I'm all for helping people who sell the Big Issue as they inturn have to buy the magazine to sell them to make a profit but it anoys me when I see beggers taking advantage of people at this time of year.
I personaly will not be giving my coppers to them and if more people did the same we would not see them loitering around cities and towns. There, moan over and done with.....
2006-12-02 08:38:31 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Homeless people are on the streets all year round - it's just more obvious that they're homeless in the winter. Their need for money is also greater in the winter: shelter, clothing, food (can't go without food for too long or you'll feel the cold more and run the risk of getting sick - I don't imagine it's very fun being homeless during the winter AND coping with being sick).
Studies show that most people are only 2 paycheques (or "paychecks" if you're in the U.S.) away from being homeless. Think about it. Last winter a family came into the shelter I worked at. Normally this shelter only assists people escaping violence but this disabled woman and her two children had been on the streets - in November - in Canada. She had been evicted from her rental because the townhouse had sold and was unable to find housing that she could afford on her disability cheque. She could not stay in a homeless shelter because 1) they are few and far between, and 2) they almost always don't take any children. Yes this woman had resorted to begging. I would have too. These people, like most homeless, weren't trying to take advantage of anybody. They're just trying to survive the best they can with what skills they have. In the shelter I noticed that this woman's 5 year old girl had bare feet in her shoes. I suggested she put some socks on because it was very cold. She APOLOGIZED to me because she didn't have any. I took her to our emergency clothing supply and picked out 3 pairs of new socks in pretty colours. The little girl just hugged the socks to her chest, started crying!!! and said, "these are so beautiful!" THEY WERE JUST SOCKS!!! No 5 year old should EVER ..... Sorry, this is one of those incidents from my work that I don't think I'll ever be able to get out of my head.
When you look at someone who is homeless, realize that this is a person with a story. They may be an addict who is scraping the bottom of the barrel and has no desire to change. Or they could be an addict who has had moments of deserately longing for change but was told that the wait list to get into a treatment centre is 6 months or longer. They could be someone dealing with mental health issues, who no longer has access to a bed in a group home or fascility because of government cutbacks. Societies mentally ill frequently fall through the cracks and make up a large percentage of our homeless. Passing by-laws against loitering or pretending they don't exist, won't make them disappear. Because they have no where to go and no way to get there.
2006-12-02 09:48:41 · answer #1 · answered by zenobia2525 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They come out more often at this time because they realise that people will be more likely to give to them.
Have you ever thought of the possibility that some of them might just be students who are likely to be on holidays at this time.
What would you do if you had no support, no way of earning money and no family. I imagine that the US govt. is very sparing in giving income support to anyone.
2006-12-02 08:52:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you have the "Crisis at Christmas" venues where you live tell them about those, not much good as only for the day or so, better than nothing I suppose !
2006-12-02 08:54:14 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What would you do if you were unemployed and homeless and everyone then had the attitude toward you which you now have toward them? You lack compassion and as such are a disgrace to humanity.
2006-12-02 08:54:14 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I always help people who are less fortunate than me.
You may need them on your way down. Don't think it can't happen to you.
2006-12-02 08:53:23 · answer #5 · answered by Thebronx 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i just buy them a bit of hot food. if you give them money they will only spend it on drink & drugs
2006-12-02 09:01:18 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
2 points thanks
2016-03-18 00:14:06 · answer #7 · answered by vusumuzi 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