The town where a new beggar appears every week and things 'getting worse'
This is the town where a new beggar appears every week and things are ‘just getting worse’, according to locals.
From cup rattlers outside supermarkets to the lone beggar outside restaurants and busy marketplaces, Bolton, like many English towns, has seen its fair share of beggars.
But locals say begging has increased in recent months and worry it’s a sign of the times. Angela Hunt was strolling through the town centre when she said she saw four different people sat outside the supermarket throughout the day.
Ron Hunt, 75 with wife Angela Hunt, 60 (Paige Oldfield)“I feel sorry for them because they’re friendly. One of them said 'it’s just getting worse',” she told the Manchester Evening News. Bolton council says it offers comprehensive cost-of-living support and guidance to homeless people and has outreach teams who visit hotspots on a daily basis.
They encourage anyone who can help to support local initiative Hope for Change rather than give money to people directly. The council also believes the “majority” of beggars have somewhere to live but may be dealing with mental health issues or addiction. Homeless charities say the two are linked.
London flat for rent for £1,400 a month with bed tucked away in kitchen cupboard
In England, the number of rough sleepers has increased. According to the Manchester Evening News, recent data shows there were 7,236 people estimated to be sleeping rough over the month of June 2023 – a massive 30 per cent increase compared to last year. Meanwhile, the number of households living in temporary accommodation in England are also at an all-time high. As of March 2023, 104,510 households were living in temporary accommodation - including 65,000 households with children.
Bolton council says its outreach teams are on the streets every day (Manchester Evening News)Angela and her husband Ron are also feeling the pinch. The Great Level couple say they’ve had to cut back on everything to pay their utility bills, and there are times where the pressure leaves Angela in tears. She told the Manchester Evening News: “Some days it just drives me up the wall. Sometimes I sit down crying my eyes out. It’s awful. We’re struggling. I’m only on PIP; I get £270 a month. How am I meant to survive? I can’t see it getting better anytime soon, it’s dragged on for too long.”
Ted Casey said he helps where he can, adding: “If people come up to me asking if I’ve got any change, I can’t say no. If they’re homeless, I want to help. My heart bleeds for the people who are genuinely homeless.” Dad-of-six William Warren, 62, believes the rise in shoplifting is related to more people becoming desperate. He said: “It’s very expensive. There are too many homeless people. There’s more begging, there’s more shoplifting, there are more people on the streets.”
Rick Henderson, chief executive of Homeless Link, believes people are being let down by the system that is meant to protect them and are being forced into the streets. He said the current financial climate means hundreds of homelessness services across the country are on the brink of collapse, risking leaving the homeless with nowhere to turn to.
Crisis chief executive Matt Downie is concerned about legal crackdowns on begging following the government’s Anti-Social Behaviours Action Plan, which might disproportionately impact vulnerable groups and push people to the fringes of society. He said: “Criminalising people who are sleeping rough or begging is not the answer to tackling rough sleeping which the government knows full well.
Locals say begging has become a sign of the times (Manchester Evening News)"The real focus should be supporting people into safe accommodation, so they can rebuild their lives away from the streets. Instead of focusing on punitive measures, the Westminster government should get on with building more truly affordable housing, providing wraparound support services and investing in housing benefit so people can pay their rent. Taking these steps would ensure we can end rough sleeping for good.”
Bolton council said its teams are on the street every day offering shelter and support. A council spokesperson said: “While the national and local picture remains challenging, we have an offer of support and an offer of accommodation for everyone willing to accept it. Our outreach teams are out every day making that offer.”
On begging, the authority added: “The council has a team of officers who engage directly with those begging in the town centre, offering guidance and directing people to support services. We do know that the majority of people who beg in Bolton town centre have somewhere to live but may instead be dealing with other issues such as addiction or mental health problems.
“Rather than giving money directly, the public are encouraged to donate to Hope for Change, a local initiative which funds charities providing vital frontline services. The council has also worked closely with partners across the borough to develop comprehensive cost-of-living support and guidance, covering housing, energy bills, financial advice, and more.”
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