I don't want to speak for Matt, but I'd like to point out, that ignoring the issues he's raised is simply detrimental to those who are in genuine need of help (I'm not saying you're ignoring it though, I mean society as a whole)
As usual there is a pretty clear left/right divide, as with seemingly every topical subject ATM.
The left quick to point out that one bad homeless person, shouldn't tarnish the entire lot, whilst the right counter that, with anecdotes & examples of why they have little regard for what's perceived as "the homeless".
Being objective, you have to find some middle ground. There is an untold amount of people who need genuine help, who are good people, and who don't deserve to be where they are. But you've also got to add, that there is a vast number of people who simply don't want to conform to society, and are happy in their own distorted world. The two, whilst potentially polar opposites, just happen to be intrinsically linked via a moniker.
Is it possible to differentiate between the two? Certainly on a case-by-case basis, but the perception as a whole? The idea of this thread was to raise awareness for homeless people, which is fine, (although the idea of a homeless person being a football team's Matchday mascot is beyond me) but how do you get someone to "care more" about the homeless problem, when all they see around them, is people who don't deserve help, like the plonky's, the skag heads, the thieves, the degenerates. That is the million dollar question, no? How can you encourage more people to help? How do you convince more people that it's actually worth it? It's not fair that those in need, should suffer due to the actions of the few. But how do convince people that they're actually helping those in need, and not the dregs of society.
To add my own anecdote, there's a group of around 7-8 homeless people who roam around Grays town centre. They can mostly be found hanging around the benches outside Morrisons, drunk, abusive & causing a disturbance. Last year, one of them was found guilty of ****ing on the Town's war memorial, on two seperate occasions, in broad daylight.
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.da...rinated-war-memorial-jailed-seven-months.html
Unfortuantey, when you think of those two words "homeless person", my mind, and I dare say a lot of others, instantly conjur up thoughts akin to that link above. I'm not sure of the numbers, regarding the homeless situation here in Grays, but I assure you, anytime those two words are mentioned, a Grays resident will picture those 7-8 low life's plotted up outside Morrisons.
As always, and for lack of a better phrase, it's the few who are spoiling it for the rest. And that's despite the fact that I know there are plenty of homeless people, who aren't voluntarily homeless, but have been let down by their council, and/or simply been dealt a bad hand in life.
So again, the question is, how do you change people's perceptions? I'm not sure