behaviour, and we do not want people to be stigmatised simply because they are homeless.
But that does not mean every form of behaviour associated with street homelessness should simply be tolerated.
Persistent or aggressive begging, obstruction of pavements and business entrances, public drug use, street drinking, intimidation, human waste, significant litter, threatening behaviour and persistent encampments can all have a serious impact on the public realm.
Those impacts are real - and where homelessness features there is an individual without a home at the centre.
A business should not be expected to accept repeated obstruction of its entrance. A wheelchair user should not have to enter the road because a pavement is blocked. Parents should not have to navigate drug use, discarded waste or intimidating behaviour on the school run. Residents should not be told that feeling unsafe in their own neighbourhood is somehow an illegitimate concern.
Compassion requires us to recognise the dignity and needs of people who are homeless. But recognising the dignity and needs of people should also extend to everyone else who has to share the same streets and public spaces.
Nor is it compassionate to allow serious problems to continue indefinitely.
Leaving someone to sleep in a doorway night after night, beg aggressively, become caught up in public drug use or remain in an unsafe encampment is not a kindness. In some circumstances, failing to intervene can simply mean leaving vulnerable people in dangerous and degrading situations while the surrounding community is expected to absorb the consequences.
The better approach is compassion backed by practical support - and, where necessary, proportionate enforcement.
Where homelessness is identified as part of a report, FixASB will endeavour to make appropriate referrals to organisations that provide homelessness outreach, accommodation advice, substance misuse services and other forms of support. Councils, outreach teams, charities, police, landowners, transport operators and health services may all have a part to play.
But support and enforcement are not opposites.
Outreach may be the right first response. Enforcement may sometimes be necessary where support fails or is rejected. In many cases, the most effective response will involve both: a genuine offer of help combined with clear expectations about behaviour in shared public spaces.
FixASB also moderates reports carefully. Reports should focus on the behaviour, location and impact of an issue rather than unnecessarily identifying, humiliating or speculating about individuals.
Our aim is simple: public spaces should be safe, accessible and welcoming, while people in crisis should be treated with humanity and offered a route towards help.
It's our view that order without compassion can become harsh - but compassion without effective action can become neglect.
That's why we take the approach we do.
If you work for a homelessness charity, outreach team, faith group, community organisation or other service helping people who are homeless or sleeping rough, we invite you to add your organisation to the FixASB Get Involved directory - to help raise awareness of your cause and to allow local people who want to help tackle these issues to get involved.
The more effectively we can connect reports of persistent street problems with organisations capable of helping - while supporting appropriate action where it is needed - the better the outcome for everyone.