Homeless at Christmas - An Investigation

caseyann

A special investigation by TV3 has revealed that drug taking and alcohol abuse are rife in hostels for the homeless.

Our reporter Jerome Hughes went undercover and discovered why many homeless people prefer to sleep rough than seek the shelter on offer.

Jerome spent three days and nights on the streets, sleeping rough and begging for money. What he found will challenge your perceptions of the homeless and life on the streets.

Homeless at Christmas tonight at 9pm on TV3.

http://www.tv3.ie/article.php?article_id=50083&locID=1.2.141.&pagename=sport

Its on at 9:00 on tv3.
I dont know if discussing here or in humanities would be suitable.If its more suited to humanities could a mod move it please.Thanks
Should be very interesting what his findings are and how he is treated.
Might open a few eyes to the homeless.
Like that taxi drive who found himself car less and homeless in three weeks.

cats.life

im watching it now.he should have worn other shoes , the ones he is wearing are to new for homless. ban garda is a bitch saying that to him. i know he shouldnt be begging at cash point but she was quit crude.

Thargor

Way too much time and emphasis on acquiring a fecking cup there

Thargor

Biggest kip in the world! Good man Garda!

JonathanAnon

Well done to the smart ar*e male guard...

Mister men

Worst homeless undercover bloke ever.

JonathanAnon

Fair play to Jerome Hughes.. he's getting stuck in to the experience... I think he should have had his fake background story worked out a bit better though.. and he's a bit too clean.

cats.life

Mister men wrote: »

Worst homeless undercover bloke ever.

at least he is out there for tv land people. hope the two guards see them selves being pricks on tv3.

baldbear

cats.life wrote: »

at least he is out there for tv land people. hope the two guards see them selves being pricks on tv3.

I just tuned in. What did the guards say? Looks fairly interesting so far.

cats.life

baldbear wrote: »

I just tuned in. What did the guards say? Looks fairly interesting so far.

she and another male guard come up to him while he was begging at a cashpoint she just stuck into him saying ''what are you doing here heh. your bothering the people here ,where are you from? jerome said england , male guard said what are you doing in dublin begging all the way from england . ''go on from here , where am i to go jerome said ive only just sat down.

Thargor

cats.life wrote: »

she and another male guard come up to him while he was begging at a cashpoint she just stuck into him saying ''what are you doing here heh. your bothering the people here ,where are you from? jerome said england , male guard said what are you doing in dublin begging all the way from england . ''go on from here , where am i to go jerome said ive only just sat down.

You missed the best bit, the male guard said "of all the cities you could have gone to you chose the biggest kip in the world"

Kiwi_knock

Anyone know if this will be available to watch online, sounds very interesting so want to watch it from the beginning.

D e e

I didnt get to see this, will it be online anywhere?

D e e

Kiwi_knock wrote: »

Anyone know if this will be available to watch online, sounds very interesting so want to watch it from the beginning.

Comment twins. We wasted our time watching Fake Street instead of this

cremeegg

Fair play to JH. tough assignment alright. jesus lucky to have a roof over our heads.
i agree about the shoes and his background stories.
saying that .. with all the ****e thats going on in this country..its hearting to see the generosity of people. that college lad that came over with fanta and a sandwich. unreal. fair play. i know i will look again the next time i see a homeless person again.

Fittle

Im watching this at the moment.

I have to say I think the priest was an absolute disgrace to his collar (as they all are:rolleyes:). he had little or no interest in the homeless guy, gave him 20euro and sent him on his way. Matt seemed pleased with the amount of money he got but god, the priest showed no compassion whatsoever.

I walk up the quays in dublin every day...and see loads of beggars and I'm always conscious that some will only want money for drugs or drink. I still give to them...but often wonder who I should give to?

Thargor

TV3.ie will have it, dont know if you'll get it tonight but tomorrow you will.

cats.life

Thargor wrote: »

You missed the best bit, the male guard said "of all the cities you could have gone to you chose the biggest kip in the world"

ooops i was to busey posting on this .:o

baldbear

Fittle wrote: »

I have to say I think the priest was an absolute disgrace to his collar (as they all are:rolleyes:). he had little or no interest in the homeless guy, gave him 20euro and sent him on his way. Matt seemed pleased with the amount of money he got but god, the priest showed no compassion whatsoever.

I'd disagree. I'd say that priest has alot of beggers approach him and €20 is a decent amount to give out. There are alot of good priests out there.

Jaysys he spent €9 on a breekie! Posh begger.

Fittle

baldbear wrote: »

I'd disagree. I'd say that priest has alot of beggers approach him and €20 is a decent amount to give out. There are alot of good priests out there.

Jaysys he spent €9 on a breekie! Posh begger.

But what about opening up a conversation with him...asking him why he was homeless etc?? I thought priests were all about compassion and understanding. It was like 'Here's 20euro, now get out of here'. The priest didn't actually say that, but it was very obviously, what he meant.

Tomohawk

Well done TV3 for making a good solid (and thoughtful) documentary. I suppose it will be another year before they repeat the feat though and make something else as good, still you never know...

