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?

Eine A colleague of mine with a hipster beard once came in mortified after someone tried to give him £1 outside Greggs.

I generally ignore them because I'm immersed in my own life but I am totally sympathetic. I was street homeless for a number of weeks some years ago. It was the toughest experience I've had.

I walk past. I don’t look or smile or say anything. Neither does anyone else in my high street so I’m not sure I believe so many people do.. I’ve certainly only seen it once or twice someone hand them something. Pretty much everyone else just walks past. I don’t feel guilty.

If they don't speak to me, I don't acknowledge them really, the same as any other stranger in the street. I never give them money but if they speak to me or ask me for money I don't ignore them either, I always look at them and say sorry I don't have any or something.
There was one particular man who was always in the car park I parked in, he never asked me for anything and we ended up getting quite friendly and having a chat every day. I haven't seen him in a while though, I do hope he's doing ok, he was a lovely man who obviously had just fallen on hard times. A lot of the homeless around here aren't as nice.

Working and living London, there are so many homeless people I wouldn't be able to count them. I try to give them change, bedding anything they can use to stay warm and dry. Food and drink is good but when it comes to money other than spare change, unfortunately there are many that do drugs and drink and so it isn't great to give big sums of money. I think it's about £16 to stay the night in the shelter, but would rather take the person and pay directly than give the money. It's sad. I've been seeing a lot more youngsters now as well, mainly from up north. So awful.

I imagine they are my brother. Not in a spiritual way. In a literal way. I don't know why because my brother is a perfectly capable adult and has a house and job etc. He has never been homeless.

I think maybe I read a story about someone whose brother lived on the streets and had some mental welfare issues. They were worried and stressed about him. From then on, I would think "what if this was my brother?"

From then on I tend to say hi and occasionally ask if it's ok to pet their dogs (I like dogs and find this tends to bring a smile to both our faces, plus people love you admiring their dogs). I sometimes give money, but not very often because I don't tend to have cash on me.

inews.co.uk/news/jobcentre-staff-homeless-people-get-jobs-1362820

Jobcentre staff to be sent out on the street to help homeless get jobs.

Bit risky i would have thought. What if a Jobcentre worker comes face to face with a person that they sanctioned!

There are a couple near my place of work, once a week I will ask if they want a sandwich or any food when I go to get lunch.

Our town is a poor town. There are lots of beggars and they can't possibly make much because most people in the town are also skint. I never can decide what to do when I see them.

I always give them any change i have in my pocket.

@VikVal81 shelters in London are free, there is no charge to stay in them. Youth hostels charge but shelters do not.

It does seem implausible to me that you'd wear designer gear if you were trying to beg, though. Surely you'd stand a better chance of making money if you were visibly hard up? Also, why would you tell people you wouldn't take help from charities? You're alienating your target audience. And what is the name of this Rent-a-Merc outfit? Sounds highly specialised, do they only service fake beggars?

Not saying any of these pps are talking utter bullshit, you understand. Just that some things seem strange to me. Maybe I'm just thick.

Watched them swap coats, get their iPhones out and call for a Merc

#thingsthatneverhappened

My daughter listens and talks to lots and the stories are harrowing. I give the benefit of the doubt that they are true, rapes in the hostels, having everything stolen. Can understand them not wanting to go there. Also one lady told her, they close the doors at 9pm but 90% of the money they are given is after the pubs close so they have to decide do they gamble one night in the shelter but maybe not another all week or stay out all night and have the money for the week to buy alcohol or whatever they need

A lot of homeless people aren’t homeless because of addiction. So true. I worked in that area and still volunteer. And do you know what, if I had to sleep on the streets I would rather spend the money on something to make me feel better quickly like booze or drugs than food.

Many of those who had addiction problems first got addicted because of their primary caregiver. The amount of young people I worked with who had been given their first shot of heroin at 12/13 shocked even me.

Its always 'got into a merc' in these tales.

DD works in a local Costa during the holidays. People give Costa cards to the people begging nearby, sadly they they come into the store and are abusive to the (mainly young, female staff) and on more than one occasion have smashed things in the shop & threatened staff and customers meaning the police have needed to be involved. The police have confirmed that none of the 4 or 5 people involved in this are actually homeless! Similar problem in Greggs across from Costa, a local homeless charity began giving out £3 Greggs gift cards but then a member of staff was assaulted

I work in A&E so deal with more than my fair share of homelessness, many regulars have been offered help by a lot of different agencies but due to addiction issues and in some cases just choices on how they want to live then they return to the streets. They are often barred from local homeless services and charities for either drugs offences or violence.

It's a very complex problem. I can't help looking at the people sat with sleeping bags and feeling sad for where they are in life right now but I'm also aware that giving them cash just won't help... I wouldn't give my own kids money to buy drugs so why would I do that for someone else's?

I usually don't speak or make eye contact in case they recognise me from A&E where I have regularly been threatened by them with having my face smashed in or throat cut

Ps) live in an historic market town that should be 'naice'

I sometimes give money, sometimes acknowledge, sometimes ignore. I feel a bit guilty and helpless sometimes.

I sometimes give them a couple of quid and chat for a bit. Usually to check they know there's a night shelter, mostly they say they are heading there that night.
If the weather is bad I've also give them food and money.

It must utter shit falling through the cracks in society and not being able to get back up again.

And by that I mean it shows the problem is everywhere not just big cities

Theres some women who sit outside shops etc with blankets over them waving a plastic tea cup at people. One was followed after she stood up off her designer bag and sneaked off round the corner to her new car.
DP knows loads of homeless people who all have social housing and go into town to beg for brew money.
It's hard to tell who is genuine tbh.
I did give 50p to an old homeless man years ago when I was a teenager and he almost burst into tears and couldnt thank me enough. I still get a lump in my throat when I think about that.

I usually say “sorry, none on me” when they’re asking for change, it feels really rude to ignore them all together. Occasionally give money/food/clothing, especially if it’s night time and they’re actually sleeping on the streets.

I am suspicious. I think I'd rather be in some warm church hall rather than out in the cold all day.

I also note this:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-51068630

Since my other half asked if a guy would like something to eat and he aggressively shouted back that he "wasn't interested in food. He just wanted money." I try and avoid eye contact and hurry past. I feel bad but I hate conflict.

I used to work in a betting shop in a large town, daily the town beggers used to come in to ask us to change their money into notes, regularly they had over £100 every day. They were earning much more than me so no I don't facilitate their life.