Do you give money to the homeless? [Archive]

kadamontaga

10-18-2002, 10:14 AM

I'm researching an article for a student newpaper, and I'd be grateful for some opinions on the subject of giving money to the homeless. The politics and support regarding homelessness in the US are probably quite different to the UK, but I'd like to hear your personal opinions anyway.
Normally I never give money directly to homeless people, instead I buy a 'Big Issue' magazine two or three times a month* (see below). But earlier in the week I made an exception...

My girlfriend and myself had gone out to get drunk and after a couple of hours we ran out of cash, so we went to find a cash machine (ATM). We walked around for a while and found that sat next to every cash machine in the town centre was a different homeless person asking for spare change. As I said, normally I wouldn't give money directly to them, but my conscience wouldn't let me take £20 to go and get drunk on without giving the guy some change, so I did.
What do you think to that?

*Big Issue: A weekly magazine produced by the Big Issue Foundation (www.bigissue.co.uk). The magazine has all sorts of content, frequently concerning the homeless or 'vulnerably accommodated'. The magazine costs £1 and is sold by homeless people, some of the profits go to the Big Issue Foundation - a registered charity, and the people who sell the magazine also get to keep a share. Selling this magazine give homeless people the oppurtunity to work themselves out of poverty. I don't know if you have anything like this in the states.

2-1B

10-18-2002, 10:46 AM

No.

Whenever I go "downtown" into the nearest big city for a concert, there are ALWAYS goons who rush up to people and hit them up for money. These are always young guys who are just trying to intimidate people, asking for small amounts of money for various reasons.
I know they are not even homeless, and I really hate this behavior! This happened to me last month; we were heading to a concert club and (as always) were hassled THREE TIMES in a 5 block radius. Ridiculous. They rush up to you as if they are going to mug you, but don't actually touch you.

I know this does not directly answer your question, but I'm saying that because of this behavior I rush past anyone who approaches me and KEEP WALKING. Even though I know nothing will happen, it is still eerie to brush someone off and walk past them, still hearing them behind you - I can't help but think of getting shot in the back of the head.
Therefore, any real homeless person I may happen across is not going to get anything from me as I am too busy fending off freaks.

All things being equal, I would likely be inclined to spare some change, but not around here!

hango fett

10-18-2002, 11:34 AM

i would, but there are no homeless in my town.
h

The Overlord Returns

10-18-2002, 11:42 AM

I have.......in the past...and will do so in the future.

I don't give money to every homeless person who asks me on the street...or I'd find myself there rather quickly...

Good hint....always look at a beggars shoes....if they're more expensive than yours...move along;)

vulcantouch

10-18-2002, 12:03 PM

"people say 'don't give money to the homeless, they'll just use it to get drunk!' i reply, oh really? i thought they were gonna use it to build Roads and Schools" :D
in boulder (25 miles nw of denver) i've heard em (bratty lil runaway teens mostly) get all snippy if you don't give em nuthin, or even if you don't give em Enough ("aw c'mon Dude, you can spare more than a lousy Quarter!" ) i think they're hilarious :D
about a decade ago i was in a fastfood drivethru when a guy walks up & says he & his wife lost their ride & are tryin to work their way back to kentucky, could i help out. i gives him 10 bucks and only later ask myself hey, why was that "kentuckian" wearing a broncos cap and rockies sweatshirt? he sure adapted pretty quick to our hometown team spirit for someone just passin thru :crazed:
we got plentya roadside signholders ("nam vet", "native american", "stranded, tryin to get home", "every bit helps, god bless", "why lie, i need a beer" :D ) round here, every coupla intersections in some places. they're there day after day (in fact one of em's a small-boned purty blond in her 20s who could easily make a killin on the street another way :kiss: :evil: ) so they obviously make enough to get by, so i consider mosta them performance artists, enacting a double fable for our benefit. one moral of their story is the obvious "it feels good to give", but the other is a cautionary tale of what could happen to the middle-classers drivin by if they don't keep showin up to work on time, kissin their boss's butts & stayin in line :eek: in that sense i spose you could say they do "serve a useful purpose". society's like a donkey in that every society needs losers (the stick) just as it needs winners (the carrot) to keep itself motivated & moving-
vt

Jedi Master Silas

10-18-2002, 02:24 PM

I have and will continue to give to folks less fortunate. I was always taught that an angel dressed as a bum may ask you for help ( similar to a story in the bible) so you help them. So I try to stick to that rule of thumb. If I lived in a city or an area like Ceasar does and had that situation to deal with I would think twice.

kadamontaga

10-18-2002, 02:42 PM

Thanks a lot for these responses everyone :)
If anyone has the time to give more detailed or insightful comments I'd very much appreciate it.

