The desperate plight of the homeless was described by Patrick Wallace of St Annes Trust in a heartfelt and moving address that affected the audience deeply. In sharing his experience of working with the roofless for over 30 years, Patrick made special mention of young people caught up in this dilemma, and why so many end up on our streets.
That left the task of challenging the motion to Raphael Hill. In his articulate and well-informed response he highlighted several reasons why people reject the help on offer, and that resources in any case are always likely to fall short of demand.
The sympathy vote however, went with the proposer but with the many abstaining.