Giving money to the homeless

[northepaul]

Having said all that, and being devils advocate () here; I did a project about 5 years ago with a group of homeless teenagers - they genuinely had reasons for not going home, lived on money people gave them. (Too young for benefits although they would try and sleep in one of the councils doss houses if they could get in on particularly cold/wet nights,) regularly got picked on, beaten up, spat at or worse, even when not begging. They did drink and smoke but who can blame them in that situation. It wasnt their fault they were in that situation and its a sad reflection on our society that "genuine" people who need help, are let down and hated.

Having said that, I agree with most of the other comments about Big Issue Sellers and giving people money.

[weekendwellies]

There is a trio that sell the big issue outside Central Station in Liverpool. One of them always has smokes, and I often see him using his mobile phone. The other 2 are more discreet.

[ladylottie]

Sorry to hear that you've all had such bad experiences when trying to help street people. I help out at a night shelter one night a week and the men and women I come across are certainly not getting loads of money. They genuinely have nothing. All have been referred to us by various agencies such as Drug/alcohol rehabs, probation, etc..

But I would never give money to anyone begging on the street, that's just feeding their habit. Like some of you, I've given out pasties or some other food. I suppose there must be stupid people who would put something in the food they hand out - but street people are all pretty clued up as to who they think they can trust. Regards the food, they have two choices - either they are hungry and take the food, or they only want money, in which case they get nothing. If they only want money, I do tell them who they can talk to who will help them to get free food and a bed for the night.

But no-one has ever been rude to me in many a long year.

Please don't be put off from offering food to a homeless person by the actions of a few. How many have survived during these past few months beats me.

[Alison]

I regularly buy the Big Issue although it used to be a much better read than it is today and when I want to, I have given money to homeless people or bought food / drink. Yes, some of them may well use that money to buy drugs or whatever but not all and I give thanks that I'm not in their position and hope that I never have the bad luck (which it can often be) to end up in such a situation. I'm extremely lucky to have good health and friends and family around me and hope that if I did end up in that situation that people would try and help rather than look down on me. I have a friend that volunteers at a homeless hostel and this thread has reminded me that I should be doing more myself.

[grannymem]

There is a trio that sell the big issue outside Central Station in Liverpool. One of them always has smokes, and I often see him using his mobile phone. The other 2 are more discreet.

If you don't have a base, I guess a mobile phone is one of the few ways of keeping in touch with friends, family - I really don't begrudge them that - nor, for that matter, a smoke (however bad it is for them!)

The recent very cold weather can't have been much fun either.
It seems to me we live in a fairly selfish society anyway where everyone expects a comparatively luxurious standard of living (comparatively when thinking of 3rd world populations) and I'm not sure anyone ending up on the street is likely to be more deserving than the rest of us (wasn't it Eliza Doolittle's dad who said that he had more need as one of the 'undeserving poor' than the rest of the 'deserving poor'?)

Sorry! I hope I don't sound too critical of others' opinions - I guess we all have issues we feel strongly about and they're not always the same issues.

PS If someone buys their copies of The Big Issue and manages to sell enough of them to treat themselves then all I can say is well done - they must have something about them to sell that many copies in a day!

[Incy]

My Dad, always had a policy of not giving money to beggars, however, he worked in central London for many years and regularly used to walk quite some distance rather than taking the bus. He got talking to an old homeless chap once on his way through a park and offered him his sandwiches which were gratefully received. After that, whenever he saw him they would have a chat and the chap got Dad's lunch. Dad might have gone without lunch that day but at least he knew he would eat that evening whereas the homeless man never knew where his next meal would come from.
I do think offering food if you have it is the right thing to do. After all they can always turn it down but if they're really hungry it could be of real help. I was however advised by a friend (who had been homeless himself and at the time I knew him, had turned things around and was working with the homeless) that giving money directly to individuals really didn't help as, if they are on the streets because of an addiction it would only help maintain it rather than giving them a future.

[Brengirl]

I regularly buy the Big Issue although it used to be a much better read than it is today and when I want to, I have given money to homeless people or bought food / drink. Yes, some of them may well use that money to buy drugs or whatever but not all and I give thanks that I'm not in their position and hope that I never have the bad luck (which it can often be) to end up in such a situation. I'm extremely lucky to have good health and friends and family around me and hope that if I did end up in that situation that people would try and help rather than look down on me. I have a friend that volunteers at a homeless hostel and this thread has reminded me that I should be doing more myself.

I hang my head in shame that I do not behave as my heart tells me to. I admire you Allison for doing what you feel is right for you. I dither on the 'don't want to look a sucker' mode. So much money is given by so many to charities of their choice that end up doing very little to change things. Next time I meet the lovely fellow outside our local Superdrug (with his clown hat in all weathers) I will give hime a fiver. If it makes his day it will also have made mine.

[janeyo]

Ok, I will get shouted down here but can't help it. I have a real thing about unknown dirt sources and cannot buy a copy of BI because I can't bear to think about what dirt might be on it from the homeless person.
I am weird and sad.

[beefy]

I will give him a fiver. If it makes his day it will also have made mine.

And if it buys the wrap of heroin that kills him how will you feel?

Give to the Homeless charities who can/ will provide food and shelter . If they can't/ won't acept the help of the charity then you have to ask why they only want money.
I never give to people on the street I give to the registered charities . Some people make a very good living as "professional" beggars and unfortunately tar everyone on the streets with the same brush. While we give to them there is a reason for them to be there . Stop giving to them and those who don't need to be there will find somewhere else to go and another scam to try leaving those who really need the help .The charities will then know who and where to target your money more effectively than you can by yourself.

Harsh - yes , but in my opinion the best way of dealing with the problem / situation.(delete as you see fit)

[janeyo]

I was under the impression that most charities spend most of their donations on administration and bigwigs, Oxfam and the like.

[Two_Sheds]

I was under the impression that most charities spend most of their donations on administration

If you click on one of the Oxfam projects, then scroll down to "budgets" you will see a pie chart telling you where the money has been spent.

[pjh75]

Difficult one I think. I never give money, although have bought the Big Issue once or twice when I was a uni student.

I was walking to work from the bus stop during the recent freeeezing weather thinking "not long now till I get into the warm office", and walked past a chap huddled over in a doorway, so I went to the cafe up the road and came back with a cup of tea for him, even then thinking what a pitiful offer it was in the grand scheme of things... but he was delighted and really grateful. I guess you can only do what you think is right at the time and if it's thrown back in your face (hopefully, not literally) then it's unfortunate.

[FionaH]

Tricky one isn't it? So many young people are homeless because they simply can not go home, for a variety of extremely unpleasant reasons. I wouldn't mind giving to them.

On the other hand I knew a guy who was "homeless" near here and begged for money. In fact he had a home with a wife and two children in it. His drug and alcohol addiction led him to live on the streets instead of at home. I can say CATEGORICALLY that any money he received would NOT have been spent on food!

I prefer to donate food to a local church who do a walk in lunch twice a week.

[petal]

I am often accosted for money whilst i wait for my train at Kings Cross, I always offer to get them a warm drink or some soup and have always been refused. I will always keep on offering, however.

[beefy]

I was under the impression that most charities spend most of their donations on administration and bigwigs, Oxfam and the like.

Well the choice is simple - give to charity were some of the money WILL end up helping or give to the drug dealers who WON'T end up helping . You choose.