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?

As MrsB said, homeless people don't tend to use a foodbank. But some do if they are on a transition scheme and live in a shared house or have access to a community kitchen.

Some foodbanks also do carry out bags. We do but only as part of the community charity - it coordinates all the meals on wheels, soup kitchen type of thing. We have a community kitchen (back of a pub) and people can take part in cooking classes or just use the facilities, or get a ticket and eat in the cafe area. But we are not a usual set up!

@ CuriousaboutSamphire

Sounds fantastic.

I volunteer at a place specifically designed for homelessness. So men, and women. Children too. Families who live on the brink of homelessness. We run a hostel for domestic abuse survivors, and well those who were once street homeless, but are now in supported living with us. Being homeless means a lot of the time, to get through the night you take drugs or drink to ease the pain, the cold. We have done many sleep outs to feel how it is felt. And when it gets to 3-4am if someone offers you something that might ease the pain, believe me you’ll often take it, imagine that every night. There is a influx of street homeless because of universal credit. These people are vulnerable. Many have severe mental health issues, past trauma. A lot of them have been raised in terrible conditions. All of them have their own stories, and I always think “if I had been through that how would I have turned out”. Some are menaces, and you can honestly see why they have ended in that position because of their own bloody behaviour. But many of them are literally lost souls who were never given a chance. I started volunteering because I was a stuck up cow, who seen every homeless person as someone who put themselves there. And while I stress that many have, the majority who I have met, have not. Homelessness in my city over the last 2-3 years has tripled, its said to be universal credit, some just wanting a few pennies for an addiction, others have been homeless since early teens. There’s so many different variations. But all in one it’s a huge problem, which the government ignore and charities have to beg for help from our fellow being. And it’s fucking dire.

@Nottalotta

Same here, but the rent including food is £105 per week, far cheaper than students pay, Ive had people sleeping under the porch at work because they would rather spend money on drugs unfortunately.

I sort out items for the charity shop. Blankets, torches, anything to be of use for a homeless person I will hand it to them. I've had family members who have been homeless. It's awful. By denying people money you are denying them the choice to buy food. Not all homeless people are addicts. Those who are even don't you think that they are going through enough without being judged and blanked? You can't claim benefits without an address. Some homeless people could be mentally ill, or homeless because of living with some one else and it's the other person's fault you are all kicked out. Not every situation is black and white.

There are quite a few homeless people in our town(way more than when I moved here 10 years ago). You tend to see the same people when you visit the town centre, there are a couple I avoid/ignore as you can tell they have taken something so I’m wary but the others I say hi and smile at. There is a girl who I have chatted too and bought food for.

Our town gets a bad press but people are good to the homeless, lots of people want to help them either by just being kind, giving out food and offering help and advice.

Honeyroar.I think this is the exception rather than the rule TBH! We live in a prosperous town on the South Coast and the number of rough sleepers here has grown hugely in a few years .We do not have a supportive Council though .Measures by them have included paying some one to "go home" to Manchester ,or wherever even though they have probably left that area for good reasons!I try to give money once a week if I can and support the local foodbank by buying extra items in Sainsburys!

Our local Food Bank supports a lot of homeless people, we give out food that doesn’t need to be cooked (although some homeless people do ‘sofa surf’ so occasionally get access to cooking facilities.) We do not insist people have about a voucher, we never turn anyone away and we have a ‘cafe’ in a church hall where we serve basic meals free of charge.

But, yet again, this is all led by well meaning volunteers, what are the statutory agencies doing to address these issues?

If they are awake and looking about I will say hi, ask if they are OK and offer to get them a coffee and something to eat and give them some money. When it's been crappy weather and people have been sodden and in threadbare clothes I have bought clothes, sleeping bags and blankets. I used to work 3 nights a week cooking for stone pillow and would bring in food I had bought myself to make sure I could make them something I would want to eat myself. We donate money via DD to Barbados as my dad was a Barbados boy. I employed one guy who had a sign in front of him. He subsequently got a full time job (not through anything I did but his sign attracted attention of others) and the employer paid for the deposit on a flat for him. I am very fortunate in life, and although it was my own making I am very aware most people are only a few unfortunate decisions away from being homeless. If I lose a few quid to a business begger I would rather that than ignore someone who needs it. Difference being this does not hurt us financially. For many others this just wouldn't be worth the risk when they are already struggling to make ends meet. There but for the grace of God and all that.

I was a housing worker before the problem got so bad. Even then, when our council had spare accommodation, and were able to rehouse most people, it just didn't work for some. Intensive support was available to help vulnerable homeless people (mainly single men) live in furnished, independent accommodation. It wasn't successful for those who didn't want to use whatever benefits they got to pay for heating, food etc. Eviction would eventually follow for all sorts of reasons, anti social behaviour for instance, which often included letting lots of drug users doss down in their flat - I've seen video evidence of examples. Horrendous for other residents.

There are various charities in the city where I live who offer all sorts of support to rough sleepers and to those in temporary accommodation. The last time I gave any money directly was to a young woman in the city centre, five minutes from a project that offers food, changes of clothes, showers, and real help to apply for housing and eventually work. I asked if she knew about it and got a mouthful of verbal for my trouble. Turns out she'd been banned from it, and I know they make huge allowances for people with mental health and other issues. Also turns out she's not homeless, but scamming, and well known for it.

Now I fill shoe boxes at Christmas for a local charity that distributes them to genuinely homeless people, women and children in refuges, and other vulnerable people. I also pop a couple of items in the foodbank collection each time I go to the supermarket. Sometimes I buy socks or toiletries and donate to one of the homeless support charities. I don't engage on the street, and I no longer buy the Big Issue, although I was a supporter of it in the early days.

