In the wake of Suella Braverman losing her job, writer, Lucy Pieterse comments on Suella’s thoughts on homelessness, and why she thinks she is very wrong.
As I write this, Suella Braverman has minutes ago been sacked from her job as Home Secretary. From her failed plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, to her latest criticism of the Met Police, news is moving fast. By the time this article is published there may be a new controversy to discuss. Like her replacement…
But in the meantime, let’s look at her comment from Saturday 4th November that provoked outrage and whipped up a furious debate.
“We cannot allow our streets to be taken over by rows of tents occupied by people, many of them from abroad, living on the streets as a lifestyle choice.” –Suella Braverman.
It amazes me that anyone could think that living on the streets could be considered a lifestyle choice.
Marty lived in a tent for seven months because he had nowhere else to go.
Marty was 27 when I met him for the first time. Marty is a qualified chef. He had a job; he had a home. But all that disappeared when a toxic relationship ended, and his mental health took a big dip.
Marty lived in a tent for seven months because he had nowhere else to go.
Today, two years on, Marty is making lifestyle choices. He chose to take part in YMCA Exeter’s Lighthouse Training Programme, rebuilding his confidence through valuable work experience and mentoring sessions. He chose to move into YMCA Exeter’s Stage 4 supported housing, for young people who are ready to live independently. He is choosing to work as a chef for the local football club. He is choosing to play football on a Monday night with a local church group to link in with a positive social network. These are lifestyle choices.
Marty’s comment that “every situation is so different” is key to helping us understand why people end up homeless.
Finding yourself with no home, no job and no back-up, your only option to live in a tent through the freezing winter, that is not a lifestyle choice.
“When I see other people living in tents it makes me think back and makes me want to help them,” says Marty. “Every situation is so different. Honestly, I’d be in jail or dead if I hadn’t found YMCA Exeter. It was 100% the best move.”
Marty’s comment that “every situation is so different” is key to helping us understand why people end up homeless. Family breakdown, rising costs making rent unaffordable, unemployment, mental health, addiction. The list goes on.
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Whether you share my opinion and your response to Suella’s comment was one of anger and disbelief, or whether you walk past people living on the streets and question whether it’s a choice, Romans 12: 14-16 is a wonderful section to meditate on.
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.”
We can use these verses to pray for Suella and her replacement, James Cleverly. As we pray blessings on them, we can trust that God will, through his Holy Spirit, touch their lives.
And we can take a moment to ask God to help us to connect with people from different backgrounds, different economic situations. To see people living on the streets, as God sees them. Individuals that he loves.
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