Homeless man sings

Dr Dana Beale suspects the woman sitting in front of her has bowel cancer. She’s already complained of pain and bleeding when she goes to the toilet and Beale, a GP, has referred her for a hospital appointment. The woman is glad but also hesitant and asks whether she might have to pay for the appointment. Beale says yes. The woman starts to cry. She is Roma and is in the UK alone, living rough on the streets of Westminster after she was lured here by a man promising work. She is destitute and doesn’t speak English; Beale is communicating with her using a telephone interpreting service. Beale worries the woman is at risk of being exploited as a slave, like some of her other patients. “How can home be so bad that this is better?” Beale asks. “As doctors, we want her to get the care she needs but it’s so difficult in the current hostile environment, which is growing more hostile every month. Hospitals are going overboard.” She tells of one rough … [Read more...] about ‘We predict more deaths’: GPs on the frontline of UK homelessness crisis

Residents of a town blighted by drugs problems have been urged to speak to homeless people to help tackle the stigma surrounding the issue.Wrexham was dubbed "Spice Town" after images emerged of people under the influence of drugs at its bus station.Figures from earlier this year showed it had 44 rough sleepers - the second most in Wales after Cardiff.Project Home, started by Georgie Adams, urges residents to do their bit to help take pressure off stretched services.The launch of its "befriending and mentoring scheme" was attended by 100 people with 40 saying they were interested in volunteering."We just want everyone to remember [homeless people] are people and want to talk," said Fia Lancaster McGrath, who is also leading the project."To know it's OK to go up to them and say hello and ask how their day is." Homeless man tells of 'nightmare' life on Wrexham streets Spice taskforce in Wrexham 'saved my life' Ms Adams believes people are so focused on the social issues around former … [Read more...] about Wrexham residents urged to befriend homeless to help tackle drug use

A 19-year-old man has died in a horrific blaze that saw the man collapse just metres from the door as he made a desperate attempt to escape. The fire started early in the morning at a house in Cabramatta West, Sydney's South-West and neighbours said they heard 'really loud' screaming before emergency services arrived. Smoke and fire poured from the windows and roof before fire crews broke in and dragged the man out. They performed CPR but were unable to revive him.  Neighbour Cassandra Aiono said she heard the man screaming shortly before he collapsed 'It was just one man screaming really loudly,' neighbour Cassandra Aiono told The Sunday Telegraph.  The man, who neighbours described as of Cambodian appearance, has now been formally identified and authorities are now informing his family of the death. From the initial inspection fire crews said the blaze caused extensive damage to the lounge room, laundry and kitchen area but the house remained largely … [Read more...] about Man, 19, dies after collapsing inside his home as it burned as neighbours recall his ‘really loud’ screams

Adrian Lamo, the computer hacker who passed on information that led to the arrest of Chelsea Manning, has died aged 37. His father Mario broke the news of his son's death on Facebook. “With great sadness and a broken heart I have to let know all of Adrian’s friends and acquaintances that he is dead. A bright mind and compassionate soul is gone, he was my beloved son,” Mario Lamo wrote in a post to the 2600: The Hacker Quarterly Facebook Group. The cause of Lamo’s death, confirmed to the BBC by the Sedgwick County coroner in Kansas, is not yet known. Lamo was considered one of the most famous hackers in the world. He was dubbed "the homeless hacker" for his habit of using public places such as coffee shops and internet cafés to carry out his cyber activities. … [Read more...] about Adrian Lamo, the hacker who gave up Wikileaks source Chelsea Manning, dies aged 37

A second hotel in Hull has stepped in to offer 28 homeless people rooms over Christmas after their previous booking by a homeless project was cancelled.The group had been due to stay at the Royal Hotel in Hull but were then told they could not, prompting an outcry.The hotel later said they had been told about damage to rooms by the group at an Ibis hotel last Christmas.Raise the Roof Hull Homeless Project says the allegations are "lies" and Ibis denies the claim.Reacting to the offer by the Doubletree Hilton, which also includes Christmas dinner, Carl Simpson, from the project, said: "Who says miracles don't happen?"He told the BBC the group had originally booked 14 twin rooms for 28 people for £1,092, hoping to build on the success of last year's event at the Ibis. You may also be interested in: Delivery man fired for eating food gets sympathy Angry mum spits in face of Christmas elf WATCH: Christmas lights tunnel is 'magical' It said The Royal Hotel originally accepted the … [Read more...] about Hotel steps in to give rooms to homeless over Christmas