Exhaust Port

10-18-2002, 02:48 PM

I'd rather donate to a homeless shelter than directly to a person. Money would go a lot further providing a service to many than paying for one Big Mac for an individual.

DarthBrandon

10-18-2002, 03:01 PM

I give to the homeless when I have it to give, I also follow The Overlord Returns rule of thumb. If the person has better clothes or shoes than I do, I just move along.

The Overlord Returns

10-18-2002, 03:04 PM

I freely give cigarettes when a homeless person asks me fore one though....

Deoxyribonucleic

10-18-2002, 03:11 PM

Here's a story....I used to work at a Barnes and Noble and we had this homeless guy, Vlady that would come in everyday and stay until we closed...he ate packaged sugar and drank water. One day a few of us started talking to him and found out that he was a pretty cool guy and so we'd buy him food, clothes, etc when we could and he was always rather grateful...but then it got to the point that he started demanding money and also pestering the customers to give him money. Plus he started getting really really dirty and he would hang out in the cafe where food was served which is a health violation and the customers got grossed out...SO, one of the employee's father is a minister and told us a great place for the homeless where they get meals, clothes, shelter, blankets, and skills and help to find a new job...so we asked him if he wanted to go there because we couldn't have him in the store anymore (mind you, we had known him now about a year) and he said yes...so myself and two others drove him for about 45 minutes to this place, (it was pretty far away) got him set up, registered and gave hugs and said our goodbyes...well, about two hours later that bun of a sitch was back at our store in the cafe bugging people for money...he didn't even give the place a TRY and took a cab back to our store which I imagine must have cost at least 20 bucks (wonder where he got that money)! So, the moral of this story and many more like it IS...you can't help them...they can only help themselves and only if they choose to do so! This guy could have had a job by now but instead he wanted to play off of people's sympathy and be lazy! As far as I'm concerned, I certainly won't help the homeless by giving them money because it only perpetuates the situation they are already in and in a way is like spoiling them so they won't rely on their own damn selves to get a job! This guy was MOST capable of getting a job too, as he'd already been in the workforce!

Hope that helps for your paper!

You might also research panhandling because some who do panhandle make more than you and me put together...they did repeated stories about panhandlers in Seattle, WA. with in-person interviews - one guy was on the news saying that depending on where he panhandles, he can make around 500 bucks a day...NO KIDDING! I'm not saying they are all that lucky but they are out there!...you might be able to get these stories in archives from the Seattle Times or from the news stations up there?

Good Luck!

Hasbro'sBountyHunter

10-18-2002, 05:50 PM

Do you give money to the homeless?

No. Only because they're likely to buy booze.

kadamontaga

10-18-2002, 06:51 PM

Thanks a lot for the replies :)
I'm not familiar with the term "pan handling". Could someone please explain it to me?

Deoxyribonucleic

10-18-2002, 07:01 PM

Originally posted by kadamontaga
Thanks a lot for the replies :)
I'm not familiar with the term "pan handling". Could someone please explain it to me?

well, back in the "old" days in frontier land, the poor would stand with a pan or something similar to collect money from the more fortunates. Now, people use hats, pans, guitar cases, hands, etc...anyhoo, it's when people sit or stand somewhere and verbally ask or have written a sign to ask for money from passersby. Sometimes some people will perform a small gig as well.

Lowly Bantha Cleaner

10-19-2002, 12:03 AM

Occasionally, I will give the homeless money. It all depends on the situation.

Panhandlers I will never give money too.

