Should you give money to homeless people, if they beg?

[seliph]

there is absolutely no way to know whether someone's a "real" homeless person/person in need, anyone saying otherwise is incredibly ignorant and prejudiced. homeless shelters/charities also aren't always reliable and are often abusive, it's absurd to claim homeless people can just "get the help they need" lol wtf

obviously you don't have to give people money all the time (especially if you're in need too), but when the worst case scenario is you gave someone money to buy booze/drugs which literally will not effect you at all (and may prevent them from going through life-threatening withdrawal!) and the best case scenario is you gave someone money to buy food/a warm beverage...

some of the replies in here are legitimately sickening and i really hope it's all just ignorance wrooowwwww

 

[coldpotato]

I don't think I can say yes or no and lump all homeless people together. They're not all the same and all have their own story.
For me, if I have some spare money I will sometimes give it to someone who I assume is homeless if they are not acting in a threatening way towards me. I had a sweet encounter with a homeless lady that didn't beg for money but just asked me if I wanted to hear some jokes and she told me a few good ones. I definitely felt more motivated to give her money after that. I love when people can come up with creative ways for money like that, instead of only begging. I've also seen some homeless people sell handwritten poem books, which I think is awesome.

 

[oak]

I see homeless people on my own street every week and I literally gave a guy my rinsed pop cans today (you can exchange them for money). Multiple people dig through the recycling bins on our street looking for cans so I prerinse & sort them so they don't have to dig through our garbage. If they wanna buy drugs, then go for it. I'm not gonna pass judgement. I've bought packs of smokes for houseless people they just need a little something to get them through the day.

Homeless people in Vancouver are so far beyond destroyed I can guarantee they are not faking anything. Homelessness is a product of serious mental illness & life's trauma so I hate when people are like "just go get a job". Their brains are partially not functioning from drug use, how in the world can they get a job? Drug rehab centers have huge wait lists & are expensive. All I ask is we have a little compassion. My neighbour calls the cops when he sees people digging in the trash cans and it pisses me off. Their only option is your trash can and you're gonna deny this struggling person even that. Hurts my soul

 

[EmmaFrost]

there is absolutely no way to know whether someone's a "real" homeless person/person in need, anyone saying otherwise is incredibly ignorant and prejudiced. homeless shelters/charities also aren't always reliable and are often abusive, it's absurd to claim homeless people can just "get the help they need" lol wtf

obviously you don't have to give people money all the time (especially if you're in need too), but when the worst case scenario is you gave someone money to buy booze/drugs which literally will not effect you at all (and may prevent them from going through life-threatening withdrawal!) and the best case scenario is you gave someone money to buy food/a warm beverage...

some of the replies in here are legitimately sickening and i really hope it's all just ignorance wrooowwwww

I thought the exact same thing about some of the replies. They made me nauseous and sad simultaneously.

 

[Uffe]

I personally wouldn't. I used to give money, but it's hard to tell these days if they really need it or if they're just using you. I've had a few experiences where some homeless person would get too close and be nosy, trying to see if I had more money in my wallet, asking me for more than they had previously asked for. If someone asks, I either speak in German or tell them I only have a card, which is true for the most part.

 

[itsmxuse]

It’s a tricky situation as you never know the circumstances or situations, I used to always give money out to any homeless people I would see but now I try and either get them something to eat or drink or both. The shop I work in before all of this would constantly sit outside our shop and I’d always ask if she would want anything to eat/drink, especially during the colder days I would ask if she’d want tea/coffee. I also put aside some stuff we can’t sell in the shop (like jackets/gloves and warm clothes) and hand them out to the homeless in the area

 

[Kalle]

It depends, to be honest. You obviously can't give money to everyone all the time and you have to be aware of scammers who may or may not even be homeless. If you work in a city, you often come to realize who is actually homeless and in need of some financial help because you'll see a lot of the same people very often. Try giving to them whenever you honestly can; particularly times where it won't negatively affect you. My advice is also to try talking to some of these people genuinely.

If you want to give to a homeless person, try to do so in a public place where there are a lot of people around. Also, try not to approach homeless people with obvious severe mental conditions. Those individuals shouldn't be on the streets. They should be getting help. Unfortunately, help is vastly dependent on which country they live in.

