• MANY of us, especially those over 60, know what it is like to wait for a bus for longer than expected, exposed to an icy wind or a cold drizzle. But at least most of us have a home to go to.

Imagine what it must be like to know that when most people have gone home you have to keep walking or find a doorway or park bench for the night without enough on your Oyster card to use the night buses or visit a fast food outlet.

Homeless people end up dying on the streets. Like the man of about 50, whose death you reported last week, (Homeless man found dead in Chalk Farm doorway, November 1). This happens year after year, as the Editor pointed out.

And now the weather is getting colder we have to ask ourselves, does it really have to be like this? Long-term measures are needed but, for this winter, suppose every high street or town centre were to have three or four strategically placed information kiosks, staffed nightly by a small team, to sign-post homeless people to the nearest hostel or winter night shelter.

No need to make telephone calls; people could approach the kiosk team directly for advice and assistance.

Once upon a time, older readers may remember many streets had blue police boxes for the use of officers out on the beat.

The night information kiosks could perhaps be more brightly coloured than dull blue and also display posters indicating their purpose in a number of languages or even symbols?

Four staffed kiosks in a town centre for the 100 coldest nights between November and March would cost money – but in the scheme of things not really that much – £180,000 would probably cover the salaries, the main cost element for a typical high street or town centre.

Of course, hostels and shelters would need to be in place. Nationally, the whole bill might not even be £50million. It’s not a solution, but a friendly kiosk might be a lifeline for some.

BRIAN O’SHEA
Address supplied