a homeless person asks for money. what determines if you give it to him or not?

Answer 1

If I have money on me.

Answer 2

Depends on how many dollars and how much change I have at the moment and how many seemingly homeless people are around. I don't live in a place where there are many homeless people, so when I go to a city and see them, I feel bad. I will usually give something to anyone who asks unless I don't have any dollars or change or unless many people are asking - then I will choose a few. Even thinking that they might use it for alcohol, I have no idea what they are going through in their lives, who am I to say they shouldn't have a drink... what if it is the only thing that can keep them somewhat warm on a cold night. Being homeless I think would be miserable... no where to go.. it's cold outside and you can't get out of the cold...
On the other hand, where I went to college there were men who would work the streets asking for money and they did it solely because they made more money doing that than they could've with a regular job. They had nicer winter coats than any of us did and we stopped giving them money. I suppose if I were in a place where I often walked by people asking for money I probably wouldn't give money too often either and I would try to help them some other way.

Answer 3

I generally give food instead of money, but sometimes money too. There are resources available to homeless people, but not enough. And sometimes, I'm sure those places don't allow you to retain much dignity and so many people steal there and they're so crowded that it's better off on the streets. Organizations like the Salvation Army give coats and blankets, but the have regulations and quotas that restrict them from giving enough in certain places. There are a lot of druggies and alcoholics on the street, but lots of them are also mentally ill who have no family to provide or protect them, or kids who ran from abusive homes, or people who were just unlucky enough to end up there, which is very easy to do. And if you were dirty, wore ripped, ragged clothing, couldn't shave, didn't have an education, or an address, theres not many people that would want to hire you, is there? Plus, many homeless people don't trust authority because they have or think they have been treated wrongly by authority. Before I give to a homeless person, I think about all of those factors, about how I would feel in that situation.
I also see if they have a pet. :)

Answer 4

I never give money directly to homeless individuals because:

1) You never know whether they truly are homeless or whether they are scamming you. In Washington DC where I live there are a lot of people who are not homeless who pretend to be in order to get your money the easy way.

2) You never know whether the individual will use the money for something that is essential to live such as healthy food or water, or whether they will use it to feed an addiction such as drugs and alcohol. If the latter is the case, then giving them money will actually hurt them because it is further pushing the individual deeper into poverty and despair.

3) I never give money directly to homeless individuals. However, I do donate a lot of money to charities which help the homeless and I also volunteer weekly at a homeless shelter.

Answer 5

I always feel bad for these people, So therefore i usually give it. But I always look at what there are wearing if they are wearing better shoes than me lol, I wonder if they are truly homeless. Also I have actually watched before where they go,( if it was in the same parking lot i was in, at the time) , And one guy was truly hungry he went straight to checkers and got him food. He just wanted 25 cents but i gave him like 2-3 dollars in change anyways. But also i have watched others and they march right into a liquor store, so hmmm its very difficult to find out who is really homeless and who is just faking to collect money. Gl to ya

Answer 6

If I'm in a good mood I will give a homeless person money. I have a vauge sense of "karma" so I do it for my own reasons-I can't call that real generosity. I actually don't care if the homeless person in question drinks the money.

Answer 7

Homeless people in the U.S. often, though not always, tend to be drug addicts or alcoholics. Most people who are simply down on their luck and cannot afford rent, go to stay temporarily with family or friends until they can get back on their feet again. Drug/alcohol addicts usually run out of people to stay with because of behavioral problems, such as: stealing, rudeness, refusal to do their share of housework, sloppiness, inability to keep a job, and a general tendancy to mooch off of others.

I do not generally contribute directly to homeless people, since I believe that by doing so I am most likely funding their addiction. I prefer to donate to established charities such as, Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, and soup kitchens and/or homeless shelters, so that I know that my money is actually doing some good.

Answer 8

I will no longer give any homeless person cash. If they come up to me and say they havent eaten in 2 or 3 days, I will buy them something from fast food. I will also counsel them about available resources in the area.

Answer 9

I never do. There is plenty of help out there for people through the proper channels. If I give him money he is just going to spend it on booze or what not an prolong his agony. If I give him a card to contact a social worker it might help if others don't give him money.

Answer 10

I'm undecided. I often think that they are there out of choice, but I recently watched a documentary on homeless people, and how easily it could happen. As we don't know everyone's individual circumstances, it is very difficult. That's a tough one.

Answer 11

I sometimes give a buck maybe a couple of bucks.
If he says he needs for beer I am more likely to give him something.
If he says it is for food ...I know better cause I was a drunk in Seattle and did the street thing for a while and there are tons of feeds in Seattle....so I don't give.
If the person is younger and fitter than me....
FORGET IT.
I gave a couple of bucks to guy in front of 7-11...he had obvious ...and I mean obvious neurological disorder.

When I first came to Seattle...In the area around Westlake Mall I saw pregnant woman...or I thought it was woman....months later I saw her (:))again..."our lady of the perpetual pregnancy"..it was a guy.