Homelessness is a disease, not in the usual sense of bad cells or infectious bacteria but a disease of society. It is a cancer that has the ability to affect each and every one of us. For 18 months, I was misdiagnosed with a very serious medical condition.  

Medication was thrown at me in various forms which merely bandaged up the symptoms whilst the primary cause remained hidden. Homelessness is like this. Local governments see the issues and then throw solutions at each problem in insufficient amounts.  

With support here, relief there and whilst they are effective in the short term to a great many individuals, the insidious nature of the root problems keep on spreading silently and mercilessly, causing further issues later on. Further interventions are needed. 

Governments at all levels need to proactively tackle the problem at the base level and create a permanent cure. I’m not asking the government to pull the proverbial rabbit out of the black hat, but instead listen to those people who have been and still are negatively affected by the current policies in place.  

Equally, and I’ll finish with this, don’t ask if someone can or can’t do something. Ask yourself how it can be done and then allow your voice to be heard.