I once saw your average ordinary looking person with a leather jacket loitering around a gas station, asking me for $$$ so he could get a cup of coffee. Something told me he wasn't homeless so I politefully declined. He then demanded that I would give him money, and after I didn't, he started following me and cussing me out. I had to duck into a taco restaurant for safety.

People who are handicapped, blind, or hold up signs that state they are veterans, or tell of some hard luck story, I'll give my pocket change to.

Corner musicians (a couple seem homeless) also will warrant my pocket change.

When I go to Toronto, I always get rid of my Canadian $$$ before I cross the border, so the first homeless guy who finds me gets it.

The 'Xir

10-19-2002, 12:50 AM

I give most of the time, or atleast when I can, but most likely whomever I'm giving money to, probably has more money then I do or can afford to give! go figure! There's actually one dude who plays guitar in our town that I think has actually made a career out of bumming change. He plays in spring, summer, fall and even in the dead of winter! He's always at major events in and around the city he's almost famous for christ sake!
As for this paper your doing, dude you can look this stuff up in any sociological book out there! It's a neccesary part of our wonderful Capitalistic societies that we live in! It's on the same basis that Sociologists say how prostitution, protects the Institutiuon of Marriage! Well we need Homless people to protect the ability or chance to become rich ourselves! It gives us examples of what not to become and to shoot for higher goals and achievements! It's like back in the day, the ethics or moraity behind casting the sins of a community upon the head of a goat and banishing it from town to roam forever until death!
Now, just so there isn't any misunderstandings, this isn't what I believe or believe in, it's just what sociologists say!
Heck I believe we can have Democracy and even Materialism without Capitalism! No Capitalistic society and Democratic society for that matter can ever truely be free! For we're forever shackeled by the chains of economic responsabilities(money). I think a society should construct and produce for the sake of everyone's needs evenly! It would develop a stronger sense of community and everyone benefits evenly. Produce for the good of the whole, although everyones wants or needs might be different it would all balance out in the end! To generalized here I know, but it is possible, we are all just so caught up in the 'One who dies with the most toys wins' mentality, that were all too stupid to do anything about it! Oh dare to dream...

Pendo

10-19-2002, 07:13 AM

I give money to the homeless.

I sometimes see them begging in the streets and I feel guilty so I always give them a few quid. I also buy the Big Issue. Sometimes when I go shopping in Liverpool, I come home with about 8 copies of the Big Issue :rolleyes:. It's just so hard to say "No" to them.

I have also donated some money to a homless charity in the past.

We are all so lucky to have a home to go to, it must be terrible if you had to sleep out on the street in the freezing cold. Especially in Winter. There aren't enough homless shelters around.

PENDO!

Jango Jett

10-19-2002, 02:51 PM

I wouldnt give a homeless bum a dime, 99.99 % of homeless
people are no-good [drunkards, bums, criminals, crazy] they
prey on weak hearted people to feel sorry for them, it's very
common for them to beg for money during the holidays, Ive heard
all the excuses:

"my car ran out of gas and Im trying to go home"
"I havent eaten in 3 days"
"my fan belt broke on my car and Im trying to get home for
Thanksgiving"
"need money for bus fare"
"need a cup of coffee"
"need to make a down payment on a cheeseburger"
"Im trying to get home to my little girls birthday today"

once a black guy asked me for a quarter and I refused, then he
said: "whats wrong you dont help black people" ?

homeless people can starve for all I care. :mad:

The Overlord Returns

10-19-2002, 02:58 PM

Originally posted by Jango Jett
I wouldnt give a homeless bum a dime, 99.99 % of homeless
people are no-good [drunkards, bums, criminals, crazy] they
prey on weak hearted people to feel sorry for them, it's very
common for them to beg for money during the holidays, Ive heard
all the excuses:

"my car ran out of gas and Im trying to go home"
"I havent eaten in 3 days"
"my fan belt broke on my car and Im trying to get home for
Thanksgiving"
"need money for bus fare"
"need a cup of coffee"
"need to make a down payment on a cheeseburger"
"Im trying to get home to my little girls birthday today"

once a black guy asked me for a quarter and I refused, then he
said: "whats wrong you dont help black people" ?

homeless people can starve for all I care. :mad:

Thank you ebenezer........

