Giving money to the homeless

[OllieMartin]

I'm guessing I'm not the only one, but does anyone else avoid giving money to homeless people?
There's rarely a day goes past that one of Hull's waifs doesn't ask me if I can "spare some change?" (always men I've noticed). And it's not without a feeling of guilt that I tell them I don't have anything to give.
Of course I often do have something to give, but it seems nicer to say that than just "no".

It's not that I don't feel sorry for them, it's just since I once offered one some of my chips after a night out when he asked me for money to buy food and he replied, "No thanks, I don't like chips"! Can't help, but feel they'll be spending it on something else *sniff sniff, glug glug*

[Bigmallly]

I feel the same Ollie, if you offer them food or drink, they turn it down. I just say that I don't carry cash & only use cards.

[piskieinboots]

Hum, I have a tale of woe on this one!

Back in 1993 I was in Cardiff with Snowdrop and a whole bunch of other RAF coppers, I had just left Cornwall and hadn't really seen much in the way of homelessness.

Anyway, this chap asked me for money or a smoke (I puffed in those days!) I offered him a cigarette, he lurched towards me and made to grab my bag. I was behind the lads so they weren't watching this happen.

I yelped - they (the lads) came back toot sweet and told the chap to nicely go away!

I'm not for one minute suggesting all others are the same, but it does make you wary!

[HeyWayne]

I genuinely almost never have cash on me, which also makes it difficult to give donations to charity boxes.

[piskieinboots]

I genuinely almost never have cash on me, which also makes it difficult to give donations to charity boxes.

Yes, you Highness

[ammi]

The big issue seller in sheffield earns more per week than my father in law does and he stays homeless cause he would not get as much an benefits as he does selling the mag!
He has a top of the range mobile phone and he smokes real cigs (hubby cannot afford them so has to have roll-ups) he has all top of the range designer clothes and even has a free bus-pass. I dont begrudge anybody who realy needs help but I always think that he realy takes the buiscuit. I heard him last summer telling his friend that he had been offered a council flat but he had turned it down cause he would loose all his homeless benefits and be on less money!

[janeyo]

I just say no. It gets easier with practice.
However I normally have a screaming grumpy snotty nosed toddler with me so they normally avoid us like the plague!

[piskieinboots]

... screaming grumpy snotty nosed toddler with me so they normally avoid us like the plague!

I can understand that

[Two_Sheds]

The big issue seller in sheffield earns more per week than my father in law does

They make 75p per issue (although sometimes people give tips of course, which is discouraged by the Big Issue foundation)

[di]

Several years ago a friend of mine got chatting to a 'homeless' chap and bought him sandwiches to share in the park.(my friend was unemployed at the time)
Turned out the homeless chap was homeless in quite a few towns on different days of the week but always had his flat in London to go home to of an evening.Apparently he made about £100 on a good day.

That said,I know the majority of homeless people are just that and I feel awful not giving them money,but like you I'm a little cynical as to what the money is going towards.There's a chap in Ipswich that I bought a coffee once...but again,not sure how appreciated it was?
I guess the flipside is that it's up to them what they spend any donations on...unfortunately we struggle to keep ourselves afloat and although I could find a few spare pennies for food etc,I'm afraid I don't have it for 'other'.(don't like to use the term 'recreational' as I think if they've hit such a rock bottom to them alcohol/drugs are probably something that they feel keeps them from going mad.

Sad and hideous that there should be anyone homeless really.

[Two_Sheds]

There's rarely a day goes past that one of Hull's waifs doesn't ask me if I can "spare some change?"

It's annoying, intimidating, and it doesn't help the homeless cause. Complain to your council about it.

If you feel guilty, give to a homeless charity.

[Flummery]

I don't give to individuals. I do, however, donate tinned and dried food through the local church several times a year to the Homeless and Rootless Project. (In Hull - other homeless and rootless charities no doubt exist.)

[OllieMartin]

My ex was an Ambassador in Hull City Centre (Like PCSOs, but with even less powers). She's always come home with stories of how they'd caught the Big Issue sellers dealing, drinking, selling in spots they weren't allowed to. They'd regularly have to report them, but they'd be back doing it again straight away.
Not being much of a newspaper reader, there's nothing in the BI that I'd really buy it for except to support the individual selling it, and after all the stories I've heard I'm disinclined to even do that.

[ammi]

They make 75p per issue (although sometimes people give tips of course, which is discouraged by the Big Issue foundation)

He kind of bullies people into buying the mag from him and if you tell him no he follows you from shop to shop trying to push you into buying it.
I try to avoid him and have even found myself leaving the shopping and going back home empty handed just to avoid him

[di]

My ex was an Ambassador in Hull City Centre (Like PCSOs, but with even less powers). She's always come home with stories of how they'd caught the Big Issue sellers dealing, drinking, selling in spots they weren't allowed to. They'd regularly have to report them, but they'd be back doing it again straight away.
Not being much of a newspaper reader, there's nothing in the BI that I'd really buy it for except to support the individual selling it, and after all the stories I've heard I'm disinclined to even do that.

Isn't it sadly another case of a few 'bad'uns' creating an image for the majority that genuinely are having problems picking themselves up and find selling The Big Issue is what they need to make that first step?