NationStates Jolt Archive

How do you deal with a homeless person who asks you for a handout?

I'm usually wearing headphones, so I don't notice them and walk past. If I'm not wearing headphones, I pretend I am and walk past. The only people who I'll give money to in the street are buskers, and even then it's only the most entertaining ones.

if i have spare change then i will, but i'm having to save every penny at the moment to afford my rent til i get a job. i used to buy the big issue regularly from a guy who stood on my route to the shops and uni. sometimes give food if i'm walking by with some and i know i won't finish it myself.

Buskers, I give money to, even if they aren't very good. People begging I generally do not unless I get to know them (it's happened several times, especially the ones to and from the office). Usually don't give them money, but will take them to a restaurant to grab a bite to eat. I don't run into many any more - work on a secured facility, so nobody can get on without a badge.

My mum works in an inner-city hospital and came up with a good idea about this though - she would carry around McDonald's gift certificates and would give those out when people said they were hungry. She said she learned who was really hungry and who wanted money for drugs very quickly...

(Not that everyone who turned down McD's was on drugs - they might have just had good taste...)

I'll offer to buy a sandwich, but no money. 9 out of 10 times they refuse, anyway.

Yes, but not often.

I don't cary cash for exactly that reason. Where I work it's like walking a gauntlet of beggers when you walk down teh street.

As a general rule, I won't give money to a panhandler any more. Most in my area are either professional beggers (and make more than I) or spend more on smoking than I do on my mortgage.

I do send money to a few favorite local charities still -- I know the volunteers, and know how they use the money.

On occasion, when I'm in the city, I'll still pay the street entertainers if they lighten the mood of the passers-by.

most of the panhandlers in my area are professionals, so I don't give them money, I do give them my church's card if they seem to really be in need of help though because the church is able to help them much more than what little money I carry with me would.

I don't have spare money usually. That's reserved for the musicians.

If I happen to have some good food on me, I'll offer it. If they refuse it, then... well... that's their choice.

There aren't any panhandlers where I live, as I live in a small town. I don't see them much in the cities either because I generally only go to the cities during the winter.

However, when I lived in France I saw quite a few in Paris. I'd generally ignore them, mostly because I'm not exactly rolling in money myself (being a student and all). I was really annoyed by the people that would come up to me with signs (in English) that had a story about how their father died in the war in Bosnia and they were poor. Strange how one sees six or seven people in different parts of Paris with the exact same story in the space of about 4 hours...

im a sucker for a down and out vietnam vet asking for a bit of cash in the grocery store parking lot. i almost always hand over a bit of money and wish him good luck.

otherwise its hit and miss. i dont give to those guys who beg at stoplights. i sometimes give to people who claim to have hit hard luck and need money to get home. i dont give to people who look like begging on that spot is their full time job.

i always figure the money is really going to buy booze or drugs.

How do you deal with a homeless person who asks you for a handout?
I don't give people money simply because they ask for it.

There aren't any panhandlers where I live, as I live in a small town. I don't see them much in the cities either because I generally only go to the cities during the winter.

However, when I lived in France I saw quite a few in Paris. I'd generally ignore them, mostly because I'm not exactly rolling in money myself (being a student and all). I was really annoyed by the people that would come up to me with signs (in English) that had a story about how their father died in the war in Bosnia and they were poor. Strange how one sees six or seven people in different parts of Paris with the exact same story in the space of about 4 hours...

there are people in my area with little cards that say they are deaf and out of work and need money, they are all printed up the same, so I wondered for a while if there was like a "deaf and out of work" store where you would buy these, but then one day one came to me and handed me the card and I signed that I didn't have money and he looked at me confused, and so I said that I didn't have money and he walked off, and so my husband being a smart ass yells out "LOOK UP THERE!" and the guy looked, and well.... :p

http://www.idrewthis.org/comics/idt20040220beermoney.gif

http://www.idrewthis.org/comics/idt20040220beermoney.gif
Reminds me of a story:

I'm sitting with some friends out on the patio of the pub. A very disheveled fellow walks past, begging people for money. He bears a hand-written cardboard sign:

"WHY LIE? NEED MONEY FOR BEER."

