Been very interested in what you've all got to say here but as someone who works with both Asylum Seekers and the Homeless (in Southampton I might add so NOT London) you must remember that not all Homeless people want to be housed!! Some are quite happy doing the circuit of Shelters that are available and even at this time of year sleeping rough. There may be a surplus of empty properties in the Uk, but you can't fill them with people who don't want to be housed! The Charity I work for has been praised for being one of the first Charities outside of London to re-house long term heavy drinkers - our lads are all in their 60's have all been rough sleepers and drinkers since their 20's and we are basically giving them a meal, support and a bed and allowing them to continue drinking until they die in comfort & with dignity, and not just another forgotten statistic in a subway.... one out of the 4 loves it in the house the other 3 hate it and continue to leave and sleep rough - usually on the door step of the property, because they don't like being enclosed in 4 walls on a permanent basis, but like to have some kind of security and shelter if its raining!.
The main worry for us as a Charity at the moment with regards to the Asylum Problem is the amount of very young children coming into the UK. Aged sometimes only about 6 they are placed into Foster Care until 16-18 and then become homeless in some cases as their Asylum cases are taking too long to sort out. This is an appaulling state of affairs which needs sorting out as soon as possible.
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