Should you give money to homeless people?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by jay. on October 18, 2009 at 10:54pm

i rarely carry cash.. and in my part of town, rarely see a homeless person. therefore, when i do have cash and see a homeless person, i almost feel like it's a little more than coincidence. i've given money before, and i'd do it again. i'm not going to miss those few dollars. so, i don't care what they do with it. if they use it to buy cigarettes, liquor, etc. then that's okay with me, because atleast they're using it for something that'll make 'em happy.

Permalink Reply by Akirah on October 21, 2009 at 2:41pm

I agree. Why not? If they turn it down, oh well. I sometimes give money. A lot of times I've given food and I've only been turned down once. In my experience, many people are grateful to be offered food.

And it's none of my business what they use the money for. Once it's out of my hands, it's out of my hands. What people don't realize is that it's very dangerous for an addict to go through withdrawal. I'm not condoning that we keep homeless addicts on drugs, but when it gets to that point, using drugs really does become a physical thing.

And sometimes, if I feel safe, I have conversations with homeless people. At the end of the day, more than money or food, people just want to be recognized as human beings. It sounds cheesy, but it's true. I guess that's the social worker in my coming through though.

Permalink Reply by Mindy on October 21, 2009 at 12:20pm

"Should" is tough to define. I've given money to homeless people in the past, but to be honest, I don't think I really will continue to do so. Unfortunately, several homeless people have been panhandling in my community and when offered food, work, etc., they turn it down and just continue to ask for cash. It makes me wonder why they can't simply accept what is offered.

Permalink Reply by nicopolitan on October 21, 2009 at 2:52pm

Because I've worked near skid row in Los Angeles, I feel I might have been sadly somewhat desensitized to this. But I have a handy evaluation method I use consistently:

Some of the homeless in Los Angeles treat people with change like a paycheck and have a "me vs. them" attitude, or are empty shells of people that don't give a crap whether you care or not. They are there for money and then they leave. If I shrug and they dismiss me and keep walking, I lose nothing.

Some of the homeless here will take anything, so I offer those a cigarette and a light in lieu of change. Some take it and run, some stick around for a chat. Some will stick around for a chat and might reject the smoke. The ones that stick around for a chat tend to be hungry, meaning they are not hopped up on drugs, and regardless of if they want a smoke or not, this tends to prove to me that they are still people who see the non-homeless as people, too. Those are the people I will shake hands with, talk a while about life in general, and will walk into the nearest store to buy them a sandwich or a bottle of water.

And always in those situations, they'll give me a brief acknowledgment of appreciation, saying that it's nice to be treated like a real person. And my response is always:

"Hey, you treated me like a real person, so the least I can do is the same."

Permalink Reply by Chase on October 28, 2009 at 6:44pm

I like this. A lot.

Being treated as a real person is something that goes far beyond the exchange of coins or smokes. And that goes for both sides of the situation. I love that you recognize that.

Skid Row is a tough place to be around. But I'd say if your goal is to treat people like people, then you haven't been desensitized at all.

Permalink Reply by Carlos Sainz-Simmonds on October 21, 2009 at 4:17pm

If I have some money and see a homeless person, who's not begging for money, then what I try and do is go to a nearby sandwich shop and get them something to eat. I'd rather give them food and a hot cup of tea/coffee to keep them warm then think that the money I'm giving them will be going towards liquor. Otherwise if I've seen them around quite a bit, then I'd be more likely to give them some money.

Permalink Reply by Andrew G on October 21, 2009 at 6:53pm

I don't give them money. I give them food if I have it, though.

Permalink Reply by Kyle on October 21, 2009 at 9:19pm

No. Buy them a sandwich.

Permalink Reply by Punky Jo on October 21, 2009 at 9:30pm

Well...in New York the Homeless people work hard for their money. They do performances of singing, dancing, poetry, or a well written and rehearsed sad story )that you can recite word for word if you take the same train everyday.) At least those people, homeless or not, are doing something beside sitting on the sidewalk with a frown on their faces, and for them, all my spare change =)

Permalink Reply by Andrew G on October 21, 2009 at 9:41pm

I like the guy who tells Michael Jackson jokes on the 1 train.

Permalink Reply by tee. on October 21, 2009 at 9:30pm

Not usually. I live in NYC, if I gave a dollar to everyone who asked for it I'd have to start panhandling myself. If I do give cash it's to the kids who breakdance on the the train. That's worth a couple bucks.

The notion that we shouldn't care what they use the money for is lost on me. If your friend asked you for money the first thing you would ask is, "for what?" And whether or not you give them the money would depend on that answer. When you give money you hope it's to help someone or something. No one would donate to a charity that, idk, promotes illegal drug use in children.

If I have extra food I give that; I'm trying to lose weight anyway. :P

Permalink Reply by Jane on October 28, 2009 at 9:08am

Here in the UK we have a magazine called 'The Big Issue' that is sold by people who are homeless and getting back on their feet. I used to always buy a copy, but I don't do it so much. In the city near my town, real sellers are mugged (seen it happen) by homeless gangs who then extort money from passersby (had this happen to me, was tricked into thinking he was a genuine seller, only lost a few quid but it was a terrifying experience). Also, some sellers have become very pushy, and I resent being harrassed into buying a copy. The third point, and I might get shouted down for being 'racist' is that in my area almost all the sellers are clearly non British, and I don't really see why I should support people who choose to come to this country.

I also became a bit hardened living in China, where beggars would be extremely aggressive, and targeted foreigners. Often their approach was so intimadting, including pushing and shoving that there was no way I was giving to anyone!

This probably makes me sound like a grinch! I do give money occasionally, and will still sometimes buy the Big Issue - the sellers can often be very personable and good for a chat. Have to say I've never given food. I think perhaps it's a bit presumptious to give people food without asking them first- after all just because they're homeless doesn't mean that they might be able to eat everything and anything, and frankly is rather patronising. Also sandwhiches are all very well, but you can't pay for a bed in a shelter with them.

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