Jango Jett

10-20-2002, 11:20 AM

You may think that you are helping by giving your money to the
"homeless" but they just waste it on booze and drugs, your
really not helping there situation, it probably makes you feel
good about yourself for giving away your money.

JEDIpartner

10-20-2002, 02:20 PM

No... I don't give money to them. For what it's worth, I would rather see them eat some sort of food... even if it's fast food. So- I ask them if they are looking for money for food... if they respond "yes", then I tell them to wait and I will return. I buy them $5 worth of McDonald's or Wendy's gift certificates. If they are truly in need... they accept these graciously.

I figure that my intentions were good even if their's were not. I believe that my gesture of goodwill will eventually be returned to me even if the recipient was just messing with me.

jobi

10-20-2002, 07:16 PM

Naw I don't give them cash I just go buy them booze. Saves them the trouble of going to the store to get it themselves.

J/K

scruffziller

10-20-2002, 09:23 PM

Nope because they will just buy booze with it.

The Overlord Returns

10-21-2002, 08:12 AM

So I guess the homeless group in my city that pooled their money together and ended up saving to by a home don't fit into the homeless mould....as it seeme that all ACTUAL homeless people simply use their money to buy booze??

scruffziller

10-21-2002, 09:03 AM

Originally posted by JEDIpartnr
No... I don't give money to them. For what it's worth, I would rather see them eat some sort of food... even if it's fast food. So- I ask them if they are looking for money for food... if they respond "yes", then I tell them to wait and I will return. I buy them $5 worth of McDonald's or Wendy's gift certificates. If they are truly in need... they accept these graciously.

Then they will sell that $5 worth to another person who is actually hungry for food for $2.50 to get themselves closer to a bottle of cheap booze.

The Overlord Returns

10-21-2002, 09:48 AM

I guess ignorance truly is bliss ... ;)

scruffziller

10-21-2002, 11:04 AM

Yes if you can still stay on that lofty cloud, me..I fell off that cloud years ago. I've known people who have done that(what I described in the previous thread), down and out folk that is. I will never give money to people I know to be of "a lesser clod." Been burned to many times. Just check out this testimonial.http://www.sirstevesguide.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14415

The Overlord Returns

10-21-2002, 11:14 AM

that's not about a homeless person.

see my testimonial above about a group of homeless in my city....

scruffziller

10-21-2002, 11:41 AM

The folks in your testimonial have the good sense to not beg for money, they may "accept" charity, however. I may not be as harsh as Jango's quote but the facts I agree with. Besides, 75% of homeless folk are schizophrentic. The fact that the folks that you spoke of did what they did, fit into the category of a different thread somewhere on this forum..... that .01%.

The Overlord Returns

10-21-2002, 11:44 AM

point is....for any story about your stereotypical homeless person ....there is always a story of one that uses the money they get to buy food, or try and get out of their predicament. There's always the other side of the story.

I used to frequently give change to an older woman on the streets who begged outside of my workplace....and without fail, I would see her take her money into mcdonalds, or tim hortons...and get herself food. They aren't all going in and buying booze......there not all stereotypes.

Jango Jett

10-21-2002, 08:19 PM

Homeless people are a bunch of lazy free-loaders, the more you
give the more it promotes more homeless people that want
people like you to support them, if you give them free housing
they will want more and more all they do is take and take from
society [parasites] homeless people come to California just for
the benifits to get on Welfare or general assistance or disability.
:frus:

Emperor Howdy

10-21-2002, 09:03 PM

Like it or not, Jango is partly correct. The problem is....especially in large cities like Atlanta.....you can't tell the scam artists from the legitim......ummm......nevermind. They're ALL scammers. :rolleyes:

Seriously, there are definately people down on their luck....who struggle everyday to get food on the table. I can appreciate that. I also know a percent of my taxes goes to pay for that, so in that way, I DO give to the poor. (Pffft.....as if I'M rich??)

