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I don't. I don't mind giving them food or blankets but money-Nope. I guess I don't do it because I'm afraid they could use it for other reasons for like drugs. Plus, some of them hold up a sign and they're begging, essentially. If they did my windows or something in return I might be more willing to give them something.
Does anyone else feel bad when they walk by a homeless person? I can't even look them in the eye.
I all for donating to the red cross or to shelters or donating clothes to the salvation army but I just don't feel comfortable give cash to the homeless people on the street that beg for it.
Oh, and what about the few scammers who are pan handlers by day but then get into their BMW at night.
I'm sorry but I'm afraid to pull out my wallet for people on the street. Nevermind the fact that I don't carry cash at all so there is no way I would be able to give people things.
I opt to give them food. If they take it, then usually I seem more lik ethey are legit. If they don't it makes me wonder.
I have before, but generally I don't. I'm not comfortable with it. I agree that I'd rather give them food or something else rather than money. I donate to organizations that help the poor, but I'm just not comfortable giving money to a stranger on the street. And I see a lot of them everyday.
Yeah, in my old town there was the Rapping Bum, who has an album out and a house and wife and kids he supports with his Rapping Bum album and his pan-handling. So no, I don't give to homeless people on the street. Mostly because I never carry cash, but also because I think if I give my money to a legitimate charity it will go to improve peoples lives, not buy booze or cigarettes. I have bought people food before though. If they genuinely ask for food, then I will take them to a restaurant and buy them some food. A woman asked for money for a Big Mac the other day, so I walked down to McDonald's with her and bought her a Big Mac. It was really cold outside and I could tell she wanted to go in someplace and get warm for a while.
I do sometimes...but almost always to older people (b/c I just think "what if my grandma or granddaddy...or even mom, were out here, I would want someone to help them), and I am definitely more likely to do so in the Winter b/c I can't imagine that someone who does not absolutely HAVE to be standing outside in 20-30 degrees, rain or snow, would CHOOSE to be.
No way. A lot of them are just scamming you. There was a couple in my city that used to stand at the tops of exit ramps and panhandle. When one of the TV stations investigated, they found out that they were not homeless and were both drug addicts.
I do sometimes, usually not. I live in a town known for its incredibly high number of homeless people, so it really is something I deal with everyday. The scam aspect has never really bothered me, sometimes $h!t doesn't stink enough, and you can't smell until you've walked on your carpet. That's life.
So, here is my policy for surviving the daily onslaught of beggars:
- 1) Do I know you? If I see you everyday, forget it.
- 2) Are you young? I never give money to kids (25 or under). There is usually someone looking for them, I am not going to help keep them on the street.
- 3) Playing an instrument? Winner.
- 4) Family? Yeah, I'll give them cash. There is no pride in the world that is greater than one's baby's well-being.
- 5) Crazy, drunk, or high? A homeless crazy lady once punched me, so I try to steer clear. 
I do but rarely, for two main reasons/experiences.
1) there are a ton of homeless people/panhandlers in this city and they are always begging. most of them say "please, I just want something to eat." I worked in a restaurant and usually had leftovers I to take so once I gave them to a man who complained about how hungry he was and how he needed money for food. He took one look at the food and said "what the hell am I supposed to do with this? I want cash, bitch." Uh, yeah - kinda ruined it for everyone else.
2) but I donate to the United Way which does a lot for people in the area. I also do a yearly blanket drive with some friends of mine and I've volunteered at shelters. I find this is a better way for me to help without the sinking suspicion that I'm getting ripped off.
I give them food, like others have said. I've never given a homeless person money.
Nope... I will give money to street performers though. If you've done someting with a talent you have, I'll chip in. But not to someone holding out a cup sitting on their butt.
I'll give food to someone, but I'd rather give the money and/or my time to an organization that I know will use it properly.
If I have a dollar floating in my pocket, then it's highly likely. I don't normally carry cash, which makes me feel bad, but if it's in my wallet, I'm not going to pull out my wallet.
@phedre: Yeah the fact that he turned down the food really makes me think that he wasn't doing it because he was hungry. That's one reason why I don't give money for sure, I don't want to feed people's alcohol addiction.
I do... I give them money or buy them food if they are hungry. it was once freezing cold out and a guy was sitting on the steps of a gas station and I bought him a coffee and a sandwich.
No, I don't. I live in NYC and they are everywhere and I don't feel comfortable whipping my wallet (which is big and bulky and annoying) out in the middle of the street.
