Giving money to people on the street?
What’s your view on giving money to people on the street? For example, in east downtown in Vancouver you often see and encounter people who ask you for money….hobos, beggars, drug addicts, people who do not have a job….you know what I mean. I often don’t give them money because I believe that it will actually not help them (not in the long run at least). When these people ask you for money and such, or have some sort of begging thing with them, do you give money to them?
Recently, I gave a bit less than a dollar (Canadian currency) of change to someone on the street because I had dropped some coins and they were good enough to call after me. I thought it’d be good to reward them for being nice (and actually said it was because they were nice), and maybe it would help them learn what’s right. Also, it might have been a little dangerous if I had not (I would have felt a bit scared and unsafe). Afterwards, I felt it was a waste of money (as for a high school student from a rather low-income family), BUT that’s not that much of a big deal, what bothered me more was that what I did actually did HARM to the person and people in general.
What would the person do with the money? Buy drugs?
This brings me to the fact/idea that homelessness, drugs, and such still remain as a severe problem. Olympics are great, but there are many problems that has yet to be solved in Vancouver.
What do you think? I’m interested in others’ opinions! Thanks!
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It’s not hard for a homeless person to get food. Lots of church groups and missions give out food, and you can wait behind restaurants or supermarkets and get perfectly good food that they’re about to throw away. So I doubt very many homeless people use money you give them for food. They probably use it for either alcohol or cigarettes.
Never give money. If you travel the area often-take the same route-try looking up your local homeless shelters in the area, and what times they provide meals for the homeless. Then, if you can, type/write out a little message of the location and times for meals. You can then hand them your message and ANY food/drink item that is nonperishable/nonalcoholic.
If you can’t do the note or don’t want to, you can still just have a pack of crackers or fruit or whatever handy if someone asks you for money for food. Likely, they don’t want your money for food, but handing over money to someone who is homeless is both dangerous to you and not helpful to the homeless person either.
Never give those useless hooligans money. I have never and will never give money to any poor useless nobody. I have bought homeless families food in the past. If they are asking for money, they are not in that bad of shape. Just give them a burger and a bottle of water if you must.
I used to hand money out to people much more than I do now. But the other day, there was this down and out guy who offered to carry my box of groceries, and I gave him a couple bucks. I hope he bought some food, but I have no way of knowing. All you can do is be in the moment, and if your heart tells you to reach out, then do it.
We cannot possibly know that person’s story, what happened in their lives, why they ended up begging for change. So you give, or you don’t. Either way, you made a choice and the rest is out of your hands.
What if that person was an angel?
There’s a man standing on the corner
With a sign saying "will work for food"
You know the man
You see him every morning
The one you never give your money to
You can sit there with your window rolled up
Wondering when the lights going to turn green
Never knowing what a couple more bucks
In his pocket might mean
What if he’s an angel sent here from heaven
And he’s making certain that you’re doing your best
To take the time to help one another
Brother are you going to pass that test
You can go on with your day to day
Trying to forget what you saw in his face
Knowing deep down it could have been his saving grace
What if he’s an angel?
That is a song, but I always think of it when I see someone asking for money.
Do not give any money unless they are handicapped or too old to work.I dont think he will buy anything else unless it is food.
I think that you are giving your specific experience too much thought. One person giving a homeless person less than a dollar won’t "change" much, but what is important is how your developing philosophy on the homeless. On that I would like to give you two sources:
(1)
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/95216/a_homeless_man_blows_100000_of_free.html?cPager=2
(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pursuit_of_Happyness
As with most issues, the answer lies between two extremes. The majority of homeless people are homeless for a reason. They tend to engage in irresponsible behavior. That being said, there is a small majority of homeless people who are genuinely out of luck…like Will Smith. Therefore I want to persuade you to give homeless people a chance when you can, however, temper your charity and time to the truth.
Whether it’s good or bad I still giving them money. There are some that are even honest. I seen ppl with signs that say "Need money for a beer." With those I actually buy the beer and giving to them. They smile right away. My mom is against giving those ppl money b/c she says they should look for a job instead. Life is not easy for everybody. We shouldn’t judge ppl without knowing their past…..
Ever been to jail or prison?
It’s called "panhandling" and some boast of their earnings.
Hear it through the bars all the time. Stop being naive.