Manic & Taurus

I've been back in Oxford for nearly two years now, after just over a decade's meanderig round this island. One thing that regularly upsets me is the 'attitude' and abuse directed to the many people who, in various ways, attempt to make the lives of the homeless in this city more bearable. I find it pathetic that those with little or no knowlege of provisions for the homeless in other parts of Britain slag off the facilities here. On more than one occasion I've felt obliged to advise folks to f**k off and travel so that they can compare the (admittedly less than perfect) hostels and soup-runs in the city of dreaming spires (or screaming choirs on May morning) with those in other parts of this green and pleasant land.

Birmingham for example has only one hostel place accessable to dog owners. Manchester is the same, and has a specialist police unit who claim to help rough sleepers although this assistance usually involves entrapping and then encarcerating. Dressed in plain clothes they approach their target and make as if to reach into their pocket for change. Should the 'dosser' lift their hand (or sometimes oven their eyes) they will find themselves leant some rather uncomfortable bracelets,accomodated for the night on a wooden bench with thin blue foam mat, and delivered to court. Follow-up care involves being booted out and advised not to be seen on the streets of Manchester again.