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"Please help me. I am homeless and have no money."

Auticorn

Auticorn

RJP is my king, and I am his queen.
  • Very Chatty Chatot Pokémon General General Master Ball
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    So, do you ever give money to those who ask for it on the streets? You know, the ones holding signs asking for a few bucks? Or do you just ignore them and drive off? Not that I'm trying to make that last question sound rude or anything. :x

    We do on occasion, especially if the person says on the signs that they have kids or are pregnant. My dad will do it most of the time, even if the person is a veteran. It depends on the person's circumstances. It also depends on the amount of money we have too. If we have very little money ourselves, we usually can't do much to help them. :/ I know if we have some change or something then we do.
     
    I never really experienced a homeless person asking for money, but there is this woman who lives in my area, and every time I go to Wawa (which is usually around 9:00 pm), she's there at the corner bumming for cigarettes or money for coffee. She looks like a drug addict, and her presence sets me on alert, because I don't really know what she's capable of. I have no idea what her situation is, but she's there for what I assume is every day and from what I gather from people around my town, she lives in an apartment and I'm told she has a source of income.

    I gave her a dollar once, the first time I saw her there. I won't do it again. She gives me the sense that she doesn't help herself, or try to do anything to change the situation. I understand it's psychological (learned helplessness). I'm not a victim blamer. I think life can be really ♥♥♥♥♥♥ sometimes, and bad things happen to good people, but I've always been someone who doesn't like helping people who don't at least try to help themselves, and she gives me the impression she doesn't.
     
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    I always wanted to give them money when I was younger, but I was told that they'd blow it on drugs, alcohol, etc. Whether that's true or not, I guess I don't know, but I guess I just typically don't give them anything because of it. Ace also brings up a good point. It's hard to feel sympathetic for someone who perhaps looks like they aren't being proactive about trying to change their situation. I mean I realize begging is something that occurs, but I feel like if you're in such a financial situation, I shouldn't see you on the streets; you should be somewhere trying to remedy your situation.
     
    The only people i've ever experienced begging for money near where I live are those who stand in the town centre singing or playing an instrument. I never give any of them any money, usually because they're pretty horrendous.
     
    It's a toss up really. Sometime's I'll do it, sometimes I won't. It really does matter about what's happening in the moment and your mood for that day to be honest. However, I remember posting about one instance awhile back about this, so I though I might just bring it up again as it's related to this topic:

    elheroeoscuro said:
    The other day when I was walking back home from Boston there was this homeless middle-aged woman that was just sitting there on the sidewalk. If you've ever been in the city before, then you'd know how frequent you might see homeless people asking for change and whatnot. At first I did what most people do and just walk right by the person, but then I had a change of heart and went back to her. I looked in her cup and saw that she only had a little bit of change in there, so I gave her a $5 bill that I had in my wallet.

    I offered her some of my potato chips that I had on me and I just sat down with her and had a little conversation with her while we both ate our hearts out. Even though it was only for a short time, you could see the excitement and happiness beaming from her face because I don't believe many people had actually talked and had a conversation with her. It just sort of goes to show that even the smallest of actions can have an immense impact on someone, which is something I definitely took out of this and I'll hopefully continue to do.
    Click to expand...
     
    This is something I don't like about myself - I had always heard that you shouldn't give money to people, but food so you're certain your money is going towards their well-being. But I'm so shy and socially anxious that the idea of taking someone I don't know somewhere to get food (as I never walk around with food on me) stops me from ever doing that.
     
    As much as I would like to, I don't. Mainly because most times I barely have enough money for myself, being a broke college student. I probably would if I had money to spare, but only to someone I see as really needing it and not like an addict or burnout.
     
    On one hand, I feel like it's the thing to do, but on the other it gets annoying quickly. When I was on a college trip to New York last November, I ran into homeless asking for money OR African-American (don't you dare tell me i'm being racist) people asking me to donate money for the homeless every ten minutes or so. I did a few times at first, but after a while I was like hey, as much as I want to do this (or don't), I didn't come here to throw all my money away on this.

    That's what happens when you visit places like New York and San Francisco. >_>
     
    No. But instead I give food. If you give money, they waste it on drugs and alcohol. I remember our teacher told us to give food not money. I guess if it was me, I'd take money too. lol
     
    I usually give something. I realize there are people who fake it and there are people who are going to take your money and do little good for themselves with it. I just see them and think "what if that was me." For every person who begs and is a liar or just looking for drug/alcohol money there's got to be one who is just homeless and hungry. I rather just give something and hope the best than to assume and walk away.
     
    I used to, but stopped after a few ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥s got pissy with me
    "Is that all you're giving!?!?!"
    I don't think there's been a single time where I gave and then felt good about it after, I always thought... I only gave that because I felt sorry for them, but actually that person was not nice and I don't think they deserved it

    If you want charity then go to a shelter or learn how to use a phone and get a job, don't ask me
     
    I have before, but I can't recall doing so recently. The biggest reason is, I never carry around cash anymore as I only use my debit card. Secondly, a lot of the homeless people around here do have a small source of income, but most are blowing it on drug money instead of using it to buy food or something they could use. That said, if I have a little to spare I will give it to them as I love to help haha.
     
    Sometimes . . .

    My main reason for not doing it much is not so much the "they might spend it on drugs or alcohol" one --- I figure they'll spend it on whatever they're going to spend it on. It's that some of the people I've given money to in the past were really obnoxious. I remember once I gave a guy some cash and the next thing out of his mouth was, "Hey, do you have a boyfriend?"

    I mean, if you're so strapped for cash that you're begging on the street but you still try to pick up random girls, I don't think there's much I or anyone can do to help you.

    At any rate, I think there are better ways of being charitable, basically. Just giving someone money isn't going to make them less homeless; all of the apartments I've ever lived in wanted to know your monthly income before they'd rent to you. Supporting shelters and job training is almost certainly better in terms of actually improving people's quality of life.
     
    There's a criteria of validity they have to meet for me to be giving in to their panhandling. Essentially I'd be a lot more apt to give $20 to a person or group of people obviously down on their luck (say, a family or an old man with all of his belongings where you could see). If it's questionable and you're a local you can talk with your peers to find out whether they're really down or just don't want to help themselves (for instance this old man panhandled by a gas station at a large intersection, and we found out he was going and eating big at the Golden Corral, which my mother used to work at).

    I'm also totally open to helping people in need non-financially. About a month ago my mother and I gave a ride to this couple and their dog who just wanted to get to Manitou Springs from Fountain, which is a hell of a walk but a rather easy drive. We took them and talked and they were rather nice people. I just don't see the benefit in giving cash to some guy in his 20s that can't even be bothered to get up off the ground to ask for money. :/
     
    Nope. The people over here that play the homeless card are mainly liars. The so called homeless have name brand clothes on that are in excellent condition. No lie, someone had a NFL jersey on with the price tag once when I passed him. Those people looking for a free buck piss me off when people struggle to make ends meat and try to provide for their families.
     
    Panhandling is a common thing in my area. While I do feel bad for those that do stand on the street for hours on end soliciting for money, I don't actually hand out money myself. Reason why? Well, you don't know this person for one, and because you don't know if the reason they're asking for money is legitimate or not either, unless you know the person that's doing the panhandling.
     
    I've never encountered a hobo or anything like that, but I imagine if they wanted money I'd give it to them. It's not my business if they wanna go and spend it on drugs and alcohol, hell if that's how they have a good time then who am I to deny them their bliss?
     
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