Last November I wrote about life on the mean streets of West Bromwich and introiduced you to Alan, a 64 year old who was on the streets, nowhere to live and totally isolated. He was beaten up a few times, his benefits were stolen. Alan had other problems, he liked a drink and would sometimes sell his giro for a bottle of cider and a few quid. At one point, social services were involved but because Alan did not make appointments they eventually closed his case.
We, (the West Bromwich Food Bank) tried to help Alan, we fed him at various times and attempted to talk him into getting help and support so that he could get off the streets. We failed, and did not see him again.
Recently his friend John came to our offices and informed us that Alan had died in a bus shelter, still on the streets, still alone.
Although we tried to help him and he refused that help there is always the lingering doubt that we could have done more. Is it an indictment of our society that in 2009 there are still people without homes, without support and without hope?
In the course of my work I see many people who are in crisis often due to no fault of their own. The 'system' has let them down and because the system is rigid and cannot think outside the box it has created for itself, the misery is compounded and drags on and on, to the detriment of those it is supposed to help.
We have a lot to answer for!
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