Makes a change from the ****e they show the rest of the time (Vincent Browne Tonight excepted)

clikityclak

He did a fairly good job alright. But a lot of the homeless people, are addicts and so if they get money, when they wake up they are too sick for food, go and get drink/ drugs, hang around for the day and fill in the time between the next drink/high... A lot of services have been cut off for homeless people. I know a lot of people are wary of giving money to homeless people, but a sandwich or whatever can be more helpful... Homelessness is a very comlpex situation, and Jerome, while he did a good job at portraying some of the problems and obstacles that people face, he was not battling an addiction or problem of another sort.

Anyways, a good organisation to look into is the Father Peter McVerry Trust if anyone is interested. That man doesn't get an ounce of the recognition he deserves for his work!

/rant

guapos

Best TV3 program ive seen in a long time. This and the prime time about the homeless have been brillian for raising awareness

cats.life

but the young lad that gave him a bottle of fizzy orange and chatted to him for few mins. then the chemist gave him ventilon for free. the eatery was what i exspected would happen and the barman.

JonathanAnon

clikityclak wrote: »

But a lot of the homeless people, are addicts and so if they get money, when they wake up they are too sick for food, go and get drink/ drugs, hang around for the day and fill in the time between the next drink/high..

I agree.. They should have spent the few weeks before this prepping Jerome Hughes properly... i..e get him addicted to both alcohol and class A drugs, not shave for about a year, and maybe kick the sh1t out of him once or twice to give him that "beaten" look....

Kiwi_knock

Available to watch on tv3.ie now.

Dodd

He should have spent two weeks at it.
I know a few homeless people personally.One has been thrown in the canal
twice and beaten up a few times that he was in hospital in the last 6 months.

It would have been way worse if JH didn't get the 20 euro.

Thargor

I was surprised Boots were able to give out a free inhaler aswell, hope the chemist doesnt get in trouble for it.

willielovesall

might encourage a few people to drop money into the homeless people cups.

Still, I wonder if I should give money to a homeless person if they could end up drinking or smoking or worse. I wonder if they would feel better without it

JonathanAnon

Thargor wrote: »

I was surprised Boots were able to give out a free inhaler aswell, hope the chemist doesnt get in trouble for it.

Yeah I was thinking that as soon as he walked in to the place.. Not doubt some civil service consumer affairs quango is sending them a letter as we speak... The guy was very compassionate and understanding (as opposed to selling it just for the profit).. I think he pretty much handled the situation perfectly...

dixiefly

Fittle wrote: »

Im watching this at the moment.

I have to say I think the priest was an absolute disgrace to his collar (as they all are:rolleyes:). he had little or no interest in the homeless guy, gave him 20euro and sent him on his way. Matt seemed pleased with the amount of money he got but god, the priest showed no compassion whatsoever.

I walk up the quays in dublin every day...and see loads of beggars and I'm always conscious that some will only want money for drugs or drink. I still give to them...but often wonder who I should give to?

What the did you expect the priest to do? Drop everything and deal with this guy and then the next guy etc etc? In case you dont realise it priests are just as powerless as the rest of us in solving these problems. I thought the priest was pretty decent to him considering that there are probably many homeless people begging off him.

No matter what the priest did you probably would have had a problem with it.

fryup

JonathanAnon wrote: »

I agree.. They should have spent the few weeks before this prepping Jerome Hughes properly..

ya i taught the whole programme was a bit rushed, and he just wasn't convincing enough as a homeless person

Fittle wrote: »

But what about opening up a conversation with him...asking him why he was homeless etc?? I thought priests were all about compassion and understanding. It was like 'Here's 20euro, now get out of here'. The priest didn't actually say that, but it was very obviously, what he meant.

spot on, he didn't bother to chat with him...here's 20 quid now get out of here type of attitude:cool:

dixiefly wrote: »

What the did you expect the priest to do? Drop everything and deal with this guy and then the next guy etc etc? In case you dont realise it priests are just as powerless as the rest of us in solving

no just have a civil conversation with him and try to find out his background which imo would have been more compassionate than giving money

caseyann

fryup wrote: »

ya i taught the whole programme was a bit rushed, and he just wasn't convincing enough as a homeless person



spot on, he didn't bother to chat with him...here's 20 quid now get out of here type of attitude:cool:




no just have a civil conversation with him and try to find out his background which imo would have been more compassionate than giving money

He was convincing enough to be turned away from two places.

As far as i could see were the priest was concerned,he was a bit rushed.He didnt have to give 20 euro.He only mentioned 4.50 needed.Fair play to him.

The thoughts of been homeless and stuck in a place with people doing drugs and off their heads.
I knew a girl once who ended up homeless when she was pregnant.She got robbed and beaten up.
I thought he did very well,and was very heartening to actually see how much the homeless are helping eachother. And that girl giving the ten pounds.

JamesBond2010

Salamanca-Tapas-Bar & Restaurant Dublin was the Name of the place that ur one asked had he booked. very ignorant & discrimatory. No wonder their is racism with these kind of people around

Thargor

Every restaraunt in the country would have done that, anywhere that doesn't exercise zero tolerance will fill up with homeless and go bust so they have no choice.

