[truncheon]

Visibility.

Most people imagine that if they lose their homes, the fate that awaits them is the one they step over each morning on their way to work.

Most people don't have contingency plans, should they find themselves out of a job, and evicted from their residence, with no family or friends to assist with temporary resources.

[Symbiote]

In the Netherlands, I'd assume most people make the same assumption as I would in Britain:

If I lose my home, and have no savings or sufficient income, the local government will provide accommodation. At short notice, for a single male, that's likely to be a pretty grim hostel, but it exists.

Example: https://www.richmond.gov.uk/if_you_are_homeless

Advice about this from a charity: http://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/homelessness/gu...

So, following the charity's advice, it might not be true that the local government would provide help -- but that would still be most people's assumption.

[smcl]

I put myself in the shoes of a homeless person for a few minutes while looking at that site for Richmond. They require you to bring both "Proof of homelessness" and "Proof of residence". I don't know what the first one might be, and the second seems to contradict the first (unless "residence" == "right to remain in the UK"?). In any case, I think i'm ill-equipped to be a homeless person, and looking outside at the snow falling I'm appreciating how lucky I am that this isn't an issue I have to deal with right now. Just remembered a local bar/restaurant lets you pay a little extra on top of your bill to fund a dinner for the homeless, I'm making a note to do that next time I'm in.

Note: the first part wasn't a criticism of the site, just a little bit of reflection. I'm actually impressed they have such some sort of information/guidance available

[Symbiote]

I think proof of residence means proof of a link to Richmond, otherwise it is some other council district that is responsible.

The proof of homelessness might be an eviction notice? I have no more experience than you in this matter.

[smcl]

Ahhh makes sense

[misja111]

These hostels exist in Amsterdam as well but they charge a small fee for spending the night there, something like 5 euro. There are programs to provide longer term housing for homeless who are willing to cooperate, but in the short term some homeless really have to beg money in the streets to get access to a shelter.

Most homeless people in Amsterdam however have psychological and/ or drug problems that make it impossible for them to live in a home or in a shelter.

[dazc]

I have seen some of these hostels in the UK and they are definitely not the kind of place you'd want to live. As a single male with no issues you're certainly not guaranteed to get a place either.

Another problem is people coming from different areas, say from North to South, who are just offered a bus ticket back there.

That said, in the UK at least, if you have no income you'll get the same level of cash benefit as anyone else so there is absolutely no need to be begging for money. Those that do either have a dependency problem or are just scamming.