Response to homeless man sleeping outside McDonalds

This week a video circulated on social media that seemed to show a homeless man sitting outside a fast food restaurant receiving abuse. The Salvation Army urges us all to have compassion for those forced to sleep rough. 

The Salvation Army’s Lieut-Colonel Dean Pallant said: “Those forced to sleep rough are some of the most vulnerable people in our society. They deserve compassion and understanding, even more so at this time of year. 

“Nobody chooses a life on the street, which puts them at high risk of hunger, illness and injury but thousands of people have nowhere else to go because homelessness laws don’t consider their situation to be desperate enough for temporary accommodation. We are trying to help as many people as possible survive another day by providing emergency help such as hot food, warm clothing and blankets but to do this we rely on donations and we are appealing for public help . 

But what people sleeping rough desperately need, and deserve, is a home. Unless the Government changes the law to make housing people sleeping rough a priority and ensure local authorities have the funding and guidance they need to deliver this, people will continue to suffer on the streets.

The Salvation Army works in over 600 locations across the UK to meet the needs of local communities. Visit www.salvationarmy.org.uk/map-page to locate your local Salvation Army to find out how you can support their work helping people who are homeless. 

If you are concerned about the safety of someone sleeping rough, you can contact www.streetlink.org.uk who will alert their local council’s outreach team.”