 

[Saylor]

If I have money on me I'll give it to them. Most of the houseless people I encounter are coming out of jail as I do jail support and they're often in need of transportation, so a little extra money can help them get to where they need to go. I think offering them a ticket for transit or food if you're able to give any are good ideas too, but I personally don't care how they use the money I give them.

 

[amemome]

Homelessness and the freaking SYSTEM of forced poverty that creates homelessness is such a huge, huge issue that goes beyond the scope of the question you're asking, but I think addressing this (the system of poverty) would be more fruitful than debating the morality between giving vs not giving money to people who beg.

I don't think it should matter what homeless folx use the money on. When you decide to give money, it should be a donation without strings attached, not something you police and treat as a moral "up" over this person.

That being said, in my city there are people who panhandle as careers (<- WTF) and act like they have a disability for pity when they're actually extremely mentally and physically able. After learning about that, it just made me feel so hesitant to want to donate money directly.

I really don't know... This is a complex issue.

 

[saucySheep]

Idk bro. The Bible tells us to give to the poor and help the needy and things like that, but these days it's a bit hard to tell if they actually need your money or are just scamming you. There is this one lady (whos name I forget) who lives in my state who's been walking around public for years telling people that her family is sick and she needs money to help them - eventually people realized she's a scammer, but she became well known because people made a facebook page and posted on it every time they saw her lol. eventually she stopped asking people for money tho :/

Usually if i see a homeless person get money, then they just go spend it on drugs. it's not for a good cause...

Soo... I wouldn't do it....... if i wanted to donate to the homeless then i'd go to a homeless shelter and -safely- do it.

Other than that I honestly think they should just get off the streets and at least try to find a job. :/

 

[Mr_Persona]

I don't do it because they beg and sometimes they can be faking it and they will steal.

Post automatically merged: Nov 26, 2020

Idk bro. The Bible tells us to give to the poor and help the needy and things like that, but these days it's a bit hard to tell if they actually need your money or are just scamming you. There is this one lady (whos name I forget) who lives in my state who's been walking around public for years telling people that her family is sick and she needs money to help them - eventually people realized she's a scammer, but she became well known because people made a facebook page and posted on it every time they saw her lol. eventually she stopped asking people for money tho :/

Usually if i see a homeless person get money, then they just go spend it on drugs. it's not for a good cause...

Soo... I wouldn't do it....... if i wanted to donate to the homeless then i'd go to a homeless shelter and -safely- do it.

Other than that I honestly think they should just get off the streets and at least try to find a job. :/

Same. I can't tell if they're scamming you. Reasons why l don't give money to the poor. I will do it if a place is asking for donations but that's it.

 

[Bcat]

I recently had an experience where a homeless man ambushed me in a parking lot that scared me. He had obviously seen me go into the store because he was waiting for me when I came out. He knew which car was mine too because he took great pains to stand between me and the driver's side door. He essentially cut off my escape route and wouldn't let me leave until I gave him money.

Look, homelessness can happen to anyone. I get that. Sometimes people get down on their luck and have to resort to begging for survival. I get that too, and I'm more than happy to throw out some extra cash to someone who needs it. But don't ambush a woman in a parking lot and refuse to let her leave until she gives you what you want. Especially if you're a big, imposing man.

 

[Reginald Fairfield]

I've given them cookies.

 

[Kalle]

But don't ambush a woman in a parking lot and refuse to let her leave until she gives you what you want. Especially if you're a big, imposing man.

That's horrible. I'm sorry to read this happened to you.

Did you report it? I would consider this robbery.

 

[Bcat]

That's horrible. I'm sorry to read this happened to you.

Did you report it? I would consider this robbery.

I didn't call the cops, no. Namely because he wasn't aggressive. All things considered, he was actually really nice. He just unnerved me with the way he'd obviously been watching me and tried to keep me from leaving. :/

 

[Mairmalade]

This thread offers a great opportunity to share, learn, and offer guidance on a global issue. Friendly reminder that it is encouraged by the OP for everyone to share their personal experiences and thoughts within the thread on whether or not to give money to the homeless; however, as the discussion continues, please remember to be mindful of your posts – both towards others and the subject matter. Thank you!

