If a homless person asks you for money what do you do?

Question

Do you give them some money or do you not give them some money?

Answer 1

i tell them to get a job they are just as capable of working as us and they are most likely gonna use your money to buy booze.

Answer 2

That's a good question. I was really influenced by Robert Egger on this one. He runs Washington DC's Central Kitchen, which not only feeds the homeless, they also train disadvantaged folks to work in the food service business. It's an amazing place. I was walking down the street one day with Robert and a homeless person approached him. He greeted the man incredibly warmly, with respect, and told him to have a good day. I was touched by that, because I think we usually either give out money or igore the person entirely. He treated the man like a human being.

But he didn't hand him money for a lot of the reasons answerers here have provided. Because Robert lives by the concept of hand-up, not hand-out, with his charity. In fact, he wrote a whole book on the topic called "Begging for Change."

Which brings me to my advice. If you really want to help someone who is homeless and you want your dollars to go a long way, then support a soup kitchen, homeless job training program or other charity that serves a lot of people, giving them a hand-up and not just a hand-out.

You can find charities that do that simply by typing in your zip code and the keyword "hunger" at our site, www.networkforgood.org or www.guidestar.org

Answer 3

Don't give them money but give them food or clothes or some form of help and not preachy religious stuff but actual real help that can get them up on their feet and at least trying to get themselves off the streets! I had someone ask me for money recently and I said (truthfully) I didn't have money but if he was interested we (food not bombs in DC) serves free food every sunday at 3pm in dupont.
As far as telling them to get a job that is a B.S. statement that comes from the typically rich/upper class white society, not everyone can get a job especially if you are homeless and many places don't want to hire homeless folks and in many cases you have to have an address for a job application and when the rich politicians are trying to take down shelters to build condos for rich white folk or build hotels for tourists or make other useless stuff it makes it that much harder to have an address at a shelter (which are overcrowded and have to turn away a lot of people and are not really permanant residences for folks) Also what is said is they spend the money on liquor and drugs which in some cases is true but why don't you people who say this try living on the streets for a while, you might want to drink away the pain or get yourself to an altered state of mind because it really has got to suck living on the streets while people in their fancy cars drive by or people in their fancy clothes walk by or are sitting eating in fancy restuarants while they starve and shiver and some live in a lot of pain and cannot get medical treatment!

Answer 4

I ask what they need the money for, if a meal, I will often buy them some food, and a bottle of water, or soft drink. Homeless people are recipients of unemployment, the same as non homeless people (who have to pay rent, bills etc) and I will not contribute to their drug / alcohol problems. They have the same entitlements cash-wise, and most choose to live this way, incredible as this may sound.

Answer 5

I usually ask what they need the money for and take them with me to procure the needed item(s).
Giving money won't really help because they will use it for something else (booze smokes drugs) and I give them information on local charities that can give them a hand up

Answer 6

I carry food (like pre-packaged packs of crackers, small boxes of raisins, fruit) and tell them I don't have any money to spare but they are welcome to what food I have in my bag. It is usually welcomed and I feel like I have helped a fellow human being without feeling guilty giving money (not knowing what it might be spent on). I once read that the Dalia Lama said we should never pass up a chance to help others. Never refuse to help someone who has been forced to beg if you are able to do so. Wishing us all a more loving and peaceful world.

Answer 7

Take them out to eat or take them and get them some groceries, never give cash, you could even get them hurt if they have alot of cash, you also might point them in the direction of the nearest soup kitchen or homeless shelter.

Answer 8

I guess I am just a kind-hearted person because I almost always hand them some cash ....
[blame my Catholic, guilt-ridden upbringing ...?]

But I always think: I am so lucky and fortunate to have all that I have ... and this homeless person has nothing, so I feel it is my obligation to GIVE BACK ....

And I also think what is a few extra dollars to me..? But a few extra dollars to a homeless person could mean a warm meal in their stomach : )

Answer 9

Buy them a sandwich or something to eat instead. Often times they will spend money on alcohol or cigarettes if they are addicts.