People begging outside of supermarkets

[Beautifulweeds]

I can hardly ever stop by anyone begging, especially those with a dog, without giving what I can.

Thing is, these days, we don't carry much cash, but I always make sure I have some on me.

There was a Romanian lady with the big iissue outside of an aldi, with a dog, who I bought treats for and gave her some money every week. Then she appeared in local news about being involved in child abduction! Didn't see her again but she has been replaced by another old Romanian woman, no dog this time fortunately. I have less generous about paying for the big issue from her, which I never took, just offered a donation.

Also, other people who sit in the floor and are friendly outside of other supermarkets. Often 3 of them, so who to give to?

I've noticed some will only be there for a couple of hours and move on.

I'm a sucker I know, can't bear to pass anyone who seems like they need help. At the times I had absolutely no money for myself I would still feel guilty.

Sorry, guess my question is how to know when someone is genuine? I tend to think if anyone is willing to sit and beg they're genuine but experience has shown could just be part of a bigger mercenary business.

Big issue seller outside local Lidl has a card machine!! Which I don’t feel comfortable using, I offer to buy something to eat instead.

The Parable of The Good Samaritan was about somebody who was hated for their background physically helping someone from the group that hated his kind who had been nigh on beaten to death and left to die, not some random person feeling guilted into sparing six quid for 'a (free) bed in the homeless shelter' outside Sainsbury's, though.

yeah we have one that's stationed next to the car park - I say morning or afternoon - and carry on.

The Big Issue and its sellers are not what they were:

thecritic.co.uk/the-issue-with-the-big-issue/

I’m very gullible but I have learned my lesson after I started engaging in conversation with a Big Issue seller who was always outside a local Co-op. I’d buy the mag, we’d have a chat, then one day she asked me if I’d put some money on her electricity card. I did. After that she started actively looking out for me, asking if I’d buy stuff for her from the co-op. The first few times I got her a drink and a sandwich but once she came in with me and literally started filling up a basket! That’s when I realised what a sap I was and I had to say “Look, I can’t pay for a basket of stuff, I thought you just wanted a snack”. After that I actively avoided her and I felt quite annoyed that my initial generosity had been taken advantage of.
Now, I don’t give to any of them, Big Issue sellers or beggars. I think it’s awful that we have homeless people but I’d rather give to a charity that helps instead.

How has this been allowed to happen?

I'm an owner in a council block and some of my neighbours beg outside the shop across the road. Meanwhile my partner and I bust our asses dont go out to eat and don't put the heating on. You'd be better off donating to local charities or giving your time if you have any!

You’re a mug if you give to beggars. Most are scammers.

We have had the same scarf wearing romanian woman and daughter outside my local supermarket for over 10 years now. I completely ignore them, as I do with the local junkie who gets angry if people him food or drinks. When he gets enough cash he gets a delivery and rushes off to the little park next door to jack up. I don't give him anything either. There are so many posts on the local fb saying 'they're both scammers, stop giving them money' but gullible women are constantly doing it (I never see men giving them money). I presume it's driven by guilt.

All the Big Issue sellers round my area seem to be Romanian/eastern European - in some spots they disappear all year round and then reappear at Christmas. If they are run by gangs, why does the the Big Issue allow it?

Look at their faces. If they are genuinely homeless and living rough their face will be very red from the cold and windy. I give enough for a hot coffee to a homeless person who begs by traffic lights in Birmingham. He often rushes straight into McDonald's to get a burger. In the summer on a really hot day I've offered him money and he's pointed to an open bottle of water in my car. He is so incredibly skinny.

My friend saw six of them on crutches getting off the tube together at Oxford Street.

I'm sorry this happened to you.

And this is why I give my best resting bitch face to anyone chugging/begging, or pretend I'm on my phone. I'm an old gimmer now (mid 50s) Well, old-ish... And I adopt the Royal Family stance. Never complain. Never Explain. I owe them jack shit, and I ain't giving them jack shit! I never explain why, and I am very happy to just say 'no.'

They don’t. They actually have nothing to do with the big issue.

They only have one copy, and won’t let you buy it, they want you to donate money and let them sell their last copy…

I thought everyone knew the Big Issue is just a scam/grift these days. Business for benefits for migrants.

