How do you honestly react to homeless people on the street?

[MrsBrentford]

I watched a documentary, can’t remember which, about homeless people and how they feel totally invisible, and inhuman and that made me feel shit.

Thought about my own behaviour and how I occasionally give money or food but more often than not I hurry past and avoid eye contact.

So this year I have decided to make eye contact, smile and say hello to every homeless person I see in town (and there seem to be an increasing amount in my town ).

Is anyone else guilty of this?

In the states they sit out on corners and walk to their cars to beg for money. I just tell them to get fucked,roll up my windows and drive away

No I don't smile and make eye contact with anyone else on the street so think it would be a bit strange.

When I worked in London there was an old man, I used to buy him a cup of coffee and something to eat and sit and have a chat every morning on my way to work but that was a one off.

@HeIenaDove thank you, it's just the small mindedness of some people that's shocking.

@daisychain01 I'm so sorry to hear of your struggles with you DBro, amazing though he has turned his life around, it gives me a sliver of hope, but if I'm honest I just feel he is too far gone now, he has zero rational thoughts, talking to himself, randomly shouting at passers by. I don't see how he can ever come to understand that he needs help?

@EmeraldShamrock thank you for your kind words, I was trying to make the point that homeless people can wear designer trainers, as I know from personal experience. It might seem stupid to some people but my DM has her own reasons for buying those trainers, people shouldn't judge until they've walked a mile.

Of course they do because if we all looked after homeless people by giving them food and/or a coffee those charities would be unnecessary. I had to respond to this! I work in a food bank and community charity; we have links to various shelters, soup kitchens etc. And I find the insinuation here absolutely horrifying!

Do people really think that all the night shelters etc are run for profit, to line someones pockets? Fuck! Really?

Night shelters, for example, pay qualified and experienced workers NMW - about £12/hour, salaried at about £16K. They cannot leave site during their shift. They are responsible not only for overseeing the volunteers and clients but will liaise with other organisations; paperwork, reams of it on each client, the H+S, risk assessments (building, activities and individuals), general running of the shelter; aiding clients in all sorts of benefits issues, job and accommodation searches and then food prep and serving teas and coffees as well as full meals, washing up, cleaning the building, security; some lone worker stuff too (can be a bit scary) and more paperwork.

Directors / CEOs might get £40K.

Maybe the posters is getting these community based charities mixed up with the national brands like Anchor Trust now Hanover (not for profit housing charity) whose CEO gets just short of half a million!

I don't. I don't buy the Big Issue either. I give money to outreach services that can sort the genuinely homeless people from the charlatans and know how to help them get off the streets. I don't want my money to fund crime or alcoholism or drugs. Also, I don't want to think of any person dying of an overdose brought on by spending money that I gave them. That is not "helping them get through".

I've just caught up with this thread and am quite shocked at the attitudes of some (not all) posters. I don't live in a large city, there are only a few homeless where I live and I help those I can. If some of the homeless are indeed addicts, I don't consider that their human worth is less than anyone else's regardless of how and why their addiction started.

In so called benefit bashing threads, my underlying feeling is that I'm glad we live in a county where the welfare state exists. I lived for 10 years in a country where there were zero benefits. I accept that there will be a minority of claimants who may receive more than perhaps they should, but so what? Better that than everybody else is penalised. I see giving to the homeless in the same way.

As I posted earlier, I do know someone who chooses to sleep in disabled toilets because she cannot handle living in a flat of her own. She is transgender, has learning difficulties and is an addict. I'm sure many people avert their eyes and walk past her because of her appearance but she is extremely timid and would certainly not snatch anyone's handbag!

It really depends. I try to be generous, sometimes i buy them a McDonalds meal (i usually carry a lot of those bus ticket vouchers for this reason), or pet food if they have dogs with them. However, locally i do avoid drunks and druggies.

I don't consider that their human worth is less than anyone else's regardless of how and why their addiction started. You've misinterpreted many responses then!

It isn't about considering anyone 'lesser than'. Some of us who have said that we ALWAYS WALK BY work with homeless support agencies. We have a different perspective and will do nothing to support the addiction, but actively do lots to support the person!

For the trans person you mention, best thing you can do for them is to research a good support agency who can deal with all of their issues. YOU have access to such data gathering and can ask all the right questions before suggesting anywhere to them. Start by looking for you local night shelter....

Lot of virtue signalling on this thread, as expected

??? I'll pack my bag then!

@User12879923378 why won't you buy a big issue? You do realise the people seelling them buy a certain amount every morning for a knocked down price then sell then to make a small profit which enables them to keep a roof over their heads. If they spend the profit on drink or drugs they wouldn't be able to buy any more. They are doing their best to help themselves.

Go on be kind, and buy one.

