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 Didn't see her again but she has been replaced by another old Romanian woman, no dog this time fortunately.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.

I also knew a begger.

He was actually from an extremely rich family and inherited over £1mil and his wife was a doctor.

He dressed like a homeless man, walked miles as he had no car (although wife had a brand new Mercedes), rarely bathed (you could smell him), had a dog and begged on the street all day, everyday.

I don’t believe he was a drug addict or anything and I think he did it as almost a way of putting his middle finger up to his wealthy upbringing but I’d see little old ladies giving him the change out of their purses and it used to enrage me.

I used to live in a large,well known city

I was a struggling single mum at the time and I was once stood chatting to a friend

A begger walked past me to get to his mate and I heard him say 'fuck sake!I've only earned £200 this last hour'

£200!

That was two weeks money to me (this was 1997/8)

I dread to think what a 'good' hour was-i know people who knew him and it all went into his arm (he's now dead)

Where i live now,we have them outside the local tesco and charity shop

I don't give them money but they get funny If I walk past om my own but never say a word if dp is with me

Giving to them unfortunately only perpetuates the never ending cycle of begging and addiction. Do not give them eye contact, do not engage with them. The real people worthy of your donations are those alone or with families living on the breadline forced into using food banks to survive with very little outside help.

The professional beggars, addicts and alcoholics who prey on peoples goodwill along high streets will still be there week in week out.

Most homeless charities say do not give them money.

What happened, what did she do?

I do donate to charities, it's just when you seen real people begging tips at your heartstrings. Xx

There is a homeless guy who always sits outside Morrisons in town. I always buy him a meal deal or a hot drink.

I don't give on the street any more. I once got talked into giving by a young woman and I was so desperate to get away i gave her a amount of money that I realised later might have bought her enough to overdose. That wasn't thoughtful or kind and it was the last time I gave anything. I donate to specific charities I trust.

Thank you, yes I do donate to charities, but you never know if they reach the ones in the local area. Xx

I know. At times when I didn't have a penny to spare I did just to Ave to walk on past. Xx

This ^ . If you REALLY want to help them find a local community centre/church/hub and offer a few hours a month. My sister runs a community food bank from her church and also volunteers to run the kitchen for community lunch once a week. Anybody can turn up and be fed and they also offer signposting for housing help, support with benefits and even offer a one a month drop in with a nurse to do blood pressure/smears/prostate/bloods etc. it’s a fabulous place

I hope you haven't misunderstood me, I don't hate them, just feel awkward. A genuine beggar could be any one of us one day. Xxx

OP I think you're missing the point of the Big Issue, it's to allow people to move away from begging by selling you something. When you give money you're making them back into beggars.
I would never give money to people on the street because it encourages begging, always give to charities. I give to micro loan ones that help people to help themselves.

I do that as well. I think when I see a pile of big issues in their hands I react, but maybe they have these as a prop?

I used to give to everyone as I was too trusting. I would believe the stories and the reasons they needed a specific amount for a bus to see their sick mum or whatever.
Looking back, I was stupid. I gave money to people who just drank or smoked it away. They were not starving or needing money for the bus or hostel.
My boyfriend is autistic and a few years back he took in a homeless lady who gave him a sob story. He let her stay in his spare bedroom. He helped her apply for benefits and try to get housing. She ended up doing sex work and using his flat as a base. When he found out, he changed the locks and refused to let her stay there again.

I never give money to homeless people anymore. I will ask if they want something to eat from the nearest shop sometimes. There is a very good homeless charity in my area with a hostel and providing meals, clothes and lots of support. The lady who runs it posts regularly about how giving money directly to people is often unhelpful and just feeds their addictions. I know not all homeless people will spend it on drink/drugs, but I have no way of knowing who will. It’s better to donate to the charities that will help them get out of that situation, or get something to eat, than make begging worth it to feed an addiction

i agree about the organised gangs. They each have their ‘jobs’ to do in return for a bed and food in a house rammed with people and stolen goods. Some are sent out to rob blocks of apartments mail/parcels ; some go around restaurants & bars & steal unattended handbags , wallets, phones; some beg; some sell packets of tissues on tube; some sell big issue; some steal phones / bikes or burgle houses. If police bothered to look into properly they’d uncover massive organised crime but they cba. tell you it’s happening constantly & they can’t do anything. Instead police waste time having 6 police go to someone’s house because someone complained about a school.

Sorry there are only 4 emojis available! Xxx

It always seems to be Aldi (never Asda or Tesco or Lidl). Think about why. And it seems to be at regular times.

I find it harassment and honestly I think less of people who give something in that situation as it merely encourages it by making it worth their whole to do. There are vulnerable people who can't afford it who feel obliged to.

There are plenty of better ways to donate and help.

The emotional blackmail approach angers me.

The number whose message is in the same handwriting that I see in my part of north London is enough to confirm to me that 99% are scams in a way.

Lots of them are not genuine. Giving them money makes it worth their while though, so they continue to beg. I know for a fact the ones who sit near my place of work have all been given free housing by the council. They choose to beg because they make lots of money from it.
They also steal from local shops. I know because they ask myself and colleagues if we want to buy their obviously stolen goods.
I wish people would stop giving them money and buying their stolen goods, hopefully it would make them go away and the area would be much better for it.

I give to homeless charities and donate clothing. I don’t give to street beggars. Look up your local homeless services and see how you can help there.

On our recent holiday in India we were waiting for a driver to meet us, and standing outside McDonald's seemed like a prominent place.

Two boys aged about 8 came up to us making puppy-dog eyes and the fingers-towards-mouth "feed me" gesture. However, each of them was carrying an unopened bag of Lay's brand crisps, and it transpired that they wanted 100 rupees (about £1, which can get you a plate of dal and a chapati at a local eatery in Mumbai) to buy a McFlurry. They did not get any charity from us. 😉

To be fair there is guy who is a regular outside my local Tesco. He has all his stuff round him and a manky duvet. If homeless had a look, he is it.
He just quietly asks for change or food when people pass.

Yes to emotional blackmail. The animal chuggers charities say 'excuse me madam, do you like animals?' What a stupid question. Who the fuck hates animals?

I agree with this, there by the grace of god go I