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Original poster

Do you give money to homeless people?

131 replies

cwtchesandprosecco · 09/08/2019 18:02

Hi everyone,

Interested in everyone’s opinion on this.

On the train on the way and a man started walking down the carriages asking for money for a shelter. He seemed like a genuine, friendly guy and wasn’t pushing but despite genuinely wanting to I stopped myself from giving any change.

I don’t know whether it was the feeling of being a bit trapped that stopped me, obviously can’t just walk away with, but something did.

So, would you/ do you give money to homeless people who ask for it?

OP posts:
KaleidoscopeEyes · 09/08/2019 19:34

I give in the street, sometimes cigs, sometimes money if I have any. I don't care if they spend it on drugs, believe me, if I was in that position, I would try to be off my face all the live long day.

MoodLighting · 09/08/2019 19:39

No. I'm sick of begging on the train, it's super common now. I have empathy for the homeless but I think it's government that should support them by funding good LA and outreach services rather than them hassling people for money all day.

MissBattleaxe · 09/08/2019 19:39

I give them clean, dry socks, new knickers and toiletries.

MissBattleaxe · 09/08/2019 19:41

Next time you stay in a hotel, nick the minis and give them to homeless women or Women's Aid. It doesn't solve it but it might make that day better than the one before. Also sanpro.

ImogenTubbs · 09/08/2019 19:51

Sometimes and I did last winter during that awful snow. There were so many homeless people out in the snow - I gave away £250 that night. Obviously can't do that all the time but those people could have died being out in the snow that night. Two people cried and said I'd made the difference to them being able to check into a hostel for the night.

WrongKindOfFace · 09/08/2019 19:57

No, I don’t give directly to people begging. It doesn’t help them and is likely funding organised gangs. And it’s definitely funding drug gangs.

If you want to donate then donate to a charity. Often even food donations are wasted - I’ve seen piles of abandoned food left in doorways by ‘homeless’ people.

WrongKindOfFace · 09/08/2019 20:01

Also, night shelters don’t charge so people asking for money for the night shelter are very likely having you on. Longer term hostels do charge but people can claim housing benefit to cover the cost (sometimes they have to top it up a small amount from their other benefits).

Which leads to to the point that homeless people can claim benefits - they can use the address of the council, the job centre, the hostel, or a care of address.

CakeNinja · 09/08/2019 20:03

Sometimes.
Often I just get that ‘there but for the grace of god go i’ feeling and realise that so many people for various reasons are sitting on the streets asking for money. Even if they’re taking home more money than I do (possible, my job pays terribly) I don’t have to sit with a smelly sleeping bag on the streets all day, with people spitting on me or throwing things at me - I’ve seen this happen.
None of us know what’s around the corner, so many of us are just a few pay checks away from being homeless.
I know there are organised scams, dp and I both donate food/items, time and money to our local all night cafe for the homeless, they are amazing.
I don’t judge people for being homeless, if a few quid feeds their addiction or gives them a meal, I consider myself having done ‘something’ for them. I do take on board what others have said about not doing it, dp discourages me giving money to the homeless when we are out together but I don’t like to just walk past.
Even just engaging in a conversation, imagine how it feels to be invisible Sad
It’s a fucking horrendous situation that we have an increase in homelessness in our area right now, it makes me very angry.

formerbabe · 09/08/2019 20:03

No, never. I don't give a penny to any charity either. I don't feel a single twinge of guilt.

PajamasnoDramas · 09/08/2019 20:05

I never give money as I’d rather not be giving them anything that fuels substance misuse. But I used to see some individuals outside a local convenience store where I used to live so I’d ask them if I could get them something to eat while I popped in for some cigs. Most requests were for chocolate so I’d get the biggest bar I could for a quid. It’s really not much but if it helps in a small way.

Mummyshark2018 · 09/08/2019 20:10

Sometimes especially if my daughter is with me as she insists. I live in a city where the homeless charities ask people not to give to beggars as a lot of them are cons (we saw a couple getting into a bmw and two other people getting out to swap shifts- we heard them say this). There are contactless paypoints across the city that people can donate to local homeless charities which I think is a great idea.

crankysaurus · 09/08/2019 20:11

No, I donate to a local shelter and do the shoebox full of useful things at Christmas, and then get a roll or something for people on occasion. There's a big spice drugs problem in my city so I'd rather not inadvertently fund that. Shared my chocolate covered raisins and gave my apple to a lovely lady called Sarah the other day at the bus stop. Had a nice little natter, learnt that she's allergic to strawberries but loves a bit of fruit otherwise. Happy to keep an eye out for her.