Better virtue signallng than its more hypocritical opposite....................conscience laundering!

Always either but them a sandwich fruit crisps water (and dog food/chews if a dog there).
If no food outlet I will give money.happy to stop and chat.
Recently I was very late for an appointment and saw a lady say in a doorway and put my hand in my pocket and gave her all the money in there without looking first,I smiled said hello,sorry I'm late got to dash type thing and a bit later she came after me.
She had found a small Angel wing and thought it might have some value so have it back to me.
I was really grateful she had bothered.thoughtfulness goes both ways.
Working on the soup kitchen line mid winter really makes me appreciate what I have.None of them ever moaned about their situation but were helpful and friendly.
We should all count our blessings.

Sorry for typos...
Buy not but
Gave not have

Sometimes I'll sit down and chat with them. Some of their stories are heart breaking. I buy food and a drink usually. There's a place in an underground car park where i see a bundle of possessions and a sleeping bag so I'll tuck something to eat in there for when they cone back to sleep. Hopefully I'll be able to volunteer for a homeless charity when we're back in the UK

If they ask for money I say “sorry” politely but in all honesty (rightly or wrongly) I find it really intimidating if I’m on my own. There are a couple in our local town who beg but aren’t homeless

I try to make eye contact, small smile, never ignore/pretend I didn't see them if they've spoken to me. I never (almost never) them give money but might over to buy them a drink/food if they're outside a shop I'm going to. I try to keep any engagement short.

I don't believe this nonsense about professional beggars all being on 100k. I used to volunteer in a soup kitchen so would see the same faces begging in the town, many of them have been there for years.

Unfortunately in my town I know quite a few who are not homeless and do have a fixed abode but see begging as more of a job to supplement their income.

Same as i know they purposely sit by ATM machines as it is harder for people to say no in giving money.

I have seen a few though who are genuinely homeless and have always tried to help and some who are new in the town and hoping the council will help them. I have always gave them what I have spare.

I ask people hat they need, if I've got time and grab them a sandwich, coffee, etc. If I've got less time I make sure I've got change in my pocket and give people money. I don't care what they spend it on. It's their money to do what they want with.

It's best to donate to homeless charities.

Or to mental health charities - maybe then they can be helped before they even get to the homeless stage (not that they can help people who just lose their jobs for other reasons).

What I can never understand is why so many veterans are represented among the homeless. Charities like the Legion and Help for Heroes are swimming in funds so why are they not doing more?

I do try and say hello to Homeless people if I can and have time,and if I have a few bits of change, I give it to them.
Saw a young girl in a major Scottish city recently, where I stopped to chat to. Bit of a tragic story and because she was young, she didn't understand her rights regarding homelessness which led her into her situation. She was getting support from Social Bite though and was hoping to get accommodation shortly. I asked her if she needed anything and the only thing she did ask for was a pair of gloves, which I was happy to buy her.

PLEASE DO NOT GIVE THEM MONEY!!!!!

I rarely go to town but when I went with my mum and DN before Christmas walking past Primark I see my sister stood over her 'homeless' boyfriend who was begging in the street.

He is NOT homeless he is a drug addict and is begging to get more money for there drugs! Even lieing to people in front of me saying he was homeless... If you see a homeless person asking for money buy them food and water, a hot drink etc don't give them money you never know who is actually homeless and who is buying drugs and going back to a warm home.

@MrsBrentford If I give money and they buy drugs or booze, and that gets them through, I think that’s ok

Is that a joke??? You do realise drug addicts have family and most of them CHILDREN! I will be sure to remember your stupid comment when I explain to my 2 nieces and nephew why there mum or dad died of an overdose or the hepatitis s/he has from being a regular drug user 🤦🏻‍♀️

@MrsBrentford If I give money and they buy drugs or booze, and that gets them through, I think that’s ok

I can only assume that you think that drug and alcohol addiction and being street homeless are exactly the same as you having a G&T on a Friday night to wind down .

Addiction isn’t fun. Not for the person who is addicted and not for their family and friends. Or for the professional who work with them, the tax payers who pays for it and wider society.

If you give cash like that you need to accept that that money might allow them to kill themselves. As long as you are cool with that.

@MrsBrentford If I give money and they buy drugs or booze, and that gets them through, I think that’s ok

I used to have this attitude in my early 20s and would give liberally and think yeah just do what you need to do - I’d want a drink too.

So although I don’t give cash nowadays, it’s not because I judge someone who buys drugs or alcohol - I don’t, I get it - it’s because I know that it’s not helpful for them. (Just as I wouldn’t encourage a friend or relative going through a bad time to repeatedly get pissed to deal with their problems).

You’re enabling addiction and self destruction for someone who’s already living with precariousness and instability on the margins of society.