Do you pay that "homeless" man on the street?

Question

I am beginning to see more and more of these "homeless" people in the city I live in begging for money and it sickens me. For one thing, these people all look very capable of working considering they are standing, they are using their muscles, they can read/write..I'm sorry, but if you are capable, you can work for money. It is sick how lazy some people are and how ignorant, smart, hardworking people give them money. It is like our government giving some undeserving people welfare. I know a girl who is about 26 and she has no like, got pregnant (didnt know until the 6 month) the baby tested posative for meth, and she steals her parents money when she isnt in rehab...yet our tax money goes towards her 900 dollars a month welfare, and she spends it on drugs. Sometimes, I wish this country would just sink.

Answer 1

Before you start judging people, think of what all could be preventing them from getting a job. For instance, look at people with fibromialgia, restless leg syndrome, and heart diseases, asthma, the list goes on and on. These people may LOOK like they are able to work, but in reality, they may not be able to do no more than 20 hours a week, if that much.
The number one question asked when going to a job interview is will you be able to lift more than fifty pounds and at some places, they ask are you able to stand for more than six hours at a time. Answering no could disqualify you for the job. It's not discrimination because these are not seen as disabilities, only minor impediments.
With that said, because I am not taking up for those who are on the streets, the reason people seem to have a "bleeding heart" is because they would rather hand someone begging for "change" a five dollar bill because they don't have time rather than to take them, literally, to get a meal.
The girl that is on drugs you mentioned is a different case. You can always tell who's who just by offering to buy them something to eat. If they refuse and say they would rather have the money, then you know you are being taken for a ride. But how are people to know this if they don't take that time?
As for the government, well, you're just going to have to take that up with the ones who create the acts and statutes and whatnot.





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Answer 2

Let me tell you a story. I used to give money to the homeless whenever I saw them, where ever I saw them(and in NYC, there's alot). I figured I needed the money alot less than they did. Then I became homeless myself. One day, after working my 1st day at a new job, I was starving and rushing to get back to the shelter in time for dinner. I missed dinner the night before and I hadn't had any money to buy anything to eat all day, so I was truly starving. As I made my way through the Port Authority, a homeless man came to me jingling a cup full of change and asked me can I spare any? I looked at him and said "if you don't get away from me, I WILL ROB YOU!" That is the day I realized that if these people were truly starving they would use that money to buy a bag of potato chips and a quarter water or something, because that's what I would have done if I even had 50 cents...lol...

I stayed in a homeless shelter and I would see some of the girls make it their business to panhandle on 42nd st everyday instead of looking for a job. They would come 'home' bragging about how much money they made that day-sometimes almost $200! And use it to buy cigarettes, drugs, whatever...the point is none of them were hungry, they just preyed on people's sympathy for them....

I'm not homeless anymore, but I've been there, done that...therefore if I see a homeless person begging for food-I give them food. I have bought dinners and sat down and ate dinner with them and directed them to some of the shelters I know about. I have given my leftovers from very expensive restaurants, etc. I will NEVER give out money-ever. That's pretty much how you can weed out the fakes anyway. I have had many homeless people turn down my offers for food and walk the other way...that's my story, and I'm sticking to it!

Answer 3

Rule of thumb with me..Determine what you think by their actions of how they approach you and what your gut tells you to do .I have personally walked away from many people asking for money but other times I seek them out..I see someone desolete and looking as though they are in need and I buy them lunch or give them a few dollars..Also if you want to ignore the beggars..next time you go to the drive through of a resturant give that person a tip..people that work hard that you know that don't make that much money..or people that have done some work for you ,give them a little extra or that waitor or waitress that has gone the extra mile for you.They don't get paid much and depend on those tips..or give a tip to a person that usually doesnt get tips and it shows that you care..but as far as the ones that come up to you with all kinds of stories about this and that..They make more money than most people that work.I met one man that sat on the street on the blvd everyday with an umbrella with a will work for food sign..I pulled over one day when he was on the side of the street and talked to him.I said..I was just wondering .. do you ever work for food really.He said are you kidding..I catch the sun..get a few rays and make about 50,000 a year tax free..He has been doing it in the same place for about three or four years and no one ever hastles him or says anything bad to him..he just has a sign..Maybe we all should get signs and a lawn chair and lay out everyday .. lol.. but well I guess I really shouldn't talk about them..I married money.. but not for the money for love..I have never been a material person..I grew up very poor and now thatt I could buy what I want.. I dont want anything.I am very simple person.. so to each his own..k sara k sara

