Lady begging on the tube

[UsedtobeFeckless]

Please all tell me in shouty capitals how it's a big wrong thing to give to beggers because l'm feeling bad about this.
Sitting on the tube and a lady comes along the carriage asking very quietly and politely for money. Everyone put their heads down and ignored her. I did too. If anyone else had put their hand in their pocket l would have done too but no-one did so l just sat there and l've been beating myself up for it ever since.
What would you have done?

And actually, late at night on a quiet tube, I have no wish for someone with potential mental health and addiction problems to come up to me and ask me for my money. In that situation, no I won’t bloody engage.

I give money because anyone freezing their arse off on a street has a far worse life than I do.

Many, many, many of them aren't homeless. They do it for the money.

And many of them are homeless.

@Monkatron, perhaps you could tell me what support and advice means because Shelter sure as hell isn't telling me. I suspect the vagueness is entirely deliberate. When I see Shelter opening shelters and handing out soup, I might consider donating. Until then I'll just cut out the middle man.

Maybe the homeless should all be issued with homeless identity cards so y'all can ask to see them before you agree to donate!

I give money because anyone freezing their arse off on a street has a far worse life than I do
Many, many, many of them aren't homeless. They do it for the money

In that case I'm glad they have a home. And clearly that doesn't pay well, for who'd chose a job sitting on a street in all weathers? would you?

I am astonished that the government is not doing anything about homelessness. Pets have sanctuaries. Humans get told "to lead a better life" on an empty stomach.

In that case I'm glad they have a home. And clearly that doesn't pay well, for who'd chose a job sitting on a street in all weathers? would you?

For £500 a day I might think about it.

metro.co.uk/2019/01/28/beggar-500-arrested-city-centre-8401574/

I give money because anyone freezing their arse off on a street has a far worse life than I do

So you give money to anyone with a worse life than you? Must get expensive.

As for being outside, many people spend all day outside working. Street cleaners, farmers, gardeners, lollipop ladies/men, labourers.

The really interesting thing about this thread is how those people who don't believe in giving money to beggars/think donating to charity is better are so intent on persuading the rest of us to be like them. Tell you what, you do what you like with your money and let the rest of us use the same judgment.

I worked for a charity and we had a lot of interaction with homeless charities. Some are bloody brilliantly. I give to them.

I'd like to contribute to this thread by asking a couple of questions - particularly to those who are more sympathetic to beggars and more in favour of giving them money.

Question 1. To what extent do you think beggars should take personal responsibility for their own situation (as opposed to begging and thus asking others to take responsibility for them)?

Question 2. Assuming you think that the government should do more to help beggars, please could you give some examples of specific measures you think the government should take?

"Beggars" earn far more money than people in unskilled jobs.
They are unsightly and a nuisance, but that is their point- to attract our attention.
They should just fuck off and get a job, like the rest of us.

How do you suggest they do that @Mobyduck?

And what's your evidence that they "earn" more than people in unskilled jobs?

I have no evidence whatsoever. I don't need any.

OK.

SquireOfGreenway why? What's your opinion?

If it were as easy as answering two questions the problem would've been solved ages ago. The situation gets better or worse depending on how much investment is made in MH services, addiction services, and facilities to actually help people - and how much public appetite there is for helping rather than moralising about what homeless people should or shouldn't be doing.

People who give money to begging Roma are an absolute disgrace who are just encouraging their exploitation.

There is a large Roma population in my city and a lot of them work in construction so my husband knows a lot of Roma through his work. They’re treated dreadfully in Eastern Europe, can’t get jobs and are excluded from health services and education. That creates a level of desperation which means richer Roma can exploit the very poorest Roma and force them into gangs. The fact a lot of Roma have been able to come over here and work has made them a lot less vulnerable to these gangs, but the very, very poorest and most vulnerable who couldn’t get the money to travel here are still in danger. All the Roma I know hate the people who run these gangs and they hate the people who give money and make it worthwhile exploiting them.

I hope the people who give think that their moment of smuggery and virtue signalling is worth perpetuating the slavery of another human.

@bluelady that’s great that you don’t judge people for being alcoholics or drug addicts. But why give them money? Is it helping an addict to perpetuate their addiction? Especially when they are at the point of begging for money on the street.

You say “you're humble enough” not to assume what they’ll spend the money on - if you don’t think it’s shelter or food though, why give it? Would you give it to someone to buy a gun or knife to harm themselves? Or to give to a gang master?

The reality is you have no idea what the people you give money to are spending it on. Not do you know if they need it or not. At least with a charity there is oversight and regulation and accountability.

At Kings Cross today I saw a big argument between a man claiming he was homeless berating two women who were begging. He was shouting about them having a roof over their heads and turning up like it was a job

I've said three times on this thread that I don't care what the person I give money to spends it on. If a drink or a fix alleviates their misery for a bit, that's fine by me.

I don't think I used the word "humble" by the way. I think I said I don't judge, which is something else entirely.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-47045693

This is why I wouldn't stop and make eye contact with someone homeless, on the train or otherwise. I do however donate my time and money to homeless shelters, which I feel is much further reaching.

Id prefer that any cash I gave to someone on the street went towards food or clothing than alcohol or drugs tbh.
Only way to be sure is to set up a DD with Shelter or pop into your local soup kitchen with a contribution now and again.
Far too many choose begging as an alternative to employment and it's pretty difficult to tell who's who. People will go to great lengths to look the part.

Regarding the Roma there was a documentary on TV a while back where a family sent there 14 year old daughter to the UK to live with relatives on the understanding that she would get a couple of years in the British education system.

Yep. You guessed it. She spent the next couple of years begging on the streets of London and her relatives bought a 4 bedroom new build back in Romania with the proceeds. (apparently the older ones were into card skimming / pick pocketing on the underground etc)
A regular little enterprise.

I don't mean to sound precious but it van be a little intimidating having strange men coming up to me as a woman on my own. Do people have any opinions on which charities are the most effective for helping ppl? I've donated to a few local ones but it's hard to tell how good they are really.

I do give sometimes btw in answer to the OP but probably not in the situation she describes, more likely to ppl outside doorways etc.