Once, I was having like the worst day ever, and I was going into my bank because I had to transfer some money around to pay like a million bills and my paycheck hadn't cleared yet and I was just generally feeling hostile. So I go to walk in and this crazy lady starts getting all up in my face screaming at me GIMME SOME MONEY CRACKER I GOT DIABETES GIMME SOME MONEY IM STARVING and I just ignored her because I wasn't trying to deal with some crackhead b***h who just called me a cracker and screamed in my face. She was still there on the way out and started screaming at me some more to give her money and I just lost it in the middle of the sidewalk and started screaming at her GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY FACE B***H I HOPE YOU F**KING STARVE.
Not my finest moment, but she deserved it.
People playing music that doesn't suck in the subway get some money if it's readily accessible, though.
I'm a food giver too; I give money to some of the regular beggars in my neighborhood who are disabled (but I live in a third world country where they have zero chance at work) occassionally too.
When I lived in the States, I kept non perishable food packs in my car (granola bars, canned fruit, canned meat products, crackers and peanut butter, bottled water) and would give them to beggars on the freeway off ramps or if I was getting out of the car. Most of the time they took them; sometimes not.
I also used to buy IHOP take out for this guy who slept outside an office I had to go to a few times a month. I'd always leave it next to him while he slept; I don't know if he took it or not, but I always hoped.
Kittyachi, the last time I was in the subway, there was a guy who started singing, and then afterwards walks around with his hat out.
Even if I had a dollar, I wouldn't have given it to him, because that's just crazy.
I live in downtown Atlanta and I have NEVER given a homeless person money. I have made PB&Js for the one that hangs around the dumpster where I live. I've also given a gift certificate to a barber for a homeless guy that made me a copper bracelet. (Which he used and looked much better the next day!)
I've been mugged before, so I definitely do not pull out my wallet. I've given away leftovers from dinners out though.
@surkim - the best thing I've ever seen in the subway was when I was on the L on my way to Brooklyn and this group of three guys was going car to car performing crazy acrobatics and balancing on each other and doing flips over each other and all kinds of crazy stuff. That got a dollar out of me for sure.
I never give to beggars because then they know where you keep your money. (Part of this stems from the millions of briefs I have given in the military about muggings, but I digress...)
I like to give them Happy Meals. One guy was so excited to get the toy, I giggled.
I hate the people who clean your windshield without asking and then expect you to pay them. I don't want dirty water wiped on my car, and you never asked anyway. What makes you think I'm giving you money?? I've had to pepper spray someone who wouldn't go away, I was at a red light and there was no other way to get rid of him!
In general I disagree with begging. However, having talked to a lot of homeless people, I understand why they can't just "get a job" like everyone tells them. Many are convicted felons, and if YOU can't get a job in this economy, they sure as heck can't. So I'm compassionate, but I still feel you should earn money, not beg for it.
I don't give money to every homless person, but probably about 25 percent I pass by (and more, it seems, when it's cold outside).
I never even thought about pulling the wallet out/getting mugged! Now I'm scared to do that.
I def. give to talented musicians and older people more. I'm not likely to give to able bodied people under 50.... unless they have a dog...then I'm sucked in to giving a bunch more than I typically would. I'm always a sucker for someone with a dog.
Rarely. Most of our true homeless in the area do not beg, but rather hang out in the downtown area where the soup kitchen is and where most of our charities are located. They rarely bother anyone. Most of the people who are begging in my town are people too lazy to do manual labor or get a real job. They usually bring their dog to make themselves look more pitiful. If you ask them if they want food or to come work at your house for a few hours to make some cash, they always turn you down.
My father ALWAYS offers to take them to get a sandwich at the nearest fast food place (or just bring them back one), and has been doing so since he was about 20 years old. In 30 years, he's only gotten 2 yes's.
I live in NYC and I wish I had a documentary crew following me around so the world could see how often I'm harrased for money and 'food' (yeah, right!) by homeless people. They're everywhere! If I gave each one $1, I would have no disposable income.
But seriously, I pay high State, Federal, City and Sales taxes to live here. In addition to that, everything costs way more here: Rent, food, transportation, etc. So by the time I actually get any of the money I make it doesn't go very far. I figure the homeless people can file for unemployment and ultimately get 2/3 of my paycheck anyway.
