Do you give to panhandlers? I never do.?

Question

There is no reason for anyone in America to be homeless for more
than a few months. Except for laziness, addiction and mental illness. There is plenty of help available for those willing to work.
In any major city there is more free food available than a person could eat. Even if you work for minimum wage you can get food stamps and HUD housing and help with your utilities and get by just fine. We do need these safety nets because sometimes people need help and they deserve it. But I don't see the logic in giving a homeless person money that will most likely be spent on alcohol or drugs. This enables them to stay homeless and addicted indefinitely. You're not helping them. "Will work for food"
is nonsense. They want booze and drugs and I'm not going to pay for it. If you want to really help these people don't give them a penny. Give them the phone numbers to the appropriate agencies.

Answer 1

EXACTLY! When I was younger I used to feel sorry for the people on the streets... I never gave them money but I did drive through a fast food place a couple of times and buy them food and go back and drop it off. Then I seen library park in Phoenix, AZ., and the food lines, etc! The only reason a person is homeless is because they choose to be! We have an overabundance of help programs and some states even have welfare for single men! I live in a city where there are an extreme amount of people getting SSI and Social Security and working (or hustling) under the table for cash and they live much better or at least have many more $$ flow through their hands each month than alot of people. I don't believe that drug addicts and alcoholics should be eligible for these benefits... In addition, I think the funniest thing I have seen is a huge man walking into the grocery store in the middle of the afternoon with his food stamps going to buy groceries.... instead of giving him food stamps and a check... make him get off his duff and work... then we won't have to pay for his stomach staple proceedure either! A friend of mine that is a millionaire went to our local Dr. that has been doing all of those proceedures and he wanted to have it done. He carries private blue cross and the Dr. would not even schedule him for a interview because he didn't have title 19.My friend told the Dr.s office that he has cash...... they said they couldn't take cash because in the case of complications it can run upwards of $100,000.00 again my friend said.... I have cash. They just told him they were sorry they couldn't help him.... however, I personally know 7 people that have had the surgery lately and another couple that are scheduled for it and they are all on welfare! Now if that ain't something! Now don't get me wrong... we do need programs that can assist.... but they need to know when enough is enough and their is a big difference between a hand up and a hand out!

Answer 2

People don't become homeless on purpose. How can you justify saying that. Some people have had thier houses burned down and did not have insurance because they could not afford it and are left with nothing. Or a lost job could have happened. What if that homeless person has kids? How do they pay for daycare if they are working a minimum wage job. Also like that one person said, how can they call you about a job application if you don't have a phone or an address? I give to homeless people all the time. I do however, give selectively, If the person seems to be an able bodied adult, I usually give them money but I also tell them where there are job openings. I have a very soft heart and I firmly believe that what you give, will come back to you one day.

Answer 3

For the most part I agree with your statements.However in the same breath I can tell you have never been homeless.It sucks!!!!You say there are all these places, and maybe there are where you live,...but not everywhere.People have to qualify to get food stamps,and HUD housing, and to do that you need an address, not a P.O. box. I know,...you say get a job!ya bum!!Have you ever filled out an application without an address or telephone number?Or should you tell them your homeless and let them take advantage of you and pay you less money cuz they know you need it?Or they turn you down because their not sure if you can be there everyday,or if you'll be clean, or what ever.I
I never stood out there with a sign begging,...I couldn't do it.No matter how bad it got, I still had to much pride(if nothing else).I was lucky and ended up working for construction companies as day labor,purchased my own tools,a car , and eventually a apt.it's not easy, so don't take every break you have for granted.the rug could be pulled out from under you at any time.it was on me and I didn't and don't use drugs or alcohol.

Answer 4

Homeless for a few months is OK? Most people can't get a job if they are homeless. They will not be hired because of no address or phone. And yes, there are places they can get help if they can get past the mass of paperwork. We must care for all of God's children. When did we start measuring a person's worth by money or home. Most of the homeless I have talked to have just given up..Lots are vets that suffer from mental illness from war. And are afraid of the government. So give if you can or not. That's what makes America great. The right to choose.

Answer 5

Pray that you never find yourself in that situation...many people believe as you do...I wonder how you tell whether a person has been homeless for "more than a few months"...help can be given in the way of food itself...take the time to pick up something & go back to the person with the sign if you are that paranoid of giving to addicts & believe "work for food" is nonsense

Answer 6

I once watched a man wash in a fountain across where I worked. Its a large beautiful fountain, that represents the meeting of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. He had slept on one of the concrete benches next to it, and was washing his face. I was walking into work with a coworker who said that was disgusting and he should be run off.

My thoughts at that moment were this. I don't care why or how he got there. But the humiliation of being homeless was punishment enough for his demons. There but for the grace of god go I.

I think it has something to do with kharma for me, and its what I taught my kids. Its money, its only money and when you give a gift you give up the right to know what its used for. I don't ask and I don't care. I've given sandwichs, coupons, blankets, dog food and coats. I also give money when I have it, which is not often. I work hard and I support myself and partially still my daughters. But I just think that I don't want to be the kind of person that worries about where the $5 I give to a man begging on the street goes. I am very careful about who I give to, I know the regulars, I don't give to the unappreciative, but if I feel a connection, I give and I give with no conditions.

I'm not a do gooder, I don't really even like people all that much, I don't believe in entitlements, I don't support the welfare state as we see it now. I work hard and I expect everyone who can to do so as well. However, there is something in me that believes that no one chooses to wash in a fountain, and that's punishment enough.

Answer 7

yeah...Ive never been homeless, but i know people that have been and it really is hard. maybe instead of being an *** an just walking right past the "will work for food" people, you could go buy them a bag of 99 cent chips or something...that's not too much out of your pocket I'm sure. if you have enough money to pay for the internet, I'm sure you can spare a couple bucks and actually buy the food rather than just giving them the money so they can buy booze..or whatever you think they might waste it on that is preventing you from helping them. or your opinion enabling them.

Answer 8

There are alot of programs and help for them however, do u even realize how hard it is being homeless especially when u do have an addiction, mental illness or something like that. It takes alot of courage for some to even ask for help & if u have it y not give it? Who cares what? or why? They r the one's who have to answer the man upstairs in the end.

Answer 9

Once in a while I give a little change..why not?But I only give to 2 of them,one black lady in Hollywood I feel bad for and an old white guy on skid row.
They past the point of having no chance at reissertion so I just help them out..

Answer 10

food stamps and such dont always work .. neither do the governments money programs.. i know a family who are with out lights.. whose daughter is now living states away with friends .. they were close to losing their home AND the government was saying they were making too much money to get any help .. WTF? too much money? lol.. im not saying SOME ppl abuse the "system" by spending the money givenin god faith on booze and or drugs but i know SOME ppl would actually use it where it NEEDED to go the most