We purchase the sign for $5.

I have been fortunate not to encounter many. But on the rare occasion that I do, I usually find myself sandwiched between my desire to help people and the realization that giving them money probably isn't helping them. Usually the latter wins, but from time to time, the former overloads my logic. *nod*

I give them food..and inform one of the local groups that helps take care of those less fortunate...and I donate regularly to such groups...

I'm usually wearing headphones, so I don't notice them and walk past. If I'm not wearing headphones, I pretend I am and walk past. The only people who I'll give money to in the street are buskers, and even then it's only the most entertaining ones.

I don't mind giving money to people working for it...and buskers are working for it, if only by providing entertainment on the street.

I do object to the people standing on the side of the road begging for handouts. I do donate money to the local charities, for those who simply cannot get by.

I guess I'm a bit jaded by the people I see on the corner. Especially after I saw a guy about a year ago, carrying a sign saying "Homeless Vietnam Vet." He wasn't over 18 years old.

No. I never give money to beggars. I grew up in London. I got the same stories from the same people over and over again, because they never remembered me, or thought I wouldn't remember them.

I sometimes buy big issue from a woman who sells it on at the university gates.

As for street performers, I give them money too. It's just a form of self-employment. I don't really see any difference between going to see a play concert, gig or any other act and street performance - except that I'm not obliged to pay the street performer.

I rarely if ever give money to beggers not because I believe that they are all on drugs or closet millionaires but because they are frequently under the control of some sort of scum bag who has them out on the street and then takes whatever they happen to make.

No, but I do give money to charities that provide food/education/jobs/housing to the poor and homeless.

I remember once a guy asked for "gas money" in a parking lot at 6pm-ish, so that he could get his wife to the hospital. Next week, the dumbshit asks for "gas money" again, so that he can get his wife to the hospital...

there are people in my area with little cards that say they are deaf and out of work and need money, they are all printed up the same, so I wondered for a while if there was like a "deaf and out of work" store where you would buy these, but then one day one came to me and handed me the card and I signed that I didn't have money and he looked at me confused, and so I said that I didn't have money and he walked off, and so my husband being a smart ass yells out "LOOK UP THERE!" and the guy looked, and well.... :p

Priceless. :p

No, but thinking hard about it there are reasons why I should, its a shame that anyone should be homeless in this day and age. Reasons why I haven't given them money vary. They could just be chancers masquerading as homeless people, people who are just going to buy drink/drugs or they may just favour begging over working when they could have the means to get some form of employment. But thinking about this, Im divided on these justifications. I'd imagine its pretty hard to get employment when you're of no fixed abode and it is an assumption that they are chancers/druggies. I guess some sort of safety net should be in place to prevent people from being homeless and so that they can get employment however menial it may be, to work their way back up.

depends on the situation and what type of mood I'm in.

depends on the situation and what type of mood I'm in.Me too. Though I realize that some of them will just buy booze, and some of them make better money than I do. Most times I'd rather take them to McDonald's and clog their arteries. So much for compassion.:rolleyes:

I did a few times, but I felt bad about it afterwards.

Usually this is a flow chart of how I hand out money.

1) Is person playing music with box?
a) Yes : GOTO 4
b) No : GOTO 2
2) Look at person
a) Legs : GOTO 4
b) No legs : GOTO 3
3) Talk to person
a) Lame gimic : Tell them to goto hell
b) Sad story : GOTO 4
4) Check monetary supply
a) <$5 : GOTO 6
b) >$5 & <$10 : GOTO 5
c) >$10 : GOTO 6
5) Check for cigarettes in pocket
a) Yes: GOTO 6
b) No : go buy cigarettes
6) Give person $1

I sometimes buy big issue from a woman who sells it on at the university gates.

I saw this when I was in London, and it seemed like a good idea. Does anyone else have something similar? (It's a magazine that the homeless sell.)

I'm generally a step away from being them, so I don't have it to give. Plus, there's too many around where I walk. Even if I only gave each one a quarter I'd still be broke by the time I got down the block.