Ha! Penguin...we must have posted at the same time about the dog. Here I'm complaining about how ridiculous it is that they bring a dog to look pitiful, and here you are saying you can't say no to a dog. I just found that funny. :)
@moderndaisy: I don't live in NYC but I know what you mean! Just like with regular charities I can't give them all money and I can't give homeless people all money either because then I wouldn't have anything either.
Meh. I will gladly toss a dollar in the hat of a street performer. There's a guy who sits outside the stadiums in Seattle and plays some pretty mean beats on plastic buckets.
However, I would encourage you ladies to not open up your purse on the street nor roll down your car window to hand out cash to homeless people. It's extremely dangerous. You would be better off donating your money or your time to your local homeless shelter or food bank.
I live in NYC, so there are homeless begging EVERYWHERE. If I gave money to everyone I saw, I would be homeless myself.
That said, I do try to give to old people. I do give food if I have it. And there are a few different people that I see with animals (one guy with a cart full of kittens, and a girl with a pitbull mix) and I will grab some pet food if I happen to pass the store on the way home.
NYC Bees: Especially do NOT give to those UHO people on the street with the big water bottles. It was in the paper a while ago that it's this huge scam.
@Kittyachi--I TOTALLY know that group of performers you mean. I love them, and they're the only people I ever give money to. Similar to many of you in big cities, I am asked for money on a daily basis by multiple homeless people. I don't give money, and to be honest I don't really feel bad about it. I work as a social worker with formerly homeless people and I know that there are ways to get money (Social Security, public assistance, etc) without begging.
I'm with you, lkbphmd. I'd much rather give to an organization that has the resources to help.
Speaking of NYC subway stories.... the other day I saw a kid doing the whole "Does anyone want to buy some candy, just looking to put a little money in my pocket" thing which you see all the time... only this kid was no older than six. It made me so sad.
absolutely not, but if i have an extra snack bar or something in my car i give that to them...
I have coupons for Mcdonalds, Burger King and stuff like that in the outside pocket of my purse and in my glove box in my car. I give them those whenever I see them.
@bree72 --- haha how funny! The dog thing is a TOTAL scam. But I'm a sucker!!!
you know a few months ago, my dog had to switch food and I had a full bag of my dog's old dog food. I asked the DH if I could go into the city to give the dog food to homeless people. He thought it was weird. I thought of this because I thought a local pet shelter wouldn't accept opened dog food. At the end, I found out that dog shelters do take opened dog food. So that's where it went.
Can you see me coming up to a homeless person with a dog and saying here's 15 pounds of dog food for your dog but nothing for you. haha
@Hotchild - I've NEVER given to those UHO people! Always thought there was something fishy about that anyway. I also never encourage the young kids on the subways 'selling candy'.
Like NYC'ers have said, I would be more inclined to give $1 or so to a talented street performer if I stopped and listened for a while. Like in Grand Central, some of those guys are really good! But I never give to anyone who is begging. Like @Hilsy said, I know there are ways they can get money from the government, anything they get from me is just extra.
@Pengy: Oh I'm a huge sucker when they have a dog that is clearly well cared for. When the dog looks sick or too skinny I call the ASPCA.
On a side note from this convo, in college I was perpetually broke. We're talking a diet of Ramen noodles broke. I remember walking down Pearl Street looking at all of the beggers asking me for money and thinking "They have more money in that cup than I will have all month!" That's a frustrating feeling!!
Also, there was one guy who would sit outside Cheesecake Factory and ask everyone coming out with leftovers "Are you going to eat that?" Most would give him their food. I thought it was genius! And good taste in food too!
Surely don't. I feel like no one is helpless, if you're able to dress yourself in the morning you should be able to get out there & get a job, ANY type of job. If you don't - you're pretty much lazy & don't deserve my money, especially since I worked for it!!!
There was this woman that came up to me while me & FI were washing our cars, and she had her dog walking with her..and she asked for some $$ for some dog food because her dog was starving. FI gave her $0.75 but I didn't give her anything at first, and then I started to feel bad, so I tried to find her to go tell her I'd go buy her some dog food. I couldn't find her at first so then I started driving and saw her at the gas station inside...there was a woman outside holding her dog for her and I asked "where's the woman that has this dog" and the woman holding the dog goes "she's inside buying BEER!" I then was just like...wow, she told me she needed money for dog food. Then I saw her go up to the register with 2 large bottles of liquor!! I was so mad. That pretty much did it for me!
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