BEHIND THE SCENE
This site is without denominational or political borders. For families of all ages.
Backstage is about another side to the street -
action and art that happens in real life. Street life has a way of it's own - alway has - from times we don't remember very well.
As well as our news and views from a friendly viewpoint we have a mission
Help homeless to get homes & work they like to do.
The scene at the centre of London has glitz and buzz.
But wait - what are all those homeless people doing here ? sleeping rough, selling the Big issue and just
begging ? Clearly they gravitate to a place where spare change is more readily given to them.
Behind the scenes are projects and human stories - about who's doing what about the homeless issue, including government agencies and local businesses.
More to the point what are the homeless able to do
for themselves? - not a lot - this is perceived as a problem for social workers.
GETTING A JOB
Nowadays - you can't always tell a character from the shoes. Are appearances everything? They are if you are looking for work.
"They tell you to go and get a job – but you got to get an address and phone and shoes before even thinking about it. My mate got that far - he has a wife and and a little boy - then he spent a week digging concrete in a basement and laying rockwool in a loft and ended up with a bad cough and less money than people give him before"
"To get a job you gotta want a job. Look at me - who's going to give me a job?"
There is plenty of work available in the 'Homelessness Sector' but people don't advertise jobs for homeless.
Finding a job in the first 'Great Depression'
These guys really wanted work - any job was better than the stress and boredom and the bread line.
Photo
by Robert Holden
This could be where to find a job - where do you begin? Anyone up for showing a couple of fellas the ropes? It's easier when you know how.
See the FAQ for details of the competition.
Have a go - cool prizes coming soon to start it off.
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How do people get to be homeless? One Big issue
vendor I spoke to had a house, a job and a family.
Heost his job because he was redundant in a firm that
could not afford the wages any more. He lost his
house soon after that - his wife and daughter are living
with her mum in Scotland. He collects enough for
hostel and eats free sandwiches - mostly from Pret
and he saves as well. by the end of the year he
hopes to have a flat. Even so at the hostel he hears
all the worst news - like how long some other families
have been waiting. He doesn't drink, smoke - keeps
clean keeps smiling. Why can't he get a job?.
"If I spend time looking that's a day, if I get an
interview that's another day and travel. Just try and it
costs you. One man asked me why have you been
out of work so long? - what do you say to that?"
finding a job from
the street in the
Great Now depression -
"Yeah - nice never tried it. No time - it's full on getting
enough for basics. People spend for ever in there"
(we
re-typed the handwritten ad for clarity)
"Yeah - nice never tried it. No time - it's full on getting
enough for basics. People spend for ever in there"
Excuse me - Sir or
Madam
(sorry to interrupt but...)
can we interest you
in some lovely postcards
of the Great 3D Map??
(sorry to interrupt but...)
can we interest you
in some lovely postcards
of the Great 3D Map??