Then there's your alcoholic, drug-addict, smelly-arse lunatic homeless. Do I think it's an unfortunate situation? Some of them, yes. Have I actually ever given money or food to them? Yep.....and had some never even so much as say "thank you". If someone truly is in the dumps but does everything in their power to crawl out, I'll be the first one reaching out my hand to help you. However, you wanna sit around in your own s*** and get drunk, then the sooner you freeze to death the better.
:zzz:

Mr. JabbaJohnL

10-22-2002, 04:22 PM

Nah, I have no sympathy for the homeless. Go to a public place and take a shower, then go to Taco Bell and get yourself a job application (it helps if you don't know one word of English :p ). I mean, really people, a street corner in Boulder, Colorado is really the best you can do? Get a box, first of all. Oh well, I have a house and that's good enough for me. :D

Lowly Bantha Cleaner

10-22-2002, 08:59 PM

Whoa,

I'm so overwhelmed to see the outpouring of benevolence and compassion for our fellow man. Sympathy and love sure reigns strong here on the forums. :rolleyes:

Also, remember that a good percentage of our homeless are mentally ill and/or are veterans. Many of these people have problems that are too great to cope with, too grand for us to understand. Holding a steady job for these people, whether at the local Burger Barn or anyplace else, is a stretch--so it's not like it's a choice for all of these homeless people to be lazy freeloaders looking to mooch 50 cents from strangers so that they can get a bite to eat. They have demons to great for them too conquer.

Jango Jett

10-23-2002, 01:04 AM

when I was a kid they were not called "homeless" they were:

BUMS, TRAMPS, WHINO'S, DRUNKS, BOOGIE MAN, DRUG ADDICTS,
JUNKIES, TRANSIENTS, HOBOS, ETC.

but I guess "homeless" sounds more PC [politically correct] we
wouldnt want to offend the "BUMS".

kadamontaga

10-23-2002, 06:06 AM

Anyone remember that show with the dog?
The Littlest Hobo?
That rocked.

Jargo

10-23-2002, 03:23 PM

I was in a large City near where I live yesterday. And as I was walking around, a young voice called out to me; "Sir, my good sir can'st thou lendeth me of your purse but one farthing?"
And I turned to see a young man sitting huddled, in the rain, on the hard cold stone floor. I looked him over from his outstretched hand to his scraggy clothing all dirty with mowly fustication and up to his grubby face with his hooded eyes and trembling lips and pale pale malnourished complaxion.....
And I looked at him sat so sad and destitute. And I said "*&**$%*£!! off and get a job you lazy Poltroon!" and went about my business, for I had a pressing engagement at a distinguished and well reknowned clothiery shoppe............

Alack! Alas! For the young man may have developed a bad case of pnuemonia or perhaps tuberculosis. and he may die from his malnourishment.
But yet I ask myself, what is a young man doing begging when work for the young is easily found (although not of plentiful bounty as far as the wages go), but young men should not be sitting in the rain if they are able.
I might expect beggars in war torn countries, beggars with legs blown off by landmines, or blinded by shrapnel from an AK-75 semi-automatic hand rifle rocket launcher thingy but not here in lovely cosey England Britain Uk land.
We have a good society with many many schemes and benefits from the state. We are almost a nanny state. So, why are these people out in the rain begging? Because they choose to drop out of the natural framework of society and live an alternate lifestyle.
Well *%^&&$£(**!! them all to hell!!! If they can't manage to think things through enough to be self sufficient in their alternate lifestyle then they can rot. Rot in their own stupidity.
I say throw them in dungeons deep and dark or put them in the stocks for all to pass and humiliate with comedy squishy rotten fruit and veg pelted at them. Or run them out of town beyond the city gates. Or use them for firewood. Or feed them to the animals in the zoos. The lions would like that, fresh meat every day - luxury!!

