Rough sleepers resort to begging in the streets as ‘alternative to crime’

Many people who ask for spare change on the streets of major cities have resorted to begging as a means of making money without turning to crime or prostitution, according to research for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Selling The Big Issue paper is another way that homeless people seek to raise extra cash without breaking the law.

Based on in-depth interviews with 66 people either begging, rough sleeping or selling The Big Issue in Edinburgh and Glasgow, the new study reveals a high degree of overlap between the three activities. Almost all had slept rough, four-fifths had begged and two-thirds had sold the paper. Begging, in particular, was almost always preceded by a period of rough sleeping.

Researchers from the University of Glasgow found that:

• Begging was overwhelmingly driven by ‘need’ rather than ‘greed’. Most interviewees had found begging a degrading experience that exposed them to harassment and violence as well as acts of kindness from the public. They usually begged until they generated the sum they needed. There was no attempt to maximise income because it was such an unpleasant activity.
• Almost everyone interviewed had experienced severe trauma during their lives. Nearly half had been in local authority care and one in three had parents who had misused drugs or alcohol. Almost a quarter reported childhood abuse including rape, sexual assault, incest, beatings and mental cruelty.
• Drug and alcohol problems were commonly linked to earlier trauma and played a central part in the circumstances that had led to homelessness and reasons for begging. Over half of those currently begging reported alcohol problems and almost one in three were current heroin users. Several said their substance misuse had become worse as a result of life on the streets.
• Although many were without a criminal record before they became homeless, two out of three had been in prison – often for offences such as shoplifting and non-payment of fines. A decision to start begging was often linked to a wish to stay out of trouble with the law.
• Although begging is not a criminal offence in Scotland, people reported being regularly ‘moved on’ by police, having their money taken away from them and, sometimes, being fined for ‘breach of the peace’, especially in Glasgow.

Suzanne Fitzpatrick, co-author of the report, said: “Almost all the people we spoke to disliked begging, and aspired to a ‘normal’ life. However, to achieve that they would not only need access to accommodation and work opportunities, but also to help in overcoming drug and alcohol problems, social isolation and poor mental and physical health.”

She added: “The relatively small number of people who are at the sharpest end of homelessness and other social problems gives hope that a concerted effort to meet their needs could make a significant difference. Each individual needs a tailored ‘resettlement’ package that meets their particular needs for accommodation, support, social contact and constructive activities. But that can only be achieved through effective policy co-ordination at both national and local level, and if necessary resources are made available.”

The Big Issue

The research included interviews with 45 people who had experience of vending The Big Issue, the street paper sold by people who are homeless, ex-homeless or ‘vulnerably’ housed. The study found that:

• Selling The Big Issue had provided an alternative to begging for some people, especially in Edinburgh. However, many Big Issue sellers in the study had never begged and generally viewed vending as ‘like a job’.

• In some cases, vending provided an alternative to claiming Social Security. However, other vendors continued to claim benefits because their income remained insecure.

• A third of interviewees who had begged had never sold The Big Issue. These included older street drinkers who felt it would be too difficult for them. In addition, several interviewees had returned to begging after trying to sell the paper. They maintained that the magazine was too difficult to sell or that they were not making enough money.

Suzanne Fitzpatrick said: “The research suggests that The Big Issue is a valuable resource for many people who are ‘getting by’ on the streets. It offers them an income, increased self-esteem and lends structure and purpose to their days. However, neither The Big Issue nor any other single initiative can be expected to provide a solution for everyone who begs.”