A Vote for the Homeless

BBC photo

By

Hazel Speed

‘Hats Off’ to Alec McFadden who has intervened to ensure that the homeless people, who live close to where he works as Manager, of the Unemployment and Community Resource Centre, for Salford and Manchester, can vote.

He noticed so many homeless people in these geographical areas, that he took it upon himself to ensure they were included in the Electoral Register.

That was easier said than done as the requirements for that was to provide a home address where one spent a considerable amount of time. Smart thinking, he provided his work address, and in doing so, the homeless people he has been able to help in this way will be enabled to an entitlement to vote.

Considering one Government or another had a part, along a chain of events (known or unknown), which originally led to these poor homeless souls being put in such jeopardy in the first place, there is some poetic justice that they can have a vote.

This is rather appropriate when one reads in Mrs May’s Manifesto that she hopes to put an end to homelessness by 2027, which is just a decade away. An hour away is too long in moral and practical terms, that we all acknowledge, of course.

OK – 2017, so that presupposes Mrs May will still be around (or the Conservatives remain in Government) to be held to account if this target is not met. That said, it presupposes the solution will be both honourable and acceptable to people in this present category.

The Government should be compelled to introduce a White Paper/Bill confirming intent, time scales and solutions – also in consultation with the homeless people themselves and, of course their ally, Mr McFadden (who should be Knighted for this initiative, one which should become UK wide).

All political Parties have a duty of care in this regard yet Governments come and go and the issue still remains. I have written previously (“To Our Shame“) on this subject and referred to one of my own original paintings, based on heart breaking situations I witnessed during a day in London, and an afternoon in my local area.

Mr McFadden is someone who should take up a political career, as with a caring heart such as he is displaying, one would know on face value the worth of this man’s soul. Well done Sir!

Hazel Speed

Photo (c) Hazel Speed – used by kind permision to Tuck Magazine

Hazel Speed is a Philosopher, Writer, and Artist with various creative projects at differing stages of development. Her flaship project is an animation which has produced a film short: www.thepinkprofessor.com. She has also written an E-novel, ‘Just Suppose…!‘ which is available via the attached link.

Art sites: www.candystoreart.com, www.terrificart.com, www.artbadges.co.uk