Good job lads. Your work here is done

It seems our local council has managed to tackle the issue of homelessness. They've even issued a statement to the local newspaper declaring victory and describing how the problem was finally solved

Strange though. It doesn't really sound like a victory statement. I just can't fathom why

Homelessness in Blackburn with Darwen hits record high

According to the headline, there never really was a problem in the first place:

Speaking at a council scrutiny meeting, the borough’s community safety manager Mark Aspin said there were as many as 13 people sleeping rough on the borough’s streets - more than there has ever been.

In a borough of nearly 147,000 people, that's nothing. Absolutely nothing. As this figure has always been lower in the past, they must have always done a grand job of helping the homeless. Trebles all round!

“These 13 people are people who have gone through accommodation and have not been able to sustain a tenancy.
“We are legally bound to provide an offer up until the point at which they make themselves homeless.

So from the councils point of view then, there are actually NO people sleeping rough on the streets who haven't actually chosen to sleep rough on the streets. It just gets better

“At the moment we have our winter emergency provision and anyone sleeping outside can go to the Salvation Army.

So if they decide that living on the streets is actually a 'bum' deal, they do have other options. Assistance is available if requested

And that's a wrap. The issue of rough sleeping in our borough has been tackled

Head of safeguarding, community protection and specialist services Paul Lee added word of mouth among the homeless meant more were migrating to the borough because of services and accommodation available that is not possible elsewhere.

Mr Aspin added: “I think the challenge for us lies where we have got people moving into the borough and when we look to send they back where they came from, we are met with resistance.

Then don't offer the service to people from outside the borough. Word of mouth will spread that too and the Sally Army doesn't just operate in Blackburn

It seems like Blackburn have the problem licked. It won't stay licked if it causes an influx of homeless from other boroughs

Cllr Julie Gunn added: “As an authority we need to try and protect these vulnerable people because at the bottom of it all is a real person with real needs.”

This is how we crated an entire generation of underclass chavs; by agreeing to pay benefits for every child they have, because it's 'not the child's fault'. Now is the time to get tough with the homeless policy. It peoples own councils won't or are unable to help, we should not start making them our problem

Because it will be a problem

Organised £100-a-day Blackburn beggars share out prime spots

If the help has been offered and refused and there is still a charity failsafe option, it's time to end the softly, softly approach

Communitysafety manager Mark Aspin told a scrutiny committee meeting: “The majority of the 300 people we have spoken to over the last 12 months, there were about six or seven that did not have accommodation

When you've done all you can, it's time to start clearing the streets. Word of mouth will spread that, too