Is it wrong to give money to a begger?

Question

I was recently chastized by a friend for giving some money to a homeless person on the street. She said he was clearly a drug addict and would just use my money to get another fix. I was only contributing to the problem. The best thing to do, she said is not give money to beggers and give to rehab clinics instead. Was what I did really wrong?

Answer 1

well some homless people do use the money for drugs i mean that isint the smartest thing for them to do but we try to help them but they use it for other reasons,,

Answer 2

"To each his own" Anyways, if it makes you feel good doing it, why not? The fact however, you are contributing to the problem at large. If there were enough people like you out there, we will no longer have a welfare state but instead and begger state. Just kidding. Nobody wants to be a begger if they have a choice.

But if you keep giving money to beggers, soon they will be used to people being so generous and will become aggressive when the giving goes slim.

Answer 3

it wasnt wrong, but you may want to keep that piece of advice in mind. but think about it, was your friend right? i mean, what if its an innocent homeless person? what if SHE was an innocent homeless person? would she like it if somebody made that assumption about her? so think for your self, was it obvious that this person was a drug addict? if not, you didnt do anything wrong, just be careful. even if he WAS you didnt do anything wrong, you cant control what he decides to do with it! still be careful it not your fault but you still dont want to encourage that kind of thing. its great to give to rehab clinics, but how is that going to help the homeless? on the other hand, if he was a drug addict, like i said you werent doing wrong, but you may want to give to homeless shelters instead, or offer him/her something to eat, that way you KNOW what you are giving your money for. you did a good thing and there is nothing you can do about it now. i would just nor worry about it too much and in the future be careful how you give away your money. hope this helps.;)

Answer 4

First, your friend shouldn't have chastized you for giving to the homeless person because that is a personal choice and you are an adult and free to make your own choices, financial or otherwise.

Secondly, It is not "wrong" to give money to a beggar anymore than it is wrong to give to money to any charitable organization or political party, etc. It's your disposable income and you can dispose of it any way you want whether it is spending it on yourself or giving it to a homeless person!

Last, but not least, while all homeless people are definitely not drug addicts it is true that we cannot imagine what desperate place these individuals have found their lives in that they would be willing to beg others for money. Whether it is an addiction, poverty due to financial difficulties, mental health issues or family disfunction, it is WHATEVER has brought them to this state of desperation that deserves our compassion and therefore our generosity in whatever form we choose to take.

Answer 5

I think that you are a good person and did a good thing. I gave $20.00 to this guy once cuz he was on the corrner with a baby and a wife. I mean they looked homeless. The baby was so cute a little dirty but so cute. After I gave it to them I felt good. I went in to grociery store and even got them some formula for the baby. I came out and they were walking across the street. I tried to catch up to them when I saw them getting into a BRAND NEW chevy tahoe. I was pissed.

That is why I stopped giving money, I fill bad but for some people begging is a job.

Answer 6

There are groups that deal with this by giving homeless persons coupons good for food at a grocery store in the neighborhood; that way, a person who needs food gets it, and the money can't be used to feed a habit. As for your friend - she should mind her own business; if nothing else, your heart was in the right place, and in my book, that counts for something!

Answer 7

I tend to believe that they will probably use it for booze or drugs. I try to offer food or such. Last year we started this thing through our church to have a bag ready in your car to give to a homeless person when you come across one. We went to wal-mart and got all of those travel size items, like a shaving kit, toothpaste and toothbrush, comb, shampoo and soap, etc. This year we are adding a gift card to either a restaurant or supermarket and a blanket.
Just a thought.
And no, you weren't wrong......your heart was in the right place. If
he did something bad with it, that's his fault.
Try my idea so you will put your money to good use and have something ready.

Answer 8

It is not up to us to judge another human being. The general rule is that the more you give the more you'll receive. By giving you'll be benefit the most as it is very satisfying & rewarding feeling. How can helping a human being in distress can be wrong. Listen to your heart, follow your insticts & know that giving generats income.
Anytime you give remember to say Thank you for the opportunity given to help.
Many beggers have mental chalanges & cannot help if they look like drug addicts - looks may be deceiving.

Answer 9

No, what you did was not wrong. I think your friend should thank GOD that she isn't on the other side. There is nothing wrong with giving money to people in need. We are not here to judge, we are here to help whoever we can. If that happens again and you are by a food place, stop and buy something to eat to give next time. Maybe then your friend won't have such a problem with it. GOD bless you.

Answer 10

THERE IS ALOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE HOMELESS BECAUSE OF LOST JOBS OR GETTING EVICTED FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO AFORD RENT, PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THAT SITUATION BECAUSE THIER HOSE BURNT DOWN AND THEY HAVE NO ONE OR NOTHING TO FALL BACK ON AND END UP IN THE STREETS CAUSE THEY ARE JUST GOING THROUGH A ROUGH POINT IN THIER LIVES. BUT SOME ARE JUST CRACK HEADS OR JUNKIES TRYIN TO GET HIGH AND ACUALLY HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE, THEY JUST TRY TO SCAM PEOPLE. MOST OF THE TIME YOU CAN TELL WHO'S WHO. BUT IT IS A NICE THING TO DO IF YOU CAN TELL THAT THEY ARE ACUALLY HOMELESS. IT IS GOOD TO HELP OTHERS OUT IF YOU CAN. IF YOU WANT TO HELP THEM BUT DONT FEEL COMFORTABLE GIVING THEM MONEY THAN OFFER TO BUY THEM A COUPLE CHEESE BURGERS OR SOMTHING LIKE THAT. MOST OF THE TIME THE ADDICTS WILL REFUSE THE FOOD AND ASK FOR THE MONEY AGAIN BUT THE PEOPLE THAT ACCUALLY NEED IT TO SURVIVE WILL GLADLY EXEPT THE FOOD. AND YOU WOULD HAVE PROBLY MADE THIER DAY. ITS GOOD TO GIVE IF YOU CAN JUST CUZ ITS NICE, AND WHAT IF THAT WAS YOU SOME DAY.

Answer 11

Well, that's a tough one. I too have struggled with this. Am I just enabling their habit? Undoubtedly. Then again, maybe my money is what will keep them from robbing someone instead, and maybe they really do need a hamburger. Druggies eat too, albeit not as much as the rest of us most likely. I say follow your conscious. I also say do give to programs that help these people.