SIR – I would just like to say how sorry I feel for S Collins who has to
experience the psychological trauma of seeing unhygienic homeless
people on a daily basis, of which he or she says “ there can be no excuses for the squalid conditions and self-neglect because the homeless
services provide meals, dog food, clean clothing and toiletries”.
I would like to point out to S Collins that a lot of homeless people suffer from mental health problems brought on by many different things such as child abuse or family neglect.
Some of these homeless people are ex-Forces who have seen thing too
horrific to mention fighting for their country then been dumped on the
streets by their country.
Some of the homeless community turn to drugs or alcohol to blank out the vile things they have experienced in their lives.
Some just suffer from mental illness because that is the way they are wired and where do they go for help because mental health treatment is pretty close to non-existent in this country.
So S Collins, next time you see a homeless person who hasn’t washed
or brushed their hair just remember that they may have issues going on
far greater than what you could ever imagine.
JOHN MATTHEWS
Worcester