My Thoughts/Direction:
The homeless are human too. As others have mentioned, it’s not so black-and-white. We do not know the circumstances. Rarely if ever is homelessness a result of a bad choice, nor does it continue because of laziness or choice. Of course, hostile behavior does occur, but that doesn't have to be our default perception on whether to give or not to give. I do understand that sometimes our experiences - or stories of others' experiences - make us more guarded, and that's perfectly valid.

I rarely carry cash but will offer change when I have it (usually a few loonies/toonies). It's kindness. If they were to collect money to obtain a certain item, that's the individual's choice - much like it's yours or mine to visit the liquor store on a Friday night, order takeout, or a pair of new boots. People will spend their money on what they want/need most, which local resources may not have. Regarding food, I prefer to donate to one of the larger resources where they’re able to get more per dollar rather than doing one-offs. It's unlikely that I'll immediately get to know all of a person's likes/dislikes or allergies, and sometimes those are unable to be communicated. I previously managed an on-campus student food bank and we worked with a local grocery store in the area for staples like peanut butter, pasta, toilet paper, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hats, mittens, and reusable bags. I have bought a coffee and snack or two on occasion for people when I used to visit my downtown market though!

It’s also challening right now for those to safely seek assistance in a community space during COVID-19. It’s true that sometimes it’s not always a matter of telling someone to seek help, although some help does help. It’s great to have local resources, but there can be strings attached that some may not be comfortable with.

It’s fortunate that my area has decent channels of support in terms of food and winter clothing access. Seeking shelter can sometimes be a different story. I remember speaking to one woman that preferred to rest beside a bank outside while having the opportunity to charge her phone/access Wi-Fi rather than seeking shelter that imposed strict guidelines and sometimes a hostile or otherwise uncomfortable environment for her.

 

[Red Cat]

I have never given money to someone experiencing homelessness. The biggest reason is I fear for my safety giving money to a total stranger, but also that I don't feel like it will help much. Me giving someone a few bucks isn't going to fix the problem of them not having a consistent roof over their head. In the U.S., it's a catch 22 where you usually need a stable job to be able to afford housing, but you need housing to be able to get a stable job. Our social safety net is a travesty, and I think it would pay off in the long run if we invested in programs such as universal basic income or at least more affordable / free housing. People would be able to focus more on getting jobs and being productive members of society if they didn't have to constantly worry about where their next meal will come from or where they are going to sleep every night. It's also morally the right thing to do to provide everyone safe housing in a society that has lots of mansions, condominiums, and luxury hotels. Those who struggle with drug addiction also need to be able to access services to help treat that problem without judgement.

 

[slzzpz]

I always try to give in some way. Buying them food, giving them money, clothing, etc...but if the person is aggressive and rude or they don't look like they genuinely need the help then I tend to not give.

 

[Uffe]

I recently had an experience where a homeless man ambushed me in a parking lot that scared me. He had obviously seen me go into the store because he was waiting for me when I came out. He knew which car was mine too because he took great pains to stand between me and the driver's side door. He essentially cut off my escape route and wouldn't let me leave until I gave him money.

Look, homelessness can happen to anyone. I get that. Sometimes people get down on their luck and have to resort to begging for survival. I get that too, and I'm more than happy to throw out some extra cash to someone who needs it. But don't ambush a woman in a parking lot and refuse to let her leave until she gives you what you want. Especially if you're a big, imposing man.

Homeless or not, I hate when people ambush you. When I was a kid, my mom took me, my brother, and sister to this store in the evening, so it got dark by the time we all went back to the car after she was done doing Christmas shopping. This woman came around the parking lot and asked my mom for money, and my mom got angry and told the lady, "Get the hell away from me!" I'm sure this woman meant no harm, but approaching people in parking lots is ill advised. Especially if the person being asked has children with them, because then you have to worry about the safety of your children. Big no no.

 

[AppleBitterCrumble]

I don't give away cash. Mainly because I'm a teenage girl and most times I'm afraid of what will happen if I stop, so I normally keep on walking past them and don't make eye contact. I feel terrible, but I am only trying to prioritize my safety first. If I am to give out money I feel a lot better donating to reputable charities online that I have a passion for. Or if someone wanted a meal and I had $10 to spare I would mind going into a store and getting them some food, or dropping off supplies (first-aid, warm cloths, etc.).