Answer 4

This is how it deal with it, if they have two arms and two legs they can get a job. I lived and worked in the downtown area of San Antonio for a year so i came in contact with many homless people. I used to feel sorry for them until one day i offered to buy a homeless man a meal from mcdonalds and he declined saying "i'de rather just have the money" i was shocked and a little angry because i knew he just wanted to buy beer or drugs. After that happend to me one too many times I stoppped asking or even caring. Now the only time i give money to the homeless is if there is a child involved. Also, i once saw a documentery on A&E about this gentlemen who was kinda living two lives. He had a decent office job but in his spare time he would beg for money. I think he was doing this just to make a point but he showed how the money he got from begging was more than people would think. Sometimes he would make more than 100 dollars a day. It was so unbelievable. Anyway, my point is that they are just asking for a hand out. Don't waste your hard earned money on them. If you do you're are probably just supporting a drug or alcohol habit.

Answer 5

I surely hope that you never have emergency's or tragedy in your life where you are forced to depend on the kindness of others for a hand up . A large number of our society are only one tragedy away from homelessness . I always give to people who ask , and once I do that it is no longer my business what happens . My heart was in the right place and I sleep very well.
This is not a matter of being lazy , some are homeless and working , they just met hard times . There are family's out there on the streets .
I'm not foolish enough to believe that all of them are in the circumstances I've mentioned . It is not what I care about , I care about loving my fellow man the same way I would like to be loved .

Answer 6

Most homeless people I know have a drug or alcohol problem. I also know a number of heroin addicts who are NOT homeless who go 'fly a sign' saying they are homeless and hungry so that they can make drug money. Many of them have official paperwork stating they are actually homeless so they receive government assistance yet do not have to find a job (???) They actually live with friends but are not on a lease. One guy I know regularly made $40/hour in a high traffic area (attractive girls can make even more). He took his dog so that he made more money and got free dog food too. He only had a job once the entire time I knew him (6 years) and it lasted about a month. I personally know most of the people asking for money in my neighborhood and they are not just decent people down on their luck. For the most part, they are all addicts and would not think twice about ripping me off if they could.

*My friends and aquaintences who panhandle usually accept all food that is given to them because it saves them from having to pay for it themselves. I've know people that have taken it home and put it in the fridge for later. They also eat a lot of the charity food yet still go and blow $100/day on heroin. I won't give anyone money.

Answer 7

I never pay them even a cent.They can begging and sickens you or others for a few minutes but why they do not used all this time to earn money their own?Actually they can but because of they are LAZY, then they don't do so.In my country, many beggars are rich then who had working.In our sigh they seem like no foods,clothes or shelter but in the fact and this really happen in my country is a beggar drive a Mercedes Benz and their son can go to an expensive private university.So i never trust them at all.

Answer 8

There are a lot of people on the street begging because they have lost their job, or they have tried to get a job over and over again. We need to help our fellow man out. If you have to take them in to a restaurant or supermarket, and get them food. Tell them you have so much money, and they can chose just what you have. There are people who are willing to work for any little thing. Don't get so judge mental. Yes there are people out here that are on drugs, and welfare is helping them. The people need to be reported, so that they can help. The children are the ones suffering.

Answer 9

Sure I'll give a homeless man some money, as long as I know he's not gonna spend it on food or something, I don't bust my as's to support some bum's sandwich habit, and I've always thought of reality as nothing more than a cheap crutch for those who can't handle drugs.

Answer 10

Yeah i feel like that too - this country is the land of the free and everyone has an opportunity to work but they just dont...they want hand outs and it makes me sick to see ppl who are able to work not doing anything for themselves and just throwing their lives away....thats why sometimes i dont give homeless ppl money because i worked hard for every penny and i feel like they could do the same!