Giving cash to homeless people - Good or bad?

[Cosmos]

I've been hearing the "should you give cash to homeless people?" debate pop up again, so I thought it would be interesting to see what people here think.

The controversy about giving homeless people/panhandlers money mostly boils down to fear of feeding into the addictions of homeless people and/or fraud. Unfortunately, many homeless people are addicted to drugs and/or alcohol and they spend the money they receive on feeding those debilitating addictions. Some "homeless" beggars are straight-up frauds who are trying to make easy money instead of getting a real job. To avoid these problems, it's often suggested to give homeless people food/clothes/etc instead of giving them cash that can be spent on anything.

However, some people argue that homeless people have the right to spend their money on drugs and alcohol, and that it's not our place to judge them. They argue that homeless people are in such a bad place that it's natural to want to escape from it for a little while by using drugs and alcohol. They also argue that homeless people have the right to choose what they spend their money on, just like non-homeless people do.

I'm very sympathetic towards the homeless and people with addictions; they're not bad people, they just need help to get back on their feet. At the same time, though, I'm really uncomfortable with the idea of funding people's addictions. I'm not going to be responsible for someone slowly killing themselves (or outright killing themselves, if they overdose).

 

[KM 749]

I've always found that soup kitchens are always a more proper way of helping the homeless or the misfortunate that through random donations to random people for unknown causes.

You not only find the typical bums there, but also hard working and typically successful people who are currently in a rough stretch. You know that you are feeding their natural and necessary appetites, and not their addictions or destructive habits.

Many homeless people will need a lot more than just food to start striving, but feeding them doesn't leave quite as bitter a taste in your mouth as giving them money in the street.

 

[CrunkLord420]

Having worked and lived around a lot of homeless people. Those who actively beg we're the worst homeless because they seemed utterly entitled, would regularly lie (it's been my birthday everyday for the past 10 years) or hurl abuse at you while standing right outside a liquor store. Those who are actually the most at risk (Eg. old, disheveled men who pick up cigarette butts to smoke) would never beg.

Those who truly need food or clothing will not have too hard of time finding a private/public outreach organization.

 

[KM 749]

Having worked and lived around a lot of homeless people. Those who actively beg we're the worst homeless because they seemed utterly entitled, would regularly lie (it's been my birthday everyday for the past 10 years) or hurl abuse at you while standing right outside a liquor store. Those who are actually the most at risk (Eg. old, disheveled men who pick up cigarette butts to smoke) would never beg.

Those who truly need food or clothing will not have too hard of time finding a private/public outreach organization.

A decent way to test the sincerity of a bum on the street is to give them food instead of money, and to see if they are grateful or not.
I've had friends who were literally chased down the street by a bum who they gave a banana to because the bum couldn't smoke it or exchange it for drugs.

 

[The Fool]

This really isn't an all-or-nothing, black-and-white deal. Not all homeless people are the same person in the same situation. Ultimately it's just a matter of judging their character and avoiding insane people who will probably snatch your wallet if you take it out to give them a buck.

Although not directly related to donating to the homeless, I like those guys who buy a bunch of food/water and hand it out to people on the streets. You never really see it, but I wish more people did that.

 

[Sailor_Jupiter]

I prefer to give them food and water if possible, partially because I'm more likely to have those things on me than cash. I've heard that toiletries and especially NEW SOCKS are really appreciated by them.

 

[Hen in a tie]

I used to live somewhere where it's hard to tell who's genuine and who's faking it. You could give a Beggar $5 for subway but once you walked around the block and came back he would go back to you with the same excuse he gave you last time.
Maybe in other places it's different, but it's best to support programs trying to help and aide homelessness. Recently the last town I lived in is planning on turning old Motels into apartments for the homeless. I've always had a similar idea, but also in the lobby area there would be job help and rehab rooms. There's some people that just need help getting their lives back but it's hard to organize your thoughts sometimes.
Then we have your very mentally ill that won't be able to function at all in society. In that case we should really bring safe Government funded mental institutes, keeping people who will never be able to function properly in safe areas is safe for everyone.

Off-topic but another thing that could help is trying to prevent people from going homeless in the first place, a woman lost her home after fighting cancer. Her medical bills were so expensive that she couldn't recover financially after it. Sure she has her health but she lost everything else to cancer.

 

[NIGGO KILLA]

I like to a-log homeless people


just throw em in the soup hotels

 

[AnOminous]

Do not give your currency to the homeless if your currency is derived from a federal income tax-paying job.

Give them Dogecoin!

 

[Jan_Hus]

Do not give your currency to the homeless if your currency is derived from a federal income tax-paying job. Your currency is worthless. Wipe your ass with it and then burn it. Also, currency is both freely given and freely received. You are never forced to give your currency to anyone, and you can make the giving of your currency conditional—even though there is no reason to do so.

Furthermore, the homeless do not need anything from you. Men are capable of living without your intervention.

