Homeless people and drugs problem outside St John's church, Waterloo

I used to live down the bull ring 20 years ago.. I lived with these people in their boxes down there, in doorways, in squats etcetera... I had problems with a few of them.. they arn't all nice people but hopefully those real problems will stay forever hidden to the general public, as I'm sure your dirty laudndry stays private to you.

The guys who sit out side begging & drinking & learing are a bunch of people, real people, who have had some deadly traumatic crises in their lives.

Things most of you wouldn't even begin to understand if they tried to tell you.. Things the authorities, and the church (by the church I mean quite specifically St JOhns) & all your organisations wash their hands of. Thats why we were all down there.. because we just could not be helped, until we were understoood.

I know of their problems. But I also know of their successes ~ the way they reached out to me time & time again no matter what geezer I had got hooked up with was smashing my face in again.. Or the time I tried to overdose ~ yup guess who saved me then too.. or the time I got burgled of everything.. who made sure I would get through the week.. Or the time I had a breakdown.. Who was there? The lads from the bulling were, thats who!

So 20 years on & I'm happy & clean & dry & working & made a succsess of myself.. 50% thanks to the lads & 50% thanks to me!!

Yes they are a bit OTT & leary when drunk, which is often always, but they'd be upset to know they are scaring you or offending you. These guys are not animals.. they are safe to feed.. reach out to them with a bit of humanity, or humour even & you may get nicely surprised.

you are dead right sazzyd thank you for saying that, theres' such a problem in our society of fear, and i reckon the reason people are scared of these people is similar to the reason i'm scared of cows. we know we're not doing right by them. see thing is, the cows aren't out to get me and nor are the people, it's my own guilt/. but it is not neccessarry, all things grow with love. treat your fellow human being better.

If you think the constant anti-social behaviour is ok,perhaps they could move in with you andy.concern for others welfare does not mean we should suffer the abuse and intimidation on a daily and nightly basis,next time cook them chips at your house and god help the neighbours.these places such as st,johns and mungos only facilitate this anarchy.

nonesomuch, what a simple and great comparison!

timothy, I see you've joined today and left your 'personality' on the forum. Either you are a really rubbish troll- boring in fact, or you really mean what you say, in which case you've amused me no end. I love cartoons!

my son is one of those homeless people he has a disability for which he was bullied big time as a child and therefore ran of when he was older, i have been there several times to look for him as the police told me he was spotted in the area but sadly i didnt find him as for hostels he wouldnt know how to approach them i dont think as hes very wary of places like that hes 19 and has the mind of a ten year old if i thought i could find him i would go there again then there would be one less ...i can understand it must be intimidating for people all the homeless hanging round there is nothing id like mor than to have m son back home ...good post by the way

Oh Marcia, you must be heartbroken and terrified for his safety, how sad...As I have said before no one chooses to be completely homeless but life and circumstances dont always go the way we would like it to, and if they want to spend their money on something that helps them forget the doorway and the cold, who are we to judge?

Please God may you find him soon..xx

i've only just seen it but what a thought-provoking and insightful speech by Sazzyd

marcia wrote:

my son is one of those homeless people he has a disability for which he was bullied big time as a child and therefore ran of when he was older, i have been there several times to look for him as the police told me he was spotted in the area but sadly i didnt find him as for hostels he wouldnt know how to approach them i dont think as hes very wary of places like that hes 19 and has the mind of a ten year old if i thought i could find him i would go there again then there would be one less ...i can understand it must be intimidating for people all the homeless hanging round there is nothing id like mor than to have m son back home ...good post by the way

Here is a photo of Marcia's son, Joe:

Marcia I do hope you hear from him soon, and that he's safe and well.

many thanks to the kind gentleman who helped me put this pic of joe on here, if anyone does actually see him around that area please ask him to get in touch with me tell him there is a warm place in our home and hearts waiting for him ....thank you