mabudonicus

10-27-2002, 07:16 AM

I won't say too much about this, there's a lot of salient points presented here, and I agree and disagree with most of it.
I've been homeless a few times (not the fingerless, brown bag stereotype, mind) and it was DAM hard. I NEVER begged for money. If I needed something immediately, there were three options.
1- try the local social support network- we have food banks, emergency shelters, soup kitchens....... it's there, and it works. Thing is, for a relatively sane, decent person, it is EXTREMELY demoralizing..... all you can think is "what the heck did I do to deserve this, I never thought this would be my life, it's pathetic" and so on.... it did a lot of psychological damage to me. A LOT.
2- Ask a friend for what you NEED. Needs are easier to fulfill than desires, see, I would never ask a friend for, say, a new SWAF, but I had no problem asking someone if I could cook something fancy for them and eat a bit of the finished product as a reward. Even if you have nothing, you've got your mind and body, and skills, so use em!! A guy who sits in the same spot panhandling every day, IMO, probably plans on doing that for the rest of his life (at least till the authorities force a change of venue), and investing in / assisting with that seems like a waste of time, again IMHO.
3- crime always works. I pride myself on never having victimized anyone, though. I would just trespass into places to make off with food that was being kept safe till it could be thrown out the next day anyways, I didn't mind doing stuff like that.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, you don't have to be nuts to fall through enough cracks that you end up on the street. And once you're there, it's awful. I'm truly lucky to be where I am, there were lots of times when I felt like giving up. LOTS of times.
Sorry for the long posts. Any questions, see me after class.:)
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

scruffziller

10-27-2002, 11:02 AM

Originally posted by mabudon
I won't say too much about this, there's a lot of salient points presented here, and I agree and disagree with most of it.
I've been homeless a few times (not the fingerless, brown bag stereotype, mind) and it was DAM hard. I NEVER begged for money. If I needed something immediately, there were three options.
1- try the local social support network- we have food banks, emergency shelters, soup kitchens....... it's there, and it works. Thing is, for a relatively sane, decent person, it is EXTREMELY demoralizing..... all you can think is "what the heck did I do to deserve this, I never thought this would be my life, it's pathetic" and so on.... it did a lot of psychological damage to me. A LOT.
2- Ask a friend for what you NEED. Needs are easier to fulfill than desires, see, I would never ask a friend for, say, a new SWAF, but I had no problem asking someone if I could cook something fancy for them and eat a bit of the finished product as a reward. Even if you have nothing, you've got your mind and body, and skills, so use em!! A guy who sits in the same spot panhandling every day, IMO, probably plans on doing that for the rest of his life (at least till the authorities force a change of venue), and investing in / assisting with that seems like a waste of time, again IMHO.
3- crime always works. I pride myself on never having victimized anyone, though. I would just trespass into places to make off with food that was being kept safe till it could be thrown out the next day anyways, I didn't mind doing stuff like that.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, you don't have to be nuts to fall through enough cracks that you end up on the street. And once you're there, it's awful. I'm truly lucky to be where I am, there were lots of times when I felt like giving up. LOTS of times.
Sorry for the long posts. Any questions, see me after class.:)
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Now I would give you money M. Welcome back!!!

sith_killer_99

10-27-2002, 12:26 PM

Well, I give money to my wife. She dosen't work for a living.

Oh, except for the whole, "raising our child" thing.

She gets meals, a roff over her head, cable TV, free high speed internet access, and a LOT more.

scruffziller

10-28-2002, 06:51 AM

This says it all. I edited for the site.

scruffziller

10-28-2002, 06:54 AM

And this one as well.

scruffziller

10-28-2002, 09:00 AM

Ok.

Deoxyribonucleic

10-28-2002, 09:22 AM

Looks like the second one's already had enough beer by the size of that "BEER GUT"!!!

He looks like an over zealous sports fan that got so wrapped up into some sporting event, that he forgot to change clothes and take a shower!

Kidhuman

01-28-2008, 09:38 PM

No, I never give money to the homeless. I would rather buy them food or something.

Slicker

01-28-2008, 09:44 PM

I really don't think homeless man would approve of your tactics.

Jedi_Kal-El

01-28-2008, 09:45 PM

I saw a homeless guy one time holding up a sign. Not wanting food, but beer. I applauded his honesty and got him a 6 pack. Any other time no. Some of those ppl arn't even homeless, it's just their way of making money without Uncle Sam getting in the way. Saw a couple at a Target one time folding up their signs and getting into their very, very nice, new Caddilac. Much better than what I was driving at the time. Sheesh, I'm either in the wrong line of work or just too honest to try something like that.