Forum Topic

People Living in Tents on Ealing Common

Two people have been living in two separate tents on Ealing Common since March this year. The Council really need to do something about this. It is unacceptable that in 2022 people are living in tents.

Kevin McGrath ● 1445d14 Comments

There is a real problem, in Ealing.Ealing Green I noticed, plus benches in Bond Street.Is there not a dept especially for such situations as it's a really serious issue?

Simon Wycombe ● 1445d

Maybe they could open up some of the unoccupied and unsold flats in Dickens Yard to them over the winter?

Simon Hayes ● 1445d

There is no need to camp out in a tent, there are various Charities that are only too willing to assist with finding a warm dormitary/room/flat.If people refuse any assistance offered then I'm afraid you can't, and have no right to, just pitch up and live on our High Streets, Parks, Canalsides, etc.

Rosco White ● 1445d

I imagine some of the places these people could get put are worse than pitching up in a tent of sleeping on a bench...

Paul James ● 1444d

It's almost impossible for some people - especially self employed who have not recovered from the loss of covid affected business and then the economy crisis who have not got a leg to stand on when it comes to state support. Many have had their livelihoods wiped out and many have become unheard casualties of the consequences of stress and worry, on top of that theres those who already endured life at the bottom of the pile.Many have lost homes and more.  While the help is actually laced with obstacles and inaccessibility.Not good.

Raymond Havelock ● 1444d

And some are just lazy, good for nothings who could get a job if they stopped smoking, washed and shaved. Harsh, but true.

Simon Wycombe ● 1444d

Vey few meet that bill. When I was fitter I used to help out at the lunches for Hanwell Homeless Concern and the stories, once you broke down the barriers and actually got talking to those attending, were invariably harrowing. I can only think of one attendee who had no fixed abode by choice. Many had jobs, most either casual, menial or on minimum wage and were caught in the no address, no stability, no prospects vicious spiral.

N V Brooks ● 1444d

Those enduring bare existence in this society cannot be described as lazy. If you were lazy would you want to live in a tent and wander the streets looking for something to eat or sleep?There are those who are lazy and those who get a lot of help in playing the system to the nth degree. Put nothing into the pot if ever. As deft at playing the system as high earning tax evaders.  But you won't find them in this predicament.And it is true, whilst one or two do this by choice, most have simply come a cropper through a series of calamities with no safety net and caught in a spiral.

Raymond Havelock ● 1443d

Fine so don't sit there smoking, then.

Simon Wycombe ● 1441d

Thank you Kevin for raising this issue - one of the "rough sleepers" on the Common has been there since at least 20 March 2022 (I have photographic evidence!).  Despite several attempts to get the Council and our Ward Councillors to act on this, to at least show some care and compassion to those in the tents (even if they want to ignore the public health and safety concerns of residents and those using the Common), the situation remains unresolved.

Jo Bond ● 1441d

Trouble is it suits the councillors and authorities as it wins votes.The usual " We're working hard with our partners to ...blah blah blah! The it always becomes and issue caused by central govt and funding.Bend it a bit and bingo! wins votes.  And it's far less bother than actually really helping these people positively and effectively.

Raymond Havelock ● 1441d

Two in tents?Best chill out then and de-stress then.....I hear the same rhetoric about the homeless all the time as mentioned above, ie tragic stories.Yes, undoubtably there are tragic stories but, having worked in a sister hostel to St Mungos in Soho I see a different side. Many will let you think they've properly suffered and give you a story whereas in fact the addiction has gripped so tight that the devious side of your character takes hold. Where once you party'd and thought you were King or Queen of the world -- now you'll say anything to get an angle, you've learnt that sad and forlorn look.I stress the word "many" -- it is not all and that's the difficulty.Matters not how they've ended up where they have, equally sad. however in a society where the lines of decency have been blurred to nothing I'm not surprised.

Colin Goodman ● 1440d

I'm so glad that I quit smoking because, by that logic, I should be in a bivouac in Elthorne Park.  Compassion bypass in evidence?

N V Brooks ● 1440d

Either way, is there not a dept @ LBE set up for this?It's a bigger problem, in my view, than LTN's but has no-one dealing with it as far as I understand?Perhaps they can be housed in these far too prevalent 'towers'?Like you can Council Tax, Report an abandoned vehicle  etc, you should be able to click  on 'Homelessness in Ealing' Dept  on the portal.

Simon Wycombe ● 1440d