how do you know if a homeless guy is asking for food money and not drug or booze money?

Question

so if I'm no really sure, should I just not give anyone any money?

Answer 1

You don't but really.....what difference does it make? If you were homeless, a couple beers might keep your stress level down a bit, ya know? We who are not homeless have the things in life we want.....they deserve a LITTLE something at the very least. A lot of homeless people are not homeless for reasons people used to believe -- people are losing jobs left and right. Where I live, our rent is 3 days late, we get an eviction notice and if you can't afford to move (which is very expensive), we'd be on the street too and we've worked hard all our lives. So please don't judge.

Answer 2

I only give one guy money in town. My reason for this is because the first time he asked me for 'change for a cuppa tea' and I gave him some, his eyes lit up and he told me 'I'm going to get one right now!' And I watched him march upto McD's and get a cup of tea. Well, it might've been coffee or hot chocolate - that I just couldn't tell. But I always have some change for him, and he's started to recognise me - but he doesn't always ask. I think it's terrible of people to say stuff like 'if his lips are moving it's for drugs or booze' - how the hell do we know? People can become homeless for lots of reasons, one of the main ones is ill mental health, and how can we justify criticising someone for being ILL? If it was someone with Diabetes out on the streets because they can't work etc, we'd have every sympathy - but it doesn't happen for that very reason - society is far more sympathetic to physical illness. I know it's not completely helpful, I know people with physical illnesses still struggle, don't get me wrong.

Anyway, I guess to answer your Q, you don't know, unless you see them spending the money you give them. Mostly, I don't bother. You're far better off buying the Big Issue, because you're just a customer then, and have no need to worry about what they spend the money on. They are providing a service, a service which you are using, so it's no longer the same as homeless guy asking for change and some well meaning folk providing him with 50p towards his next fix, for example.

Answer 3

You don't!! I once gave this old man on the street who acted like he was homeless & starving a few dollars. Then someone from that section of the neighborhood told me never to give him money again because he HAS money (probably more money than I do). They also told me I should see the clothes he wears when he's not playing the "homeless & starving" part.
If I feel like I want to help out the less fortunate I will donate toys during the holidays to the toy drives.

Answer 4

Many communities have places to get a free meal everyday of the week and social services that will find housing. Giving money to individuals serves little purpose other than to support habits (such as cigarette, alcohol and drugs) where as making donations to local charities and food pantries will help support the homeless while giving you the benefit of a tax deductable donation. If you really want to give something to a particular homeless person, uy him/her a sandwich, something to eat or pack a lunch bag with juice, fruit and a sandwich. Heshe will throw it in the trash if that is not what he/she is panning for.

Answer 5

If I had it on me, i'd supply absolutely everyone who asked me some money, no count if or no longer they appeared homeless or no longer. truly, it is not like i will even observe the loss. yet money is ordinary. Going to get them a meal or some outfits sounds like lots greater of an inconvenience, so sturdy on you people who do this. i'd particularly purely fork over some exchange and be accomplished with it, whether meaning accepting the possibility that they'd spend it on booze -- which i'm helpful occurs each so often, yet i think of has become a stereotype, and an incredible variety of human beings in the present day purely use it as an excuse to no longer supply particularly of purely being truthful and asserting they do no longer opt for to or they do unlike homeless human beings. when I relinquish it, it is their money, they are in a position to apply it how they opt for, i ought to truly care much less. And yeah, I do sense sorry for them, yet better than that i think astonished that we even have homeless human beings in this international the place different have billions of greenbacks. The disparity continuously gets to me. on an identical time, i do no longer agree on telling different human beings the thank you to spend their money, so i do no longer see that ever changing, except the government steps in to do greater with regard to the homeless problem. yet even then, the government can in trouble-free terms pass via fact the human beings will it, and an incredible variety of human beings -- enormously, it variety of feels, those with extra money, for regardless of reason -- do no longer look to have lots sympathy for the homeless.

Answer 6

Don't give them money, give them food. You can usually tell by their reaction if they really want food or not. Most of the time they do want food, but wind up buying booze because it helps them forget that they are homeless. What I want to know is, why are ALL homeless people War Veterans?

Answer 7

by there vice and surrounding. I've seen a homeless guy who obviously wanted booze and drug miney who had all clean clothes including nike shox which a homeless guy couldnt afford begging for money in a public place. but tried to disguise it with a matted blanket. The one i saw asking for food was sat near the bins in a quiet place and my mum gave food for them as he unexpectedly grabbed a sandwhich a woman had just thrown half-eaten in a bin.

Answer 8

You can't know. But since a lot of homeless people are mentally ill, people who were living paycheck to paycheck and lost their jobs, it's wrong to assume they are asking for drug money. That's a bad stereotype. Just give them the money and feel good about it. Helping your fellow man is a good thing, being pious about where they spend the money is the wrong idea.

Answer 9

If you want to give a person money you should not worry about what they are going to spend it on. I think if I were homeless i might want the booze more.

Answer 10

The homeless people where I live usually ask for money and TELL you it's for booze!