As the article says, because nobody is officially breaking any rules. Big Issue sellers are essentially self employed, and that self employment status and income is considered just as legal as any other self employment status, and is a route to accessing top up benefits. It’s absolutely not what the magazine was set up for, but where there’s a loophole, some people will always exploit it.

Yeah, I don’t think it’s kind at all. Froth designed to get people spreading nonsense about beggars.

I never give money to beggars here. It only encourages them, especially the Romanian gangs . Donate to homeless shelters instead. There are a lot of con artists about and I don’t trust any beggars to be genuine.

I’ve never felt remotely guilty either.

The beggars in my town that sit outside the supermarkets are Eastern European and they get dropped off in the mornings from a van and picked up again later.

Then there is the guy who is local but begs and spends all the money on drugs.

I don’t give to any of them.

I would possibly give money to people selling the big issue but even the magazines can be fake.

You’re better off giving food donations for a food bank or pet shelter.

Lots of people pretend to be homeless.

There are mentions of Romanian gangs on here which can be true but IME it’s typically the drug addicts who pretend to be homeless to get money to score, these are usually white British.
They tend to get the females or vulnerable looking guys to do it because they’re more likely to get the donations (I work with them and they’ve told me this).

Obviously it’s better than stealing but I still won’t pay for anyone’s drug habit when I have a child to feed.

So I think it’s best to not give money to individuals.

We have a guy with a drink problem outside our local Tesco Metro. Nice guy, many people stop and have a chat with him. He doesn't beg, but sits on tbe ground at the entrance and people give him stuff. However I've found out that he has a council flat, a girlfriend, and that he just puts a bag of donated food that he doesn't want in the bin at the end of the day. Since I found that out i say hello but don't give him anythjng.
Anyone who's in genuine need can get vouchers for food banks surely. I don't want to fund the drink problem of someone who's taking the piss, or fund the lifestyle of a beggar gang pimp. Give your money to a foodbank instead.

I’ve got to know the fella outside of my local Aldi.
My OH has worked with the homeless in our area and won’t give money to anyone in the street. Let’s just say he’s a much tougher nut than I.
But he knows this guy, he is homeless in that he sofa surfs, or goes to hostels, you can tell he’s had a hard life but he never asks anyone for anything. Although he’s outside a supermarket so there is an expectation people may help.
I first spoke to him Christmas before last when I left OH in the Aldi queue. Got him a Costa from next door and we ended up having a chat.
OH recognised him and was fine with it.
(He’s not controlling by the way, has just pointed out organised beggars in the past!)
I see this gent at least once a week now. I have been known (don’t judge me!) to get a coffee and sit with him for 10 minutes. We talk about all sorts of things- life, politics, sport, films.
He said most people don’t see him which he doesn’t mind. The Aldi staff are kind and give him bits and bobs. But he said regulars have got used to seeing him, a few stop and have a chat.
I know from OH that this guy could be given a brand new flat either everything in it, and he’d be out of it within weeks. Homelessness isn’t a housing issue in itself.
The beggars in our town centre scare me, especially the ones that sit next to cash machines.
But this guy, I will call him Brian, is now a real person to me. He says it’s nice talking to me as I look him in the eye, and shake his hand, and talk to him like a gentleman.
I enjoy our chats.

I hear what you're saying about the Romanians and Hungarians, although there are plenty of them (and others) living in tents near Charing Cross station, for example, so they are living a precarious existence.
But where I live (SW) there are often homeless people asleep in shop doorways with what appear to be all their worldly goods with them, and only occasionally are they actually begging.

Well, that’s the way I am now, too! And yes, she was the typical scarf and long skirt Eastern European. I had no idea the Big Issue had moved so far away from its original purpose- I didn’t think it was odd that she had an electricity meter card because originally Big Issue sellers could be homeless OR in temporary/precarious accommodation. Now I know better!
My sister never gave her anything, just politely said “no thanks” to the magazine but once the woman actually followed her down the street asking her why she wouldn’t buy one! Sister told her that it was none of her business and if she didn’t want one she didn’t have to buy one. She’s much more assertive than me, comes from years of social work!