to think that if I want to buy a homeless person a coffee I can?

[SuperMassiveIssue]

In McDonald's. Homeless man taps me on the shoulder at the self service. 'Excuse me miss, I'm homeless and was wondering if you could spare any change' - me: 'I've got no change on me but I will happily buy you a coffee?' - homeless man: 'that would be amazing if you could, thank you so much'

At which point a miserable old git scowled at me and said 'you're just as much of a problem as they are'

I feel angry. We don't do enough for the homeless in the UK in my opinion and actually, what harm is it for me to buy a man a drink?

Probably should've let it go over my head but it's upset me as my brother was homeless for a short while. He's wonderful, generous, kind, and sadly misguided at times. He's turned his life around and I'm so glad for those who bought coffee and food for him whilst he was homeless unbeknownst to his family...

The problem is that there isn’t enough housing to make sure there aren’t homeless people. Not you showing some compassion!!

I’m apparently awful then as I get my lad (aged 4) to give spare change from me to any homeless people we come across.
I want him to grow up knowing that helping others is a good thing.
I also hope that if he were in the same situation, then others would help him.
There is nothing wrong with showing a caring side. People are very cynical nowadays.

@stopfuckingshoutingatme
But there are obvious and sound reasons why giving to a homeless charity is preferential to giving directly to homeless people. I know a lot of homeless people would prefer to be given the cash but that's not what is necessarily in their best interest.

I try to if i can afford it buy them a drink i wont get my purse out in front of anybody though in the street. Had one bloke on Saturday though i was in a rush for a train swear and abuse at me because i wouldn't buy him chips. Another fella went oh no problem love have a lovely evening, now out of the two if i was to see either of them again i know who i would give to!

@Byebyebye it wasn't a worker who said it to me though. It was a member of the public

what Boom says.

Plus, alot of the poor and homeless wouldn't dare beg ... much too much dignity. The ones who do openly beg - I would always have a questionable atttitude to.

I was in a buffet style restaurant the other night and a painfully thin woman came in and was asking people for money. I gave her a couple of pounds and the restaurant owner gave her a box of food which was lovely. the owner explained that they throw a lot of food out at the end of the night and would rather give it to the homeless. Even if they are on drugs they still need to eat.

I very often buy homeless people sandwiches if they are outside a service station or a Pret or something.

You did a lovely thing OP. Ignore the old woman.

Ah, I had read it as the person serving you was the one who said it. It may be the guy lives in the area, I can see how residents might feel they are having to bear the brunt of the problem and that might make them unsympathetic to help being handed out in their area. But if he was passing through as you were then he's just a git.

I would never give money but I’ll buy food or drink for them.

I think it is better to buy a coffee than give money, in my opinion.

Though it is a pity anyone goes to McDonalds.

We live somewhat near San Francisco, which has a large homeless population. When he'd go to the City DS1 & his friends would usually buy a homeless person lunch and sit down with them to eat. He used to say "Mum, everyone deserves to be listened to. Some of them have some pretty amazing stories".

We're all human and we're all in this together. There but for the grace of God go any one of us.

I used to be quite involved in volunteering with homeless people in a town with a large homeless population. As a result of what I learned I would probably offer hot drinks and food to anyone begging but I wouldn't give change to a homeless person (however tempting). If I see someone I'm inclined to give change to instead I donate the £1 or whatever to a homeless charity (make a note on my phone) as that will actually help the homeless population.

I wouldn't say anything to anyone who bought something for a homeless person - if they want to fair enough. However, if someone asks me to buy them something I say "No, sorry, I only have enough for me and my family". Seems tough but I see them everyday (commute to Oxford Circus) and many of them are con artists and there's a limit to how many times I can say "No, sorry" politely before 7:30am. (The record is 7).

I do it all the time. It's a bit of kindness, and nobody should be criticised for kindness.

The motto for the charity I worked for is: Beggars aren't homeless, and homeless people don't beg. True in a lot of cases.

I've been homeless. Thank you for doing this. 😀

I collect the little loyalty stickers with McD's coffee (or Hot Chocolate etc) and gather up quite a stack of loyalty coffees. If I see a homeless person, I give them a few of those.

Costs me nothing, and whilst it's not going to change their world, it's going to keep them warm for half an hour in McD's and a free cuppa instead of money being spent on something nasty.

Torn i do the same with the Greggs vouchers that are in womens magazines sometimes..............the last one was for one of the new Greggs salads so i gave that to her.

I agree with not giving money

But I had to come back on and remind also for those who say they are on drugs and alcohol, absolutely some are ...either to cope with being homeless or that's what got them there....now think how unbelievably horrific life must be on drugs or alcohol

No-one wakes up one day and decides to be an addict....not giving a hot drink to an addict or someone you suspect of being one does not make you right

Addiction doesn't mean you no longer need food or drink or are not worthy of basic human kindness

The only thing YABUA (tongue in cheek) is not telling him to fuck off! It's none of his business!

if I had Greggs vouchers, I'd give them back to the Gregg's staff - they always look so bloody miserable! ;-)

I never give money to beggars, because I genuinely don’t believe that solves anything, but I would happily buy a homeless person a sandwich or donate to a homeless charity.

Bet its no fun working in Greggs in a heatwave.

A genuine homeless person will always accept a drink or food, there may be some "career beggars" but I doubt very much there are as many as the Dail Wail thinks there are.

At least if they have a warm drink & /or meal inside them they might be able to keep off the nasty stuff for a few more hours or have the reserves to not get ill in the cold & wet. ( thought TBH at the moment they're better off with a few bottles of cold water!)

Well done OP you keep on bying them coffee!