I genuinely love Christmas, I really do. Even at the age of 23 when the magic of Christmas has somewhat faded over time due to the very real issue of affordable gifts, being able to afford petrol and the biting cold that is forcing my car to an early grave, I still love the whole atmosphere of spending it with the people I love.
But this is also the time of year when too many are left out in the cold, quite literally, in fact. The number of homeless people in the UK & Ireland has risen in the last 12 months, due to the economic downturn pushing the price of heating up through the roof and the number of jobs dropping through the floor.
The number of homeless people in Northern Ireland is no different, and the statistics speak for themselves.
There are thousands of people classed as homeless across the province, with the majority of cases in the larger cities of Belfast, Derry and Newry.
It is a sick, sad reflection on the state of the current NI Executive when we are able to fund the MTV Awards but we are unable to house our own citizens. I understand the need to move forward, for change and for progress, but how can we call ourselves a civilized, peaceful society when hundreds of people living within our own cities face the grim prospects of going hungry over Christmas, or dying from exposure. I myself have experienced homelessness for a short spell back in the early months of 2009. While I was fortunate enough to have a close friend take me in after a few days, those nights were freezing cold, I was hungry, I was scared and I was on my own.The one thing that kept running through my head was the thought that "This can't have happened to me. Definitely not me."
It wasn't through alcoholism, drug abuse, criminal behavior or faulting on my rent, as most would expect. All too often are the homeless seen as society's mistake, as an inconvenient reminder of a crumbling economy, spiraling national debt and crippling fuel shortage. Believe me when I say this, the issue of homelessness isn't going to go away any time soon, the numbers are on the rise as banks fail, the Tories implement more severe cuts to our public sector and the number of jobless becomes insurmountable.
The number of derelict houses in NI is shocking compared to the number of new developments being built and remaining unsold due to the economic downturn. Couldn't we repair these old houses and shelter those that need it? The UK can afford £41 million for the closing ceremony of the Olympic games but we cannot house the homeless? Sometimes I am ashamed to say that I live in a society where this kind of institutionalized insanity is the accepted norm. We need to do something to help those around us in need, to reach out the hand of friendship and understand that this problem affects us all.
It can happen to anyone.
The video below demonstrates a number of rather shocking and heartbreaking statistics around homelessness in the UK:
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But this is also the time of year when too many are left out in the cold, quite literally, in fact. The number of homeless people in the UK & Ireland has risen in the last 12 months, due to the economic downturn pushing the price of heating up through the roof and the number of jobs dropping through the floor.
The number of homeless people in Northern Ireland is no different, and the statistics speak for themselves.
There are thousands of people classed as homeless across the province, with the majority of cases in the larger cities of Belfast, Derry and Newry.
It is a sick, sad reflection on the state of the current NI Executive when we are able to fund the MTV Awards but we are unable to house our own citizens. I understand the need to move forward, for change and for progress, but how can we call ourselves a civilized, peaceful society when hundreds of people living within our own cities face the grim prospects of going hungry over Christmas, or dying from exposure. I myself have experienced homelessness for a short spell back in the early months of 2009. While I was fortunate enough to have a close friend take me in after a few days, those nights were freezing cold, I was hungry, I was scared and I was on my own.The one thing that kept running through my head was the thought that "This can't have happened to me. Definitely not me."
It wasn't through alcoholism, drug abuse, criminal behavior or faulting on my rent, as most would expect. All too often are the homeless seen as society's mistake, as an inconvenient reminder of a crumbling economy, spiraling national debt and crippling fuel shortage. Believe me when I say this, the issue of homelessness isn't going to go away any time soon, the numbers are on the rise as banks fail, the Tories implement more severe cuts to our public sector and the number of jobless becomes insurmountable.
The number of derelict houses in NI is shocking compared to the number of new developments being built and remaining unsold due to the economic downturn. Couldn't we repair these old houses and shelter those that need it? The UK can afford £41 million for the closing ceremony of the Olympic games but we cannot house the homeless? Sometimes I am ashamed to say that I live in a society where this kind of institutionalized insanity is the accepted norm. We need to do something to help those around us in need, to reach out the hand of friendship and understand that this problem affects us all.
It can happen to anyone.
The video below demonstrates a number of rather shocking and heartbreaking statistics around homelessness in the UK:
There are a number of charities in Northern Ireland that offer support and outrach work to those in need of shelter and food this Christmas and all year round. The Simon Community does some incredible work within the homeless community in NI, as does Combating Homelessness NI. This Christmas, please remember those that are unable to spend it with their loved ones, who are unable to eat or keep warm or have a bed to sleep at night. Please remember that it could happen to anyone, even you.
