Street begging - do you give money to street people who ask?

[mamadadawahwah]

I always do because I was taught, there but for the grace of God go I. If someone needs money that bad they have to beg for it, I will give them something. Many people dont take this view and i suppose it is to do with their upbringing and their political and social views.

Be interested to know what you all think though. Bearing in mind, many people, particularly the young "suits" are only a paycheque away from the street, despite earning huge salaries. Maybe that is why I often see young suits haranguing street people - cause they know that could be their lot too.

[Milliways]

Our church supports FAITH (Feed all in thy hands) & they collect money + tins + dried goods & go out nightly donating soup & sandwiches to all the local homeless. I would rather give to something like this where you know it is doing direct good. Our local police try to discourage giving to the beggars & giving to the support grouos instead.

[Satine]

I always try to give something for exactly the same reason. You just never know how that person came to be in their position. I try to catch their eye, too, and smile, unless they're scarey looking (and as long as it's in a public place!!) as I often think how soul destroying it must be to be invisible and ignored. And if they want to spend the money on booze or fags or drugs, well that's up to them.

[SaintGeorge]

Never - I will happily go and buy them a sandwich or a drink but I will not give money.

[mamadadawahwah]

Satine, i agree completely. If i only give them 20p i cant very well say "now make sure you buy a sandwich with that wad i gave you"!

[backafronted]

I have to say I don't give to street beggers, The ones in my town have better trainers than me and all have mobiles. I know there are genuine cases of poverty but with so many benefits availible I wonder?

[morocco]

never do now - that's what the social security system is there for. I do give stuff to the sally army for example though. I'd rather give any money to an organisation that would help the truly needy than to waste my money on other people's drugs money. sadly I think I do subscribe to the 'deserving poor' idea even though it sounds such a crap, patronising expression

always do when in countries that have crap health/social care. Sadly though even there, many of the people who are really hard up are too proud to beg and those that do beg the most in touristy areas are often making a decent living out of it

Oh dear, obviously I should just start reading the daily mail and have done with it

[Fran1]

It'd be interesting to know where abouts we all are, wonder whether many Londoners give to beggars.

I'm from London and very very rarely give to street beggars, mainly cos there are so many of them and also cos i'm sure most are begging for their drug money. They probably have a bedsit somewhere and already claim benefits which don't stretch far enough for their drugs, so of an evening they put on the scruffy clothes and sit and beg.

I would much rather go and buy them a hot drink or some food.

[hatstand]

I struggle with this one. I hate the idea of people thinking I think they're invisible so I often do - more often to women than men tbh. I just think how terrifying it must be to sleep rough. But then I feel guilty coz it's not unfeasible that I might have just funded a shot too much. I keep saying that I should make it a rule to put something in a pot every time I'm asked and then give it to Shelter. Although it might feel like it I doubt that the quid or two you give makes the difference between them sleeping on the street that night and not. But giving the money to an organisation might help towards tackling the longer-term problems. We do a dd to Shelter

[Gobbledigook]

I don't because I donate monthly by DD to my chosen charities and I don't really donate to anything else otherwise it would just go on and on. I do feel terrible walking by because they must think I don't care but of course I do care and I'd just rather give to registered organisations so I know the money is used properly.

[GaylordFocker]

I don't, I do feel sorry for them but I know that they buy more than food for themselves iykwim...my dh has been in this situation with no home and noone and I know it's hard but some people beg wheh they could do a little something...saying that if \i knew they were genuine and didn't spend it on booze I would give them a generous amount...sadly not the case though.

[hatstand]

I don't think you have to resort to the "deserving poor" idea to justify not wanting to give someone drug money. If I really thought someone was a junky I wouldn't give them cash - not because I didn't think they were "deserving" but cos it wouldn't help. People with serious drugs problems need help but generally not the kind that can be exchanged directly for more drugs.

[morocco]

we're in Hull - hard to part a Yorkshirewoman from her hard earned cash you know (joke btw!!)

[SaintGeorge]

No that is not a joke morocco - it's cold hard fact

East or west of the river?

[JoolsToo]

no

[suedonim]

No. Beggars didn't exist when I young - they were people we read about in history books. Even though Welfare (as it was known) was much less generous then and very demeaning to claim, no one felt it necessary to beg for a livelihood. I'm happy to give to charities for the homeless, though.

[JoolsToo]

suede - you talk my language

[morocco]

ferriby and you?

[SaintGeorge]

Willerby Rd.

[hatstand]

interesting - do you think it's because we are more mobile these days? less family networks of teh good variety, more likely to become homeless through leaving a horrible family situation?

[morocco]

just looking for my a-z (not been in area long) is that up by the docks?
and to get back to street begging, do you give to people begging with kids (only ever seen that in London though - is it massively illegal?)

[uwila]

Okay, how many people would rather give to the poor starving dog that homeless man keeps with him?

I agree with giving at church or to some oranisation that will spend the money on food, shelter, etc. I never give directly to begger.

[JoolsToo]

not me!

[SaintGeorge]

No.
Quick local geography lesson:
Ferry docks are east. The old fish docks - now a shopping area - are west.
The slightly posher villages (Willerby, Kirkella etc) are west. So I am on the main road between the posh bits and the city centre

Don't tend to see people begging with kids in Hull, plenty with dogs though for some reason.

[morocco]

fess up
someone must give them something or maybe we should tell them they're just wasting their time

[mears]

I remember a programme urging people not to give to beggars in the street because it was a way of directly fueling drink/drug habit. Better to give to homeless charity for more general help.