Understanding Our Attitudes Towards the Homeless

My latest novel, Life Beyond the Garden Gate, explores attitudes towards the homeless.

I was motivated to volunteer for a homeless charity, the Bury Drop-in, because I felt empathy towards those sleeping out in freezing and wet weather. I consider that a wealthy country like the UK should be able to eliminate this problem.

The Bury Drop-in: supporting the homeless

Through my work as a befriender at the Drop-in, I have come to understand how these people have fallen on such difficult times. The problem is that they are stuck in the position they are in because there is not enough unconditional support available to get these, often young, people back to work and a life outside social housing.

Prince William’s Homewards Charity

Prince William wants to find a way to end homelessness in the UK in the next five years. The key finding he has made so far is that when someone struggling in life is given a proper home and a support worker with no conditions attached, they are able to overcome mental illness or addiction and get back to normal living.

The cost of this support would be far less than the amount paid out in benefits week after week, year after year: Universal credit and high rent payments – don’t think that social housing is cheap!

I’m hopeful that Prince William will attract government attention to his cause and they will listen eventually.

Life Beyond the Garden Gate

In my novel, I explore the attitudes of a middle-class family in Bury St Edmunds towards a homeless woman, Annie, when she starts to take shelter in their garden shed.

Caroline has some empathy with Annie, and this grows throughout the novel. Her husband, Geoffrey, on the other hand, is shocked and horrified and immediately calls the police.

Annie is an adorable character and as you get to know her it is easy to want the best for her.

This novel will be published at the beginning of May.