Without the will to increase the amount of money for intensive, one to one support, immediate and accessible drug and mental health services the number of beggars won't decrease. And even then there will still be some for whom a 'normal' life style won't work.

Genuinely, without humble bragging, I give where and when I can. There are a lot of homeless people on our streets in a medium size city. One of my acquaintances set up a soup kitchen for them, so I've helped out at that, and the regular homeless I give money too, have a chat, and offer to buy food to.

I have been perilously close to homelessness twice and now as a mother the thought of my child on the streets breaks my heart. I know a lot of the people aren't addicted to drugs, are trying to find gainful employment and are really nice, valuable people.

There are a couple who will follow people down for money (no money for bus fare etc) which I know is code speak for drugs as I've had conversations with them, so I offer to buy them food instead.

I used to give them money or food more often than not. But then I learnt of all the ones who are scammers and I can't bring myself to do it anymore. I've never been well off myself but I gave happily because I wanted to help people in need. But sadly the fake ones have ruined everything and I can't help but be skeptical.

@Mumpower123 there are homeless charities that encourage their clients to use their address to claim benefits. Or people can use a friend or family member as a 'care of' address. However, there are homeless people from outside the UK who have no entitlement to benefits.

Loads of homeless people in our city, I could see 20 in one day easily. I do see hello if they're looking at me, I don't usually give money as I donate to Shelter and food banks for the homeless. And as for the 'professional' beggars or homeless people having phones - here's why homeless people have/need smartphones and I can tell you now the homeless people I see are genuine and in need.

www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/oct/01/smartphones-are-lifeline-for-homeless-people

In theory there are enough temporary beds in our city for the homeless people, but as others have said the reasons people are on the streets can be incredibly complicated and it's not as easy as that. Long term solutions are needed not adhoc ones.

I give money, it's often just a handful of coins. They can do whatever they like with them - if you're begging on the streets you can't exactly be in a great position regardless

Also, posters who talk about being 'scammed' - out of what, your precious 50p? Come on

Where I used to live, there was a lot of homeless people. I used to go to town once a week and buy a couple lunch and have a chat with them, even brought their dogs treats. It was lovely and I really enjoyed their company. Not all homeless people are bad.
I’ve moved since then and there’s no homeless people where I live now but I saw one I wouldn’t hesitate to buy them lunch again and have a chat. They just want to be treated like everyone else.

There are so many where I live. I feel huge guilt about having so much when they have so little. I say hello to some who I know by sight but even that makes me feel guilty, it’s not as if me saying hello keeps them warm at night. I do occasionally give money to some who I see regularly but then I feel guilty when I don’t give them money!

To try and offset some of the guilt I have a standing order for monthly donations to Shelter and also give to Crisis at Christmas every year. My church is part of a shelter scheme that runs from November to March every year and I contribute to that in practical ways (mostly cooking and laundry) as well as financially but all of that is just a drop in the ocean. When I was little (in London) you very rarely saw someone sleeping rough but now there seem to be more every year.

I give change when I can, offer to buy food, give vouchers, and don't judge.
When I worked in a hospital there was always unopened trays of hot food at the end of the day that was supposed to be binned that I'd take and give to anyone begging, and got shouted at by a passer by for encouraging the filthy scum.
I used to see a guy outside Morrison's, he played the guitar and had a gorgeous Jack Russell dog, I'd pass the time of day and give what I could.
Then one day a smart dressed man pulled up in (the obligatory seen it on Facebook, read it in the Daily Fail) Merc, took a bag of money off the beggar guy, and took the dog to a beggar on the other side of the car park.
I didn't see him for a few weeks, until his face popped up on the news, as one of the vulnerable people trafficked by a local gang.
No, he wasn't homeless, he shared a filthy caravan with 7 other men with no electricity or running water.
Those of you stating that some of them are not homeless, how do you know? Do you follow them home?
It's not like a TV drama, where someone suddenly falls destitute and overnight all their clothes and footwear instantaneously disintegrate, and a bird makes a nest in their hair. Charities give out clothing and footwear.

.

Buying The Big Issue would have been so much more help to her. There is only so many coffees someone can drink throughout the day.

I expect it would but she probably has more money than me.

Also, posters who talk about being 'scammed' - out of what, your precious 50p? Come on Maybe you need to rethink that. It doesn't help the faker, nor the real homeless!

metro.co.uk/2019/02/25/woman-faked-homeless-beg-strangers-living-benefits-8741303/

I worked in Greggs years ago in my student days and a couple of homeless people used to sit outside in the cold begging so people would bring them in and buy them food/coffee. They made a career out of it in ways, they would stash the food just bought for them away in their pockets then go sit back outside waiting for the next kind hearted person. They’d do it for hours some days and I never saw them actually eat any of the food, maybe they had a Greggs feast in the evening.

Anyway, there’s only one homeless guy I see in my town and he says hello to everyone who walks by with a smile on his face. I say hi back to him but always feel a bit guilty because I haven’t given him anything. Truth be told, I genuinely never carry cash and haven’t for years.

Where I live certain homeless men can be quite intimidating if they are the truly homeless hard to tell. They have taken to sitting virtually right underneath cash machines and on busy junctions in the city centre and come up to your car window which is a step too far I think.

I have to wait around for my DCs hobby in the car sometimes and have seem drug deals and deficating in the street. I feel this group are quite aggressive.

I always buy a Big Issue and give to Shelter by DD but would not engage or give to these men apart from some food or drink.

I should actually have said that the homeless guys in Greggs never once thanked anyone, that’s the part I missed off. I hated it, found it so rude. Sometimes the person would say ‘do you want a coffee?’ And they'd respond with ‘can I have a pastie as well though?’. They just seemed really grabby, that was the impression I got.