I'm far more prone to give them food because I'm more likely to be carrying food I don't necessarily need for various reasons. It's not a case of I think that they'll use the money for [insert whatever I'm supposed to disapprove of], I don't care-their lives suck and whatever is going to get them through it I don't care. I'm just more likely to have food I don't need. (usually left overs from work or I bought more food than I should have because I'm stupid like that). They've never been disappointed by that.

How do you deal with a homeless person who asks you for a handout?

I tell them to "follo me for one mill in gold" and when he follows me we enter the wilderness, and when we enter the wild I shove my rune two handed sword through his rags and take his empty beer glass. And he sends me a Private message saying "hey you tricked me!" Then he gets his older bro whos level 700 to trick ME into the wild and slay me like a frog. Oh wait wrong fourm...

I will occasionally. Most of what I do for down and out people is volunteer work, though. I'd much rather fix something for them or serve them food at a shelter than other forms of charity.

if its the end of the day and i have spare change in my pocket, i like to. especially if i've had a good day. can share a little bit of that good day with them, i hope. even if it is probably spent on booze or drugs.

one can only hope it is spent on better things.... like food, or shelter, or something...


if i'm short of cash myself, of course, i have to put me first.

I am English. Spare money does not exsist here.
i firmly belive that poor people shpould just have a wash, stop taking drugs and get a job!!!
I have had the privalige of being homeless and sleeping on the street. look at me now!!!!
I have a pc and an internet connection all of my own and i work and pay tax.
i know we are a dying breed!!!!:sniper:

Usually I ignore them because a lot of those beggers have nine to five jobs and are out there to collect money in addition to what they get and some aren't even starving or jobless. I sometimes, if they persistantly annoy me, and they usually don't bother you after you say no or ignore them, to get a job. Yeah I'm cruel like that...

I am English. Spare money does not exsist here.
i firmly belive that poor people shpould just have a wash, stop taking drugs and get a job!!!
I have had the privalige of being homeless and sleeping on the street. look at me now!!!!
I have a pc and an internet connection all of my own and i work and pay tax.
i know we are a dying breed!!!!:sniper:

Haha, Gene Simmons

Yeah, sometimes.

When it comes to hand outs, I would like to quote Connecticut governor William O'Neil

"People don't want hand outs, they want hand jobs"

I would give food or hire them as a bodyguard or something...

I am English. Spare money does not exsist here.
i firmly belive that poor people shpould just have a wash, stop taking drugs and get a job!!!
I have had the privalige of being homeless and sleeping on the street. look at me now!!!!
I have a pc and an internet connection all of my own and i work and pay tax.
i know we are a dying breed!!!!:sniper:

This is sad. And frankly I blame Prudence Broon and Princess Tony for their 'investments' in public services.

I give money to buskers but no one else. I will aknowledge them though. I think it's just plain decent to do that. If they are real agressive I just roll with it and keep things light.

I generally don't give, as I don't usually have the money to. Sometimes I might if I have spare change, and sometimes I will give to street performers (such as Downtown James Brown, (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw3VND-Eg4Y) a man who walks around the downtown area of Sacramento (which is where I live) performing James Brown songs. I stopped and talked to him for a couple minutes one time (though I've met him a few times) and gave him a dollar, and he put his arm around my shoulders and did Sex Machine. It was a great time...aside from the spittle on my face afterward.

The reason I posed this question was that I had just come home from a long walk and had bought a woman who needed it a couple of slices of pizza and a soda, which is what I will do if I have money. I see most of the stories here are the same... that if we have it, we will give food, not cash. I have only occasionally had someone turn down food, and then try to get money out of me, but I don't ever give money, except to street performers.

If I have money to spare, I give money. I stopped caring if they spend it on drugs long ago.

You should never give money to these so called "veterans" The Veterans Admin. has more programs to help vets than I can even list here. (In case your wondering, I spent 22yrs. in the Marine Corps, so I know a bit about it)

How do you deal with a homeless person who asks you for a handout?
Sometimes yes and sometimes no......depends on the circumstances. Sometimes I will buy them a meