Homeless charities refute John Bird's hostel claims

Controversial claims that hostels are 'drip-feeding the decline of individuals' have been dismissed by a leading homeless organisation.

Co-founder of the Big Issue, John Bird, has slammed the manner in which the Government and charities are treating the homelessness problem.

Mr Bird has written a hard-hitting article in a national newspaper ahead of his Channel 4 documentary tonight (Friday), which is being screened at 7.30pm.

But Mr Bird's views on hostels and services have been challenged by Thames Reach chief executive Jeremy Swain.

Mr Swain has described Mr Bird's comments as 'derogatory towards homeless people' and labelled the Big Issue founder's views on services as 'reckless diatribe'.

Mr Bird claimed: "The system isn't curing anything. At best it's masking the real nature and extent of the problem. The majority of hostels can deal with whatever crisis has brought another person through their doors.

"That crisis dissipates, the homeless person moves towards coping, they are placed in their own unsupported housing and, in a way, they return to society. On paper this counts as a 'cure'. It is anything but."

"What nobody wants to acknowledge is that 90 per cent of people in and around homelessness have drink and drug problems. 

"And 90 per cent of that figure are people who cannot control it. The people who are homeless through addiction are feckless, unstable, unreliable, incapable of holding down a job, feeding themselves or cleaning themselves."

"The whole liberal, supportive system as it stands is just wrong. It's the road to hell paved with good intentions and the flood of well-meaning ignorance that sprang up 40 years ago with the screening of Cathy Come Home.

"Mental illness doesn't account for 100 per cent of the homeless problem. But it accounts for the vast majority of it."

Thames Reach helps homeless and vulnerable people to live in decent homes, build supportive relationships and lead fulfilling lives.

The organisation supports people with experience of homelessness as well as vulnerable or isolated men and women who may be in danger of becoming homeless.

Mr Swain said: "John doesn't run any hostels and he doesn't deliver a service. What we do is help people to get back on their feet and off the streets. We help them move to a flat and we help them get back into jobs. Some of the individuals even go on to work for Thames Reach.

"So we have ex-homeless people, earning £24,000 a year and working for Thames Reach. It doesn't give weight to John Bird's claims that 95% of homeless people have mental health problems.

"There is a large figure of homeless people with a mental health problem, but I have never heard a figure that high."

Thames Reach specialises in helping people with complex and multiple needs, including mental health issues and drug and alcohol problems.

Mr Swain said: "Hostels do preventative work. We support people in flats in the community in bulk. Many things are done to prevent homelessness – like crisis intervention and intervention. 

He added: "John Bird does make some interesting points, but his views on how services are run, can roughly be defined as 'reckless diatribe'."

Shelter chief executive, Adam Sampson, has also spoken out ahead of the Channel 4 documentary.

Mr Sampson said: "John Bird is right to point out that the majority of street homeless people don't get the support they need to tackle mental illness or drug and alcohol addiction, but forcing them to accept institutional treatment is both excessive and simply will not work.  

"These are complex issues and there is no simple solution. However providing a stable, affordable home, combined with support to sustain these homes and immediate access to addiction treatment services, is absolutely crucial in helping these people recover, get off the streets and re-build their lives.

"If the Government is serious about tackling street homelessness it must ensure effective joint working between agencies and stop cutting the Supporting People funding that provides housing support for vulnerable people."