To tell healthy, fit looking, well dressed beggar to get a job?

[duvetcovereddissident]

He is not a local beggar, all of whom I know, and he does not in any way look homeless. He looks to be about 30, healthy and fit, - much fitter than me! Well dressed and clean - much better dressed than me!

He is sitting outside the door to the local supermarket, and put his leg out in front of me as I tried to enter and asked for money.

Less than 6 feet to his left is the door of a cafe, with a sign on it saying "waiter required - apply within". I know those cafe owners, and I am sure that if he had gone in there and asked for a trial shift, rather than settling down outside the supermarket, they would have taken him on for the day to see how he did. They have needed a new waiter for months.

I have every sympathy with homeless and rough sleepers, and people down on their luck. I just think this is a scammer though. He has arrived in the area looking for somewhere to beg, and will probably be going home tonight. He isn't a local man, as I said.

I mean he could be OP, & he might tick all your theoretical check list of ‘scammer’ but he also could not be - you just don’t know.

You don’t have to give him money, of course - but try not to be so cynical & judgmental about people, it isn’t a good look.

This.

I find it very hard to believe that someone that has worked in homeless shelters would make such a snap judgement.

Nothing to do with you, OP. Give money or don't. Not your call to make.

Does anyone even carry cash now to give to people asking?

Last month, when we had that blip of cold nights, I went to Tesco Express to get some milk. There was a gentleman standing there and looked like he had been for a while as he was shivering. As I was walking in, he asked for some money to get something to eat. He was dressed nicely, had a coat on, didn’t look homeless but there could have been so many reasons as to why he didn’t have the money for food. I asked him to come inside with me and get whatever he wanted to eat. It wasn’t much, maybe a meal deal and some sort of other snack.

Just because someone doesn’t look homeless or in need of help, doesn’t mean they don’t need it. If you don’t want to help you don’t have to. It’s not very nice to make assumptions when none of us know what the other person is going through in their life.

Jut get on with your own stuff and leave your judgey pants in your underwear draw.

Yabu and really unpleasant

Obvs not what you want to hear!

Cos that's never ever happened?

OP, I wouldn't have put this on here. Don't you know that on MN, everyone is exactly who they claim to be, everyone is honest and genuine, no-one ever tried to con anyone else or hustle or lie or steal. No-one ever claimed benefits fraudulently or used a fake passport. Every asylum seeker is genuinely at risk and is never an economic migrant .
I mean, how dare you have eyes and ears and experience and the ability to determine what is actually in front of you?

I used to get flashbacks while washing up or doing other household chores. Tasks that don't provide distraction and interest can be impossible if you suffer from ptsd.

My ex gets psychotic thoughts if he does repetitive tasks or is in any social situation.

Others get severe anxiety in positions (such as jobs) where they're expected to follow rules and there are conditions to be met.

Also, isn't it difficult to get a job if you have no address? I know when Labour got in in the 90s they made it easier and some councils set up ways for homeless people to claim benefits, but surely it's pretty difficult in terms of tax, bank accounts etc.?

And how would a waitering job get someone a home? You need a small fortune for a deposit, for a start, and a secure income. Waitering isn't going to pay the hostel accommodation costs and food.

If you go to Clapham junction on a Saturday morning, you frequently see groups of young men and women gathered around chatting, drinking coffee and eating croissants etc. They get on a train then get off in pairs at the stations down the line, spend the day begging outside Waitrose, or wherever, and then come back to London. If you travel regularly, at around roughly the same time, you get to recognise them. Maybe they are all destitute or mentally ill, but I’m sceptical. I’m sure they could do with the money, but I also think they are misleading people.

You can't tell much about a person by just looking at them OP. You don't know this person's personal circumstances. They might have severe mental health problems, they might have a hidden disability. They might not be able to read or write.

If they're being aggressive, security will no doubt move them on pretty quickly. Otherwise I just think 'live and let live'.

OP the more you reply the more you are proving what a shallow,uneducated, judgy twatt you are !

Not required for a trial shift!

He could have worked today

He could have a applied for a long term job on the back of the trial

Simple as that eh?

Let’s me honest OP, at this point you’re just making half of this up to fit your narrative now aren’t you? Your subsequent posts seem desperate and needing to be agreed with at any cost.

This is some kind of extreme Royston Vasey shit ‘this is a local town, for local homeless people.’

You sound insane too. You ‘just know’ a lot of things.

ODFO this is bullshit.

You would be unreasonable to 'tell him to get a job'.

If you want to help him, why not actually talk to him, find out a bit about his circumstances. Ask if he'd like a sandwich from the supermarket and open up a conversation.

If you are so certain that you did the right thing, why bother to post?

You definitely need ID and proof of right to work in the UK. ...even for a trial shift.

Oh and OP, my son is autistic, he can wash up with supervision, he would flounder at waiting tables. You wouldn't know that just by looking at him though. While I have breath in my body I will fight for a future where he doesn't need to beg. I'd have for him to meet judgemental arseholes like you.

Just a thought - but being clean and well dressed, he may well have been for an interview and been turned down, or waiting to hear and needed the fare to get home or some food because he used the last of it to get clean and well dressed and there.
Just because there's a job advertised doesn't mean anyone who walks through the door is going to get it - the demands for perfect and impeccable service are high in customers at the moment, if you're not good with people, a bit shy, a bit reserved people will be telling you that you're in the wrong job.
And they wanted waiting staff, not someone to wash up. You might wash up as part of a waiting job but mainly you'll be interacting with customers who will judge you six ways from Sunday even if you're good at the job.

I don’t think you should tell him to get a job because it could backfire but I did vote YANBU because it’s out of order the way many of these MEN target women. I don’t care if you’re homeless - you’re still a man and sticking out your foot or arm and blocking my path or wandering over to me when no one is around and asking for money is intimidating especially if you’re doing it to a woman. My heart does go out to people on the streets whether it’s drugs or trauma or whatever that led them to that point and the government does need to do more, but I don’t think in this country street begging should be a thing. I had a mate who was racially abused by one man on a London train for dating to say

Presumably he’s got some issues if he’s behaving in that way though. The cafe might not want to hire someone aggressively begging on their doorstep.

Doesn't prince William sometimes go undercover as a homeless person?

My finger slipped and I hit post…to finish my above post :… my friend was daring to say no to giving a man on a train money and was racially abused. He was actually a guy but it’s still awful of course .

Another person I know - a woman- was followed half way down a high street in london with abuse for not giving to someone. I’ve seen scared looking people hand over money out of fear rather than because they want to. And yes it does rankle a bit more when it’s a certain type who approach you for money.

As well as this never happening I doubt you've even had a job yourself. Employers don't let just anyone do a shift.