DON'T GIVE YOUR MONEY TO BEGGARS

bristol | drugs and crime | news report Thursday November 28, 2002 02:16 by ffwd evil empire

what the fuck?? more shit from our favourite rag...

Nine out of 10 beggars on Bristol's streets have somewhere to sleep at night, according to a survey - and ALL of those interviewed had a hard drugs habit.

The survey was carried out by Streetwise, a campaign launched by Bristol City Council and supported by several agencies, to tackle the beggars' issue in the city.

The campaign is urging shoppers and passers-by not to give beggars money because it will only be spent on drugs.

Instead, people are being urged to help them by using the collection box scheme in Broadmead to make donations to local charities.

Streetwise workers interviewed 140 beggars on the city's streets and found:

Less than 10 per cent of them are currently "street homeless" which means the vast majority have a roof over their heads, even though it might be temporary accommodation such as bed and breakfast.

100 per cent of them had a Class A drug addiction, 95 per cent cent have been convicted of other crimes.

Streetwise workers say there are beggars in Bristol because people give generously and often.

They say: "What many people do not realise is that what they give will be used to buy drugs - and could potentially end a life prematurely."

The campaign is helping beggars to end their vicious circle of no home and no job and a dependency on drugs.

Bristol city councillor and cabinet member Claire Cook said:

"Thanks to all our partners, Streetwise is making good progress.

"There is still the potential to help many more people but we need the backing of the Bristol public.

"I urge people who want to give to use the collection box scheme in Broadmead.

"That way, the money goes to local charities to help people who beg to move away from a life of drugs and to sustain a life away from the streets."

Bristol has already earned a nationwide reputation for dealing with the homeless under the Rough Sleepers' Initiative.

The city was the first in the country - outside London - to win £7 million in government funding to help the homeless.

This funding followed street counts of the number of people sleeping rough.

The figure stood at more than 80 a few years ago but had dropped to 21 in May this year.

A chance to change my life CHRISTINE, aged 31, used to be a familiar sight on the city's streets, begging for money.

But Streetwise has helped her to turn her life around.

She said: "Streetwise has given me the chance to get help and change my life.

"It has helped me to get a methadone script which will help me to break my drug habit.

"I want to stay clean. I'll need help to do that and find something new to do during the day.

"I got involved with drugs and I needed money to support my drug habit.

"I lost my children and became depressed - I still suffer from depression.

"I want to stay drug free and then to get re-housed and see my children."