HOLY SWEET JESUS YOURE BACK

 

[melty]

One thing Portland does I think is kinda neat is Street Roots. It's a newspaper that is sold by homeless or low income people on the street, that itself covers local issues and poverty issues. People who sell street roots get some income from it and they are not supposed to beg or harass, they just stand on street corners holding the newspaper up and everyone knows what it's for. And you get a pretty cool newspaper to read in return.
Personally I don't give money except really really rarely. I especially don't if they have a dog and are using the dog for sympathy points.. why do you have a dog? :/ I will give homeless people cigarettes if they ask because it's cheap and probably brings them some joy that isn't as bad as drugs. And occasionally I buy people food or coffee or whatever. I see other people doing that pretty frequently too.
Also fuck people that just need "random amount" (it's always a really random amount like $.85) for the bus/train. Especially if they are no where near the bus stop or were walking right by the stop until they saw me and suddenly decided to take the bus.

 

[CWCchange]

The homeless people participating in a charity like a church or non-profit are alright. For bums I see at the same corners for years, or approaching into your boundaries, I pretend to have a blank expression taking no notice of them or anybody else.

 

[Bassomatic]

More and more I've found working in a large city and for time living in one, if you are homeless you choose to be. The amount of social programs are excessive, we've had to close down, shelters because people don't use them. The budget wasn't slashed either, so the shelters that stayed open, had larger budgets. You can see what that would cause, more goods and services for those who needed/wanted them.

Even outside of that the amount of charity is near unmeasurable by groups outreach programs etc. This is not true of every area and they love to prey upon tourists whom are unaware. It makes one callous because you see a homeless person here, you can safely say, it's not a hard knock life, it's not a bad break it's a choice. It's either a untreated mental illness or an addiction.

I've seen people's lives go to shit, I've seen people break down, etc. I do think, over all cities in the US have the most support homeless people migrate FFS. They some how can't get a roof over there head but manage to travel? A lot of working people I know can't afford to relocate to better pastures. Yet some how a bum can? And still has the nerve to ask for cash?

Not helping someone who doesn't want to help them selves but feed self destructive behavior isn't cruel or cold. It's charity in it's own way.

I think the best thing you can do, is wish them well and move on, if you are forced to engage suggest the programs offered, I'd say 98% if that little, the lies start flying out. Aside being homeless, if you are going to lie to me why should I show you any support? That's basic human interaction, I don't care if you said you are raising money to save the whales and spend it on saving dolphins, sure great both are a charity both save sea animals but you asked for something from me for a reason. If you aren't gonna do it, that's dishonest and we all only have a limited amount of money, I choose to give mine to those whom are honest.

The most common thing people ask after money is for a smoke. Smoking isn't cheap, I know that even as a non smoker. But What's the cut off for needing a luxury good? If I opened a go fund me for the airplane I really really want, you'd all laugh at me, and rightfully so. But when a homeless person says, hey can I get some tax free income to spend how I wish ? If not, can I get a luxury good? Why not ask for basic goods? Because those are met. Most of us, meet those with work.

I don't buy into the "need of an escape so they earn it" mind set, I have bills to pay, I have a family to take care of, where's my escape? Hell the snooze button is all I got, they have no job, nothing to up keep, market shift doesn't worry them, gas prices going up doesn't change their budget etc etc. Sure we working/middle/upper class people have it better but no humans life is pure sunshine and rainbows.

You got free time out the ass, learn to play drums bang on a 5 gallon bucket and put your hat out. Some of those people make pretty damn good money. There's a local guy whos an amputee from vietnam and he does that nice guy. I only chatted briefly but said helps him with his depression it's fun gets to talk to people. No one asks him to be Louis Armstrong he's just a nice old guy blaring away. Maybe he's an addict maybe he's more mentally ill than just depressed but he's doing something and makes money for it.

Stolen valour is always fun with beggers. Once my friend tried helping someone naive to the fact how dishonest they are. He knew just enough lingo to claim he was over seas at the same time my buddy was... I did give him a few seconds before I pulled angry jar head off said hobo.

I should cut back on the coffee, this was long.

tl;dr
No, if anything if you care or not cash harms them more so than not.

 

[toilet_rainbow]

I'd rather donate food to a food bank than give a bum some change. There's just too much of a risk to get harassed or that the change will be used towards an addiction. I once had a dude with obvious meth mouth harass and follow me until I hid in a fast food joint for an hour because he kept trying to take my bag of art supplies since it was proof that I could've given him something. At least with food banks you have a better idea of where your donation is going.

 

[CrunkLord420]

I forgot the crustpunk kids, who are voluntary homeless. Often travelling across country or just urban camping away from their parents house. They like to camp out in the entertainment district downtown and panhandle money for weed (which they often advertise on their signs).

 

[Bassomatic]

I forgot the crustpunk kids, who are voluntary homeless. Often travelling across country or just urban camping away from their parents house. They like to camp out in the entertainment district downtown and panhandle money for weed (which they often advertise on their signs).

That's it's whole different subculture, do we have a thread about those sub humans?

Lots of them are probably wealthier than most of this site will ever be too.

