Homeless people want to open bank accounts

Some once-homeless people in Mandeville, Manchester, are complaining that they weren't spared by ruthless robbers. However, they believe that if they had access to bank accounts their money would have been safeguarded.

Shirley Baker, 48, who was left homeless due to a fire, says he has been robbed numerous times because he was unable to secure his money.

"A nuff time people rob me of the little money that me hustle. The thief dem can't get to people who have house, so dem tek set on the homeless. If me did have somewhere like a bank or the credit union, me money would be safe," he said.

"When me try fi go in a bank, dem nuh wah let me in because me look dirty, and me nuh like that," he added.

Fortunately, some homeless who desire to have their money tucked away is a step closer to having accounts. Candle in the Dark shelter in Mandeville, which was once a drop-in centre, is now a place of residency for Baker and many others. This means one of the general requirements of having an account is met.

Wendy Freckleton, home operator, said her aim is to have these people moving towards financial stability and securing a future for themselves.

"Our aim is to get them independent once more. For those who have jobs, we want to get them to start saving money, and now that they have the shelter, it can be used as their permanent address to get them an account, she said.

She added: "Some of them work in the town. They might carry bags for people or wash cars, and there is one person here who is employed at MegaMart, so they want to be able to secure their money."

However, having a proof of address is not the only general requirement needed to open an account. Persons need to have a Tax Registration Number , a form of identification, among other things.

Freckleton says some of the residents are without these documents. But once they have been sorted out, advance progress will be made.

"At this point they fall short of the requirements, but we will not make any recommendations until we know for sure that they are ready," she said.