Homeless man's protest

October 07, 2008

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Wayne McCracken

A HOMELESS man interrupted the Question Time demanding a councillor help him get off the streets.

Wayne McCracken, 43, from Salford, says he has been living on the streets on and off for nine months after leaving the home he shared with his partner because he discovered she was using drugs.

He claimed he had been turned away from one of the city's homeless hostels and said he was scared of sharing a room with a drug user after finding used needles in a toilet and he complained that day centres for the homeless have been closed leaving people with nowhere to go.

Mr McCracken interrupted the event, walking right up to Coun Basil Curley, who has responsibility for adult services, grabbed his microphone and said: "I'm sleeping on the streets, there is no hostel for me to go to, I've been turned away a hostel in Manchester today - what are you going to do for me?"

Coun Curley arranged to get Mr McCracken help after the meeting and said: "There is no reason for anyone in Manchester to be homeless, we have hostels, we have beds for everyone."

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Esso Blue, Oil incorporated, Manchester (07/10/2008 at 18:57)

I give up it's more depressing than the £10m wiped off banks

the observer, in the u.k (07/10/2008 at 21:10)

How about getting yourself off the streets?From the photo you look in good health,why not get yourself off the streets?Do a honest day's work like the majority of us,pay rent or a mortgage and get a place of your own.

BigK (07/10/2008 at 21:10)

Regardless of the reason for leaving his partners home, which was a reasonable reason, there is absolutely no need for anyone to be homeless.

The real problem is that people who are homeless remain so because they do not want to conform to the very simple social rules required to hold down a tenancy.

LogicalLion (07/10/2008 at 22:21)

"There is no reason for anyone in Manchester to be homeless, we have hostels, we have beds for everyone."

No. We don't have enough beds for everyone.

Mrs Pellow, Manchester (07/10/2008 at 23:22)

Well done Wayne, at least you have the bottle to get up and ask the question! I hope he does get somethiung soon, no person shoudl be out on the streets in this day and age, there are hundreds of houses boarded up with councils doing nothing to sort them out, its about time they started to get things sorted and get people of the streets!

thaitanium (08/10/2008 at 05:41)

"it's more depressing than the £10m wiped off banks"

Its a bit more than £10m. your thinking of a top traders bonus for 6 months.

Mr Manchester (08/10/2008 at 12:07)

"There is no reason for anyone in Manchester to be homeless, we have hostels, we have beds for everyone."

There are infinite reasons for people to be homeless, and hostels don't always take everyone in.

The Observer: would love to see how you cope with one night on the streets.

Esso Blue, Oil incorporated, Manchester (08/10/2008 at 12:21)

£10bn my mind was wondering

lizard (08/10/2008 at 13:43)

the observer, in the u.k " How about getting yourself off the streets?From the photo you look in good health,why not get yourself off the streets?Do a honest day's work like the majority of us,pay rent or a mortgage and get a place of your own.".
I can appreciate you reaction, but:
To get a job you need an address, to get an address, not only may you need a job, but you will need a hefty deposit.
It is often assumed that the homeless are to blame for their situation and because of their own inaction, they remain "on the streets". Amongst the many reasons for homelessness your unlikely to find choice as the most common!. Almost anyone could find themselves homeless, and probably will during this financially unstable time.
As for Wayne, I doubt he grabbed the mic for fame, but out of desperation and frustration, good for him.

who cares, somewhere interesting (09/10/2008 at 08:36)

Its always someone elses fault

PW, Manchester (09/10/2008 at 08:49)

I know someone who has lost his rented home which was repossessed by the landlord's mortgage company. Despite having a 14 year old son, he has been told he would have to spend minimum 8 weeks in a (drug-ridden) hostel before the authorities will even look at his application for re-housing. Social housing is in a mess, and private housing is unaffordable. Yet, we bring in people from abroad who get theirs with little problem. Something is very wrong.

lizard (09/10/2008 at 11:40)

Afghan woman and her seven children have been allocated a huge house at a cost ( to the taxpayer ) of £12,000 per month. Plus, of course, around £400 per week benefits. It is a private house because the council did not have a seven bedroom house available.

Jomov (09/10/2008 at 11:49)

Lizard, it sounds even better when you say she gets £170,000 per year!!

lizard (09/10/2008 at 12:04)

Jomov, "it sounds even better when you say she gets £170,000 per year!!" , Fine, if you want to put it that way...help yourself. However it is said, it is a lot, a lot more than most would get or indeed would expect/ask for, Wayne included. Jomov, What, if any, is the point you are trying to make here?.

Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (09/10/2008 at 13:24)

Salford Council involved? I wouldn't hold your breath wayne

Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (09/10/2008 at 13:28)

Don't forget, a young fit and healthy man would be at the bottom of the housing list way below teenage single parents and immigrants, regardless of whether he was eligible for a council home or flat or not

Jomov (09/10/2008 at 13:48)

Lizard, don't jump down my throat, I wasn't making any point, the woman in question was getting just under £170,000 per year....which is basically the calculation of the figures you gave!

lizard (09/10/2008 at 15:59)

Jomov, many sorrys!!!, Having to fight for your view, (free speech usually costs a verbal scrap these days), makes one defensive if not paranoid!!, a very happy glad to you!.

Jomov (09/10/2008 at 16:09)

No worries Lizard, there aren't many who'd have a different view on that subject...even the woman herself is amazed at how she can get so much given to her!

I see some heads have rolled though...at long last, hopefully we'll see some more!

*no* issue, radcliffe (09/10/2008 at 22:43)

Should have told them you was a drug user or an immigrant, they seem to get everything given to them on a plate, or the next step is do a crime and serve very little time then you will be given a flat, this is Britain 2008, it's getting worse by the day.

naz akhtar (21/09/2009 at 13:03)

shame on our council i have a 17 yr old girl whos been made homless by her mother 2 weeks ago and still is homeless even today everytime u ask for help they transfer u or ask u to ring a diffrent org so much red tape our goverment need to wake up and realize there are ppl out there that need help and are living rough

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