Speaking of the last part here's something I alluded to before and mentioning weed reminded me :
http://www.denverpost.com/2014/07/2...-of-influx-of-homeless-in-denver-this-summer/
Now if you go to fox news links on this it's the #1 reason
CBS says a non factor over all but, as I mentioned before homeless people can manage to afford to move across the country to get easier access to drugs. Struggle is real amiright?

 

[ES 148]

I'm iffy on people who just sit there with hats. We don't get many in our town, though, thankfully.

However, if someone approaches you and has an excuse as to why they need the money, offer to go with them and purchase whatever it is for them. If they refuse, then apologise and quickly walk away. If they don't, then you can do your good deed for the day.


Thing is, I'm very easily intimidated (not that I like that but my 'fight or flight' reaction tends to end up as 'flight') and I feel bad just rejecting people so I often give even the shadiest people money just to stop the pressure. I think that's the problem: beggars, by the nature of what they're doing, prey on pity or compassion (whether maliciously or not) and the ones who walk right up to you also prey on fear - if someone suddenly comes up to you and talks when you're not expecting it, you're caught off-guard and are more likely to be frightened.

I only really mention this because a few months back a woman came up to me and asked for my credit card details, and I ended up giving her £10 instead of noping the fuck out of there because it was so disconcerting. I really can't get over how dumb I was, because she was still hanging around the same street when I passed by again.

 

[Sailor_Jupiter]

I used to live somewhere where it's hard to tell who's genuine and who's faking it. You could give a Beggar $5 for subway but once you walked around the block and came back he would go back to you with the same excuse he gave you last time.
Maybe in other places it's different, but it's best to support programs trying to help and aide homelessness. Recently the last town I lived in is planning on turning old Motels into apartments for the homeless. I've always had a similar idea, but also in the lobby area there would be job help and rehab rooms. There's some people that just need help getting their lives back but it's hard to organize your thoughts sometimes.
Then we have your very mentally ill that won't be able to function at all in society. In that case we should really bring safe Government funded mental institutes, keeping people who will never be able to function properly in safe areas is safe for everyone.

Off-topic but another thing that could help is trying to prevent people from going homeless in the first place, a woman lost her home after fighting cancer. Her medical bills were so expensive that she couldn't recover financially after it. Sure she has her health but she lost everything else to cancer.

What sort of people could take a woman fighting cancer's last dollars, and leave her without a home?!? It boggles my mind that these people exist. I know drugs and stuff cost money, but let's be honest if she was that hard up most of us would've treated her for free. People...

 

[CrunkLord420]

I'm iffy on people who just sit there with hats. We don't get many in our town, though, thankfully.

However, if someone approaches you and has an excuse as to why they need the money, offer to go with them and purchase whatever it is for them. If they refuse, then apologise and quickly walk away. If they don't, then you can do your good deed for the day.


Thing is, I'm very easily intimidated (not that I like that but my 'fight or flight' reaction tends to end up as 'flight') and I feel bad just rejecting people so I often give even the shadiest people money just to stop the pressure. I think that's the problem: beggars, by the nature of what they're doing, prey on pity or compassion (whether maliciously or not) and the ones who walk right up to you also prey on fear - if someone suddenly comes up to you and talks when you're not expecting it, you're caught off-guard and are more likely to be frightened.

I only really mention this because a few months back a woman came up to me and asked for my credit card details, and I ended up giving her £10 instead of noping the fuck out of there because it was so disconcerting. I really can't get over how dumb I was, because she was still hanging around the same street when I passed by again.

A few weeks ago I snapped at one guy, I told him to remember my face and never talk to me again. The dude stands in front of the liquor store I'm constantly walking by and jumps out in front of you dressed in basically a bathrobe holding a cup out to you for money "hey buddy can you help me out!". He actually took some note, he still does it but sometimes he'll go "oh sorry man I didn't see you" or whatever.

I have empathy for the homeless, I just hate beggers. Don't get me started on the dumpster divers who just turn your trash bin inside out, the idea of human recyclers is cool, but not when you cause more societal damage as you do it. They also like to strip copper wiring and leave insulation all over the sidewalks.

 

[Lackadaisy]

That's it's whole different subculture, do we have a thread about those sub humans?

Lots of them are probably wealthier than most of this site will ever be too.

Speaking of the last part here's something I alluded to before and mentioning weed reminded me :
http://www.denverpost.com/2014/07/2...-of-influx-of-homeless-in-denver-this-summer/
Now if you go to fox news links on this it's the #1 reason
CBS says a non factor over all but, as I mentioned before homeless people can manage to afford to move across the country to get easier access to drugs. Struggle is real amiright?

Summer in Denver is crazy when it comes to hobos. A lot of them are temporary transients from other states who come for the concerts, weed, drugs, and booze but clear off by first frost. It's particularly bad in touristy areas and public parks, where they camp out and refuse to be taken to shelters because they can't get high there. Denver actually has a pretty low permanent /winter hobo population for its size.