Recently, my mind has been returning to my past. If I mentioned this to my two sons, they would immediately assume that I was entering my dotage. I have, however, been reflecting on the times I worked with the homeless in West Bromwich and Birmingham. The following is from a collection of my experiences with them.

I have worked with young people, mainly females who have suffered horrific abuse at home, usually from someone who is supposed to love and nurture them as they grow into adults. This abuse becomes a part of their childhood and unless they can manage to break free, they are condemned to suffer it, usually in silence. It takes tremendous courage for an abused person to make a conscious decision to break free. This will involve them leaving home, with very little in the way of possessions or money. The fortunate ones will find their way to a hostel where they can for a time 'relax' and take the first steps eventually towards rebuilding their shattered lives. The unfortunate ones will end up wandering the streets and living in cardboard boxes, where their vulnerability will be plain for all to see.

Why is it that there are never enough resources to deal adequately and compassionately with those who for their own personal safety have to leave home and face yet more dangers on the streets? Is our society really that uncaring, do we shrug the problem off and blame the politicians? We all read of cases of abuse and cruelty in the papers, the stories of the street drifters, yes our reaction is that someone needs to do something and quick! The problem is that very often that someone is not you or I. There are not enough good Samaritans to go round! I can guarantee that the majority of us have, at some time, passed by on the other side and ignored the problems on the opposite side of the street.

My work with the West Bromwich Food Bank has given me contact with those in our society who are marginalised, the homeless, the families and individuals caught up in the poverty cycle, the women and children facing domestic abuse, the list is endless.

I believe that we as society should do everything we can to improve the quality of life of those who very often through no fault of their own end up facing horrific situations and have no idea what to do. It's no longer an option to pass by on the other side of the street!