Hmmmbop · 09/08/2019 20:12

No, but I've taken a few for lunch, bought them a greggs and hand them my full or very nearly full loyalty cards for local cafes and mcdonalds so they can get a hot drink at a time of their choosing.

woman19 · 09/08/2019 20:13

Yes. Everytime. I do, however, feel sorry for the inhumane who don't.

formerbabe · 09/08/2019 20:18

@woman19

Yes. Everytime. I do, however, feel sorry for the inhumane who don't

What a smug, sanctimonious piece of work you must be.

Maybe some people don't give money because they can't afford to.

How does that sit with your left wing, oh so humane attitude?

listsandbudgets · 09/08/2019 20:19

I dont normally but there are a few local beggars I am convinced are genuine mainly because Ive passed them still sleeping early in the morning.

Not one of the 3 have ever asked me for money and they're always polite and friendly. I offer to buy them food and they often accept. I bought one of them hat, scarf and gloves when it was cold earlier in the year as I couldn't bear to see him shivering.

I do tend to give things not money though.

I hate hate hate being approached and asked for money and wont give it in those circumstances

tierraJ · 09/08/2019 20:20

In my town there are lots of beggars with duvets / blankets placed next to them. Maybe they are genuine homeless or maybe they are fraudsters who can tell.

I've been asked for money for the shelter but the shelter is free.

I pointed this out helpfully to one man who got really nasty.

So many of the beggars are drug addicts, it's easy to tell as I've known a lot of addicts. I don't want my money to fuel their addictions.
There's a lot of help in my town available for true street homeless but sadly not for those street homeless who want to keep abusing drink & drugs - if they can stop using them there are usually beds for them.
Unfortunately the last 'wet house' has closed which is a shame.

I know a policeman - the police check the street sleepers regularly & have often found that they are criminals on the run from other towns including one murderer.
When he was more naive he bought a beggar a coffee but literally got it thrown in his face.

Some of the beggars have dogs but I've heard that some of the dogs are shared to get sympathy & are sometimes drugged to make them behave.
One group of beggars here have a large Rottweiler. They are expensive dogs to feed & this one is extremely well fed.

Recently I was in town & it rained a lot that day & all the beggars disappeared, to where who knows?? Only one young man remained desperately selling the big issue.

tomtom1999xx · 09/08/2019 20:21

Yes I do give them money.

KateUrrer · 09/08/2019 20:22

Too many con artists out there I am afraid.

On very rare occasions I do crack though. But I think I am sillyto do it and do not feel sanctimonious about it. Just conflicted.

Drogosnextwife · 09/08/2019 20:23

I have done a couple of times. I gave a very young boy 20 one day and another young boy a tenner. I give change quite a lot. I tend to go by how they look. I know what they will use it for, have enough drug users in the family to know how it works, but for most of them things will never change, they will get drugs somehow and if my tenner stops them getting the shot kicked out of them for stealing off someone 🤷‍♀️

Passthecherrycoke · 09/08/2019 20:23

@woman19 I just feel glad I’m not a wanker tbh

tierraJ · 09/08/2019 20:27

I don't have a lot of money so I like to give it to a cause that I actually know will do some good rather than some random individual who is slowly killing themselves with drugs.

For example to the food bank or the Red Cross, the British legion who do help veterans etc etc

bellinisurge · 09/08/2019 20:29

No. I remember once offering my bag of food shopping to a woman with a pushchair and a toddler in it who was begging. She said she only wanted money.
I gave some hand warmers and my beanie to a bloke on the street last winter.

KateUrrer · 09/08/2019 20:29

And please do not give if you yourself struggle.

formerbabe · 09/08/2019 20:31

No. I remember once offering my bag of food shopping to a woman with a pushchair and a toddler in it who was begging

She was probably trafficked and/or under the control of gangs. She wouldn't have been genuinely homeless with a toddler.

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