Writing Prompt Open To The World.

When Can We Start Trying To Solve All The Important Issues That Matter?

Race. Food Shortages. Homelessness.

Whilst I am fully supportive of the “Black Lives Matter” movement and the opportunities moving forward for change that without a doubt needs to be implemented.

I want to raise awareness of two issues that are still ongoing and I feel strongly that this needs to be re-addressed.

Homelessness.

In the United Kingdom, the housing crisis of the new decade is something that the government and various departments within councils and senates of the countries which make up Great Britain seem to have buried their heads in the sand.

It’s glaringly obvious that to use the ignorance analogy of “well we can’t see any progress because of the pandemic”. Is at best lame. The evasiveness of the officials in power is shameful.

The top four causes of homelessness among unaccompanied individuals were (1) lack of affordable housing, (2) unemployment, (3) poverty, (4) mental illness and the lack of needed services, and (5) substance abuse and the lack of needed services.

Statistics in this paragraph above courtesy of nlchp.org.

Here are some statistics:

An estimated 320,000 people are homeless in the UK, according to the latest research by Shelter. This equates to one in every 201 Brits and was an increase of four per cent on the previous year’s number.

As of March 2019, 84,740 households are stuck in temporary accommodation, up more than 75 per cent since December 2010, where the use of B&Bs and hotels to put up hard-up families hit its lowest point since 2004. Shockingly, Shelter estimate there will be 135,000 children living in temporary accommodation by Christmas 2019.

Rough sleepers are just the visible tip of the iceberg when it comes to registering and understanding the homelessness crisis. The widening net of poverty and the breakdown of mental health provision means numbers are growing. Between 4,000 and 5,000 people bed down on the streets on any given night, a figure that has almost doubled since 2010.

Christmas sees homelessness get increased airtime, but for rough sleepers, the struggle is all year round. Here’s what you should do if you see someone sleeping rough

December 4, 2019

By The Big Issue@BigIssue

An estimated 320,000 people are homeless in the UK, according to the latest research by Shelter. This equates to one in every 201 Brits and was an increase of four per cent on the previous year’s number.

Rough sleepers are just the visible tip of the iceberg when it comes to registering and understanding the homelessness crisis. The widening net of poverty and the breakdown of mental health provision means numbers are growing. Between 4,000 and 5,000 people bed down on the streets on any given night, a figure that has almost doubled since 2010.

As of March 2019, 84,740 households are stuck in temporary accommodation, up more than 75 per cent since December 2010, where the use of B&Bs and hotels to put up hard-up families hit its lowest point since 2004. Shockingly, Shelter estimate there will be 135,000 children living in temporary accommodation by Christmas 2019.

RECOMMENDED…John Bird: Homelessness is not just for Christmas

Besides, there is an uncertain number of ‘hidden homeless’ who are unknown to authorities, staying with relatives or friends, sofa surfing or sleeping in cars or the countryside — places official counts don’t cover.

It’s a national disgrace and the chorus of voices calling for real action on every level is growing louder every day.

There has been a renewed focus on homelessness this year. People are talking about it, taking part in charity fundraisers and moving it up the political agenda — and it is no surprise. As common a sight as Christmas shoppers on our high streets is rough sleepers huddled in doorways across the country.

However, this is NOT just a Christmas issue.

An estimated 726 people died while homeless in England and Wales in 2018. This was up 22% on the previous year — the highest year-to-year rise since this data began being collected. The average age was 45 years old for men and 43 years old for homeless women — compared to 76 years old and 81 years old for the wider population.

For 28 years The Big Issue has been on the frontline offering a way out, and one of the best things you can do is to buy this magazine every week, take your copy and support your vendor as they work hard to earn their way out of the poverty trap.

Statistics and Information courtesy of Big Issue.com.

I have written about the current housing crisis in an article that I published earlier this year. The link is below.

Whilst I am not naive enough to expect a metaphorical magic wand to be waved at this time or expect instantaneous change.

The facts remain even though we live in a modern world of great technology and great philosophers of invention and cure.

We still can’t seem to find a solution to this major issue.

Above is an article from the United Nations. Its the main figure we need to think about is 1.6 billion people globally are homeless or living in the equivalent state.

I find that a staggering amount.

Think about it for 30 seconds. I did and it’s unbelievably deep and meaningful to me.

We must find a solution nationally and globally.

How can you expect a human being to be safe and prosper when they can’t even find somewhere to call home.

Food Shortages.

We are all entitled to basic food ingredients and clean water in my opinion.

How we as a nation and also globally as human beings on earth fail to achieve this is an absolute disgrace.

Final Report on Food Security.pdf

Above is a report from human future.net it details and highlights the importance of food and it is at the heart of our future.

I have written an article previously about the strain on our food banks in the United Kingdom.

I also put forward an idea of everyone in our country pledging 10 pence per week to help create a sustainable community food source. The link for my article is below.

I wish with all my heart that someone who has a place in the government or political departments will maybe take the time to read this piece of content and the content I have already mentioned.

Surely there’s a way to get a better outlook and outcome than the one we currently seem to have to forcefully accept.

Race.

I want to finish this article by again saying that I believe in the “Black Lives Matter” movement and I believe change needs to be implemented on a national and global level.

In the United Kingdom, there have been four public reviews surrounding the inequality and treatment of B.A.M.E groups. Subsequently, I have found little or none of the issues raised changed or anything that stands out as progressive.

I feel the approach to this whole situation needs to be erased and a new pro-active approach needs to be embedded in our culture moving forward.

I sincerely hope that this is implemented because so far the things that have been in place before clearly don’t work.

This is the case on a national and global level.

Permanent change is imperative.

I have raised these topics for you to think about and discuss, hopefully, to write about and to keep raising awareness.

I would like to add this prompt to Timothy Key July writing challenge.

I encourage you to read his daily update on tips and writing prompts.

I am also going to tag some writers into this challenge. Matt Lillywhite Barack Obama Ev Williams Charles Roast Aurora Eliam, CMP Dr Mehmet Yildiz Sylvia Love Johnson Tim Denning Kristin Wilson Steve Campbell Lincoln W Daniel Rasheed Hooda Simona Rahmanova Casey Botticello Luba Sigaud Joe Luca Timothy Key Priya Adrian Drew Anna Aksenovich Mia Verita Typewriter Tej Zulie Rane Wil Wheaton.

Human Beings Matter.

OneTeam. OneDream. Illumination.

Brian Anthony Cumberlidge.