JamesBond2010

Thargor wrote: »

Every restaraunt in the country would have done that, anywhere that doesn't exercise zero tolerance will fill up with homeless and go bust so they have no choice.

he was dressed quite normal though.how would they go bust if he was paying for it.

Dodd

Thargor wrote: »

Every restaraunt in the country would have done that, anywhere that doesn't exercise zero tolerance will fill up with homeless and go bust so they have no choice.

That's why he went there to just make a point.
If they served him it would likely have not been in the film.

Thargor

He looked homeless, that will turn away paying custom and attract other homeless, and yes they would go bust on one coffee being nursed for hours taking up a booth just for the heat. Not pretty but thats reality.

JamesBond2010

Assumption is the mother of all **** ups.. he looked like... A well they are Totally disgraced now. after that

Thargor

I doubt it will make a shred of difference to them tbh.

I am going to drop the odd Euro into peoples cups after this though so the programme definitely made a difference to me, wonder what that girls story was with the 10 sterling, was she rich or just poor but generous, she seemed fairly young, fair play to the guy with the bottle of Fanta aswell.

Dodd

Also it is not nice to say but he would smell bad and stink up the place.

Why would a homeless person go there to order a STARTER and tea.;)

I think it will do some good anyway.I hope.

johnn

Well after watching that documentary on TV3 I don't think anybody can argue that all the homeless vagrants are a nuisance. TV3 were a disgrace acting like the homeless were the victims in this despite showing them as mindless druggies in the hostel using innocent people's donations(who actually work for a living and aren't on the dole's) money to "get their fix" .

Say for example I had of been having a few after work cocktails in The Bank bar with some colleagues I certainly wouldn't want one of them coming in and hassling me, stinking the place up with a smell of piss etc. I would have shook that barman's hand for doing his duty to the punter like me, I would rather give him a fiver for kicking the vagrant out than give them a 5er for a hostel tbf.

JamesBond2010

stupid q's why were the face s blurred though even the good people were

johnn

Thargor wrote: »

I am going to drop the odd Euro into peoples cups after this though so the programme definitely made a difference to me

What if they use this "couple of euro" to buy themselves a knife to hold people up for their money? potentially kill them? I hope you would feel guilty then :rolleyes: People need to think about the type of people they are dealing with here

JamesBond2010

johnn wrote: »

Well after watching that documentary on TV3 I don't think anybody can argue that all the homeless vagrants are a nuisance. TV3 were a disgrace acting like the homeless were the victims in this despite showing them as mindless druggies in the hostel using innocent people's donations(who actually work for a living and aren't on the dole's) money to "get their fix" .

Say for example I had of been having a few after work cocktails in The Bank bar with some colleagues I certainly wouldn't want one of them coming in and hassling me, stinking the place up with a smell of piss etc. I would have shook that barman's hand for doing his duty to the punter like me, I would rather give him a fiver for kicking the vagrant out than give them a 5er for a hostel tbf.

i hope u never become homeless

Dodd

JamesBond2010 wrote: »

i hope u never become homeless

I hope he does become homeless.Karma.:)

johnn

So yous are all happy to sit side by side with them stinking up the place when you are in a nice place, most likely drugged up talking to themselves, ruining the ambiance for us? I forgot we're all martyrs here...I bet none of you even give them a cent and you have the nerve to criticize me :rolleyes:

JonathanAnon

JamesBond2010 wrote: »

i hope u never become homeless

I think it can be very easy for people to be pious about these sorts of things, but the practical aspect of this (as was mentioned above) is that you are endangering your business if you let people on your premises who:
a) may suffer from mental illness (which many of the homeless do)
b) may suffer from addition to drugs or alcohol (which many of the homeless do)
c) looks unkempt and smells bad... (which many of the homeless do)

In the case of a) and b) the proprietor may be held accountable for the actions of the homeless person if they should hit somebody, tap them up, offend them .. whatever... or in the case of c) they could detract from the general tone of the place, and discourage people from giving them business...

caseyann

Thargor wrote: »

I doubt it will make a shred of difference to them tbh.

I am going to drop the odd Euro into peoples cups after this though so the programme definitely made a difference to me, wonder what that girls story was with the 10 sterling, was she rich or just poor but generous, she seemed fairly young, fair play to the guy with the bottle of Fanta aswell.

He was a a decent guy.Just the little things like that for people might give them a little bit of feeling apart of society again.
Nice to see

JamesBond2010

Are all homeless the Same??? is there some decent ones. no druggies or anything like that

caseyann

JamesBond2010 wrote: »

Are all homeless the Same??? is there some decent ones. no druggies or anything like that

There is over apparently 800 homeless kids in Dublin apparently under the age of 16.That should tell you the extent and type.Some go on drink for heat and end up addicted and some end up on drugs because on streets.And others because of abuse etc.. some are unlucky in work or finances.Like the Taxi guy who was on tv last week.
Even some of the alcoholics and junkies are good people and will chat the hind legs off a donkey.