Haaaave you ever given Money to a homeless person begging on the street?

Question

We gave a young lad 20 Euros earlier and got him some food and a coffee

The lad actually got down and kissed my Wife`s shoes

Shouldnt the Government be doing more for the Homeless?

Answer 1

I have yes, some of those lads on the street are ex soldiers and I think that is totally despicable that they have served our country and end up in cardboard city, the government should be utterly ashamed of themselves.

Answer 2

I don't give to people working the streets. I have before, but I started noticing that the same people were "working" the same intersections with the same signs: "car broke down, need money to get home to California." And the "will work for food" folk really won't, they are gambling that good people will just give them cash. My church offered a man money if he would do some lawn work at our church. He had a hundred reasons why he couldn't. Of course he still wanted the money.

No, I don't believe it is the government's place to take care of the homeless. Anytime the government is involved, it ends up being a huge snafu and is never cost effective. I think families and churches and the private sector should take care of this. I always give to the Salvation Army and Feed the Children, so I feel comfortable with my charitable giving.

Most of the homeless in my neck of the woods are homeless because they want to be.

Answer 3

I used to do it all the time, until the day I overheard a homeless person complaining that if he couldn't get a job working in his profession, construction, he would just live on the street! There is plenty of construction going on where I live, so I don't know why he couldn't get a job if he was qualified. If they want a job they can get one, even if it is selling burgers and fries, at least they are attempting to do something for themselves. Now I ask how old they are and if they are younger than me I tell them, "I am 54 years old, diabetic, and even ugly. If I can get a job, so can you." If they are older than me and look like they could use a hot meal, I buy them food now, but no money. The government provides them with food stamps even if they have no home, and if they are ex-military they can get help also. If they are just living on the street because they don't want a job or other means to support themselves, then I find it difficult to feel sorry for them. I remember a few years ago there was a woman who stood on the street corner with a sign saying "Homeless and pregnant, please help." She was pregnant for a whole year, but never a baby in sight.

Answer 4

Honestly ? Nope. Never.They Should Get A Job.Or At Least Go To A Homeless Shelter

Answer 5

No, because very few of them are homeless, they are not working, and they are drawing all the state benefits that they can lay their greedy hands on. It's said that finding a prime spot earns them over £100 during a very short day.
I travelled up to Enfield town (terminus) railway station in Middlesex, from London earlier this year. The ticket inspector came round for a check and three men in their 30s sitting near me produced either weekly or monthly season tickets. As the train neared Enfield they swapped their tidy clothes from a holdall with scruffy coats. While shopping in the centre I found 2 of them begging with homeless/hungry cardboard placards.

Answer 6

Yes, I have. I have been homeless before and before some idiot comes out with 'they only spend it on drink' or more insultingly ' I bet he gets more money a week than me' I have had to beg to eat. Shelters only provide people with an absolute minimum of food and when I was homeless 15 yrs ago they quite often ran out before everybody was fed. You would have a drink if you had to sleep rough in the winter. I always give them a couple of pounds or buy them something hot to eat. Remember, everyone is only three pay checks away from being homeless.

Answer 7

Yes, there was a lady on the street with her 2 small children, one boy and one girl. They were so sweet that I just sat and played with the kids for awhile.

I had seen them before and was bummed that I did'nt have anything for them so I knew that I would be prepared next time. I bought Burger King for the family and I gave the mom some money and I had bought little toys and things for the kids. I was only 16 at the time but now that I am an adult that is one of the moments in my life that I am proud of.

Answer 8

well, once when a homeless (?) person asked me for money for food, I thought I could buy him something in a bar. When he got his chicken and chips he didn't even seem to be grateful. And when I left, I saw him putting the food on the table and leaving a second after me.
Now I never can't tell when a homeless person really wants something to eat, or just money for beer or something like that.

Answer 9

There was a couple of homeless guys near to where I worked, I never gave them money but I did used to give them cigarettes (which is what they used to ask me for).
Yes, the government should be doing more of our homeless, but their priority is the homeless people from other countries.

Answer 10

I used to play this sort of weird game. I'd collect all my spare change every month in this 32oz biggie NBA Dream Team collector's cup from McDonalds. Then on the 1st of every month I would walk 1.5 miles to my bank in the city to deposit the money in my account. The first person to ask me for change would get the money (usually $20-50). In 4 years living in Chicago, I only made it to my bank once.
Should the govt be doing more?? Probably but I am not that clever to know the answer, though.