Do You Give Homeless People Money?

I've done it a few times before

No...especially if they frequent the same places all the time. That would lead to their expectancy and when they don't get what they want...

There is aid available if you want it.

No, because they usually blow it on beer.jim_shorts

Yes. I try to donate 25% of my yearly net income to the homeless, an assortment of charitable organizations, animal rights groups and public radio. Keep in mind that I also work in the mental health field. MANY of my clients are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless because of their illness. I suppose I have a soft spot for them. And sure, if I give someone $20 they'll probably spend $15 of that on a bottle of booze, but hopefully they'll spend the other $5 on a hot meal.

Did you know there are people who dress up as homeless people and stand on street corners with signs? And they make TONS of money. I am talking hundreds of dollars a day. They have houses and cars and everything and this is what they do for their job.howlrunner13

You know, I've seen the so-called busts of these people, but at no point is it made clear that they actually own all that stuff. And seriously, how realistic is it that somebody would actually make that kind of cash in a day just asking for it? They could just be the useless relatives of people putting them up for a while doing what they know how to get some booze money.

Anyway, no, I don't give money to the homeless unless it's obscenely cold or hot out, because it's pretty freaking rare you see them out when it is, which tells me that they clearly have options. I believe in welfare because it's bad for everybody to have folks starving in the streets but if you really want to help I think you're better off donating money to organizations that help people find the motivation and skills they need to be responsible for their own lives not giving some stranger money because you feel bad saying no.

No

It's rare to hear about a bum actually doing something worthwhile with money.

One bum I ran into awhile back rambled on about how he was beating the government byliving on the street, and not paying taxes. lmao If you call that beating the government, you don't deserve money.

I'll occassionaly give whatever change is my pocket to homeless people on the street. The most I've given is $20 to a little kid who looked like he had run away from home. TheMadGamer

yeah i give the homeless all my extra change but only when they ask, because i don't want to accidentally give it to someone normal and offend them. also it's real kind of you to give the kid a 20, real honorable

There was a beggar who was begging outside my high school, and I was walking home and she asked me for some change. I started digging in my pockets and accidentally grabbed a $5.

She saw it in my hand, and i just gave it to her.

She said something like "Bless you child, you'll get $100,000 back."

Give them theaddress toA United States Army recruitment office. MagnumPI

I usually do, even if they wind up buying drugs, itll lessen their misery. I only give more than a single if they do something though (like play drums on garbage cans)DrummerJon

I only give those that actually do something. I have seen legless/armless people walking arount selling tissue paper(stuff)before, and i see no reason to give money to those people who even with legs, refuse to do anything.

Never. There are shelters for them to go to if they're really that hard up for cash - I refuse to encourage them and/or provide for their alcohol/nicotine/crack addiction.

To be honest, whenever I walk past a homeless person holding a sign or getting in the face of passerby or sitting their with a pathetic looking dog I have to fight the urge to punch them in the face.

Yeah, but I'm not in cities often. The last time I was in Baltimore (a few months ago for a BSO performance), it was cold, and raining, and I was three hours early with no where to go....So I wondered around the streets (alone, yep....lol), and eventually ran into a begger... He didn't ask for anything right away, but just stood and chatted with me, which was reassuring since I was alone, wet, and kind of scared.

Anyway, toward the end of the conversation he showed me all the change he just found, and said he almost had enough for bus fare, so I gave him a dollar....

lol...I mean he talked to me in the rain, and I was alone in the city, so he deserved it.

Nope. I'm not feeding a drug or alcohol problem.LJS9502_basic