Homeless

[Jojoanna]

AIBU to give a homeless lady sitting on the cold pavement surrounded by her possessions money?

Always cash, cash gives a little power and choice in a way that a sandwich can't. That choice might be to buy alcohol but if I were sleeping on the streets, I'd want to be as drunk as possible.

The city where I am it is advised not to give money to stop "professional beggars" who are not homeless and who not only take your money but they then stop the homeless receiving the help by moving them on by intimidation. They ask for money to be given to the charities instead.

Cash is fine. You can buy what you need, whatever it might be. If I was homeless and living on the streets I'd want to be as drunk or high as possible.

^that

I have been homeless; I hate coffee, am fussy about my tea and was never hungry.

I was often cold.

I was often very uncomfortable. Not having an actual bed to sleep in is hard. Not having anywhere to slob out during the day is hard. Being lonely, feeling grubby, is hard. I used to brush my teeth in a public loo.

I know it's up to people what they give but honestly - tea or food wouldn't have helped me AT all!

i would not give cash alot of homeless people have addictions. i would rather they had a warm drink/food in their belly. rather than i buy their next fix

Cutting off supply doesn't cure addiction.

No i myself was homeless once. i find the OPs stealth boasting self righteous post amusing.

Yanbu. Giving money or any help to people in need is always good.

And nor do I think you're boasting - whether it is right to give money to the homeless , as evidenced by this thread, is a divisive issue which I can understand questioning aibu.

nature, you and sarky are very much in the minority here, and very unattractively, even offensively, cynical.

Of course I am not boasting. What a ridiculous rude comment!

Honestly OP, if you're not after some back patting, can you explain why precisely you have doubts that giving money to the homeless is anything but reasonable? .

I said up thread people told me that I shouldn't give cash to homeless. Hot drinks or food was more acceptable .

I give them money. I don't care what they spend it on.

And there's me thinking you'd have mentioned that in your OP if that's what it was actually about...

No, giving cash is not unreasonable. I've been homeless. I was extremely well fed and watered because so many people decided not to give cash but buy me food and drink instead. I could have done with cash to buy a cheap coat to keep me warmer at night.

I give food. Or the occasional
cigarette back in the days when I always had a packet of tailors on me. I don't have a moral problem with homeless people spending money on Special Brew- like a PP said if I was sleeping in the streets I'd want to be drunk too. I don't want to fund fake, pro beggars tho. Most of them earn twice what DP does.

I have worked with the homeless for many many years, and we would advise people not to give cash. Unfortunately, it does get spent on drugs and alcohol a great deal of the time. Furthermore, people who are homeless and who do take drugs, tend to remember the people who give money, so unless you want to be pestered every day when they see you, it is best not to start giving money. It seems harsh, but there are night shelters, wet hostels, dry hostels, charities and church groups all there to support homeless people....if you want to help, volunteer.

I'm happy to give them money. They are adults in a shitty situation. I'd rather they had a choice about what food/drink they had.

I'm not going to assume all homeless people are drug addicts

I can't understand for the life of me why you think it would be unreasonable to give money to someone less needy.

I don't know why you would come on here and start a debate about it either. What is the point?

I often give the Big Issue seller who I pass every day on the way home from work a cigarette.

Yes he does remember me and knows if he asks I will give him a cigarette, I don't mind.

I always give cash, I know I'd get it wrong if I bought food. If I see a homeless person with a dog I give them cash & go & buy a tin of food for the dog.

I generally ask. Sometimes someone might want money, sometimes they just want a cup of tea. I figure that they're the best judge of what might improve their life a bit, at that particular moment, plus I sort of think that being given the choice is important. Sort of more dignified.

God, people are being narky on this thread. Can we not just assume that the OP wants to help and is asking an innocent question?

My DH won't ever give cash as he says it's going to be spent on "the wrong things". I give cash because "the wrong things" to me might just be what a homeless person needs to survive. It's not my place to judge how they use the money.

Woah woah woah! All these people saying give cash if you want. NO! A huge proportion of rough sleeping in the UK is linked to substance abuse: alcohol, drugs etc. You can't necessarily tell why a beggar/rough sleeper is homeless (or if they are in fact homeless, for that matter), but the chances are that substance abuse is a factor.

Giving an addict money will only allow them to fuel their addiction, which in turn contributes to their homelessness issues. It's a horrible, vicious cycle.

Giving to the homeless is a very noble, selfless thing to do, but please please don't give them cash: food, toiletries etc. are much better or even better save your cash for a donation towards a charity or shelter.