To ask what should I do to help homeless man without seeming patronising?

[Ceasre]

On my walk to work in the mornings I see a homeless man. He used to be able to take shelter in one of the office blocks which had some shelter so I guess that was where he slept at night, but that is now being refurbished and their are boards covering it. Now he seems to be on the pavement outside a shop in his usual sleeping bag.

He doesn't seem to beg for money, he always just looks so sad and tired. He seems quite young and I often wonder what has happened in his life that has led him to this. I sometimes see people talking to him, but I have never plucked up the courage to because I don't want to make him feel patronised, but I would like to help him in some small way.

He inspired me last Christmas to donate to Crisis and I intend to do that this year as well, but would like to give him some money directly. I guess my question is would you or is there something else I should do?

The hostel accommodation set aside for London’s homeless men and women does not require payment in order to 'book in'. Hostel rent is covered through Housing Benefit, which hostel workers can help the new resident to claim once they have moved into the hostel.

From my experience this only works if you have the relevant documents to prove who you are. If you lose/ stolen ID it's practically impossible

Have you ever heard of the Rucksack project? I started doing this last year.

neighbourhoodnetworkhull.co.uk/2013/11/11/the-rucksack-project/

Basically, you buy a cheap rucksack from a charity shop (they might even give it for free if you explain what you intend to use it for) fill it with things for under £10 like a hat, gloves, blanket, sleeping bag, flask etc. Then put inside a laminated, signed note explaining that you have given this bag to the person carrying it with your full consent, listing everything inside it, so they cannot be accused of stealing any of its contents.

Took a lot of guts for me to do this for someone last year, as i expected it to be thrown back in my face tbh. It happened once when i offered a man sitting outside Gregg's a sausage roll, and that kind of knocked my confidence a bit. So i then started handing out change again. But i much prefer this project. I'm hoping to hand this year's out when i head into Glasgow this weekend. There's a lady i pass every day on my way to uni i think i'll give it to.

TBH I don't agree with not giving money because it might be used for addiction.

Who are we to be conditional with our generosity? Who are we to control or say what is good for another person from our position of comparable luxury and comfort?

I agree with you totally, Starlight.

I agree with you more if you are going to give some money give it unconditionally so what if they buy a meal or a bottle of cider,

a few pounds wil buy 10 cigarettes or tobacco if that is what they want to spend it on

Is he Roma by any chance?

If he is I wouldn't risk offending him, it's a funny culture with loads of superstitions and anyway they are very used to tough conditions.

There are old women/ kids sleeping in Hyde park and they think nothing of it!

Contact your local (or the LA in which you see the chap in) homeless department. All las have teams charged with sorting out shelter accomodation.

Sadly many people prefer to sleep on the streets than take the help available.

In our borough there are regular 'sweeps' where streets are walked in search of homeless people. Happily the number is usually counted on the fingers of one or two hands.

I would never give money, ever.

Food, if you can be bothered. (always interesting to see how it is recieved).

But otherwise contact la for guidance.

Just this afternoon, a man on the train was walking through begging. Yes begging. But, he wasn't giving the usual spiel of being w/o job, homeless and so on. Instead, he said that he was "starving". Plain and simple, "i'm hungry and starving. Any food, water, etc would be appreciated."

For the first time, I gave food (snack bar) I had. Smashed b/c in bag. But, his simple appeal worked. And I'm not under any disillusionment that he was probably high and had the munchies ... But his plea was simple. I wasn't helping him buy drugs... And several people after me gave food or water bottles. Enabling? Maybe. But I still felt better for having done something easy for me.

In short, give food/water/gloves. Don't give money.

(The only time I give money is when a busker is particularly good and I feel that I would pay for such entertainment in a different venue. Not often, but it happens.)

I find it odd when people have a 'policy' about giving to people on the streets.