homeless man near Balham Library Post Reply

[mummy-short-legs]

I pass by the Balham library every day on my way to work and I see a homeless guy who I think has been there since not so long ago. He looks like someone who just doesn't belong on the streets - not that I think that anyone does of course!  - but if you know what I mean, he has the looks of a healthy, educated middle-aged man. He looks like someone who's been possibly living a wealthy life until very recently - he looks sporty and healthy and someone who has been going to the gym perhaps? I wondered if some sort of personal disaster has sent him on the streets.

In the beginning he didn't have many things with him but now seems to have more and more stuff "growing" around him so that is another thing why I think he is "new" on the streets. But, maybe I am wrong and he has been there for a while and I just didn't see him before.

Maybe I am just really naive but I wondered whether we as the community could help him somehow - at least in some way?  I don't want to walk up to him and ask him as I am not courageous enough and I wouldn't know what to say anyway.
 
Any thoughts / ideas ? 

[Beketaten]

You can alert StreetLink about any rough sleepers:

How does it work?

If you are concerned about someone over the age of 18 that you have seen sleeping rough in England or Wales, you can use this website to send an alert to StreetLink.The details you provide are sent to the local authority or outreach service for the area in which you have seen the person, to help them find the individual and connect them to support. It is important to note that if you think the person you are concerned about is under 18 please do not contact StreetLink but instead call the police.

https://www.streetlink.org.uk/StreetLink_HomePage

[Goldhawk]

He has been there for at least 6 mths.  He is usually barefoot.

[rubyonrails]

HAs anyone spoken to this man?

[Goldhawk]

I've not spoken to him but I have confirmed via Streetlink that the Council's outreach team are aware and working with him

[gardenia]

Over the past months, I have had a great deal of pleasure from the garden that this man has been making outside the Balham library porch. This afternoon he was working on the garden, I was so pleased to see that he has added a really beautiful pine tree, which he explained has been brought specially from his original homeland -  the Czech Republic. Lots of people were stopping to compliment him on the garden, and he asked us if we would use the Library feedback forms (which are inside the Library on the wall by the lift) to share our enjoyment in writing. I am sharing this with the Nappy Valley network in the hope that other people will be able to feedback too. 

[Goldhawk]

Are you joking??

The man has repeated dug a large hole which was a hazard to pedestrians
Initially for his guerilla gardening but then he kept digging - not sure why - someone else said he was trying to access the electricity cables to charge his laptop for free

The council/waitrose finally block paved over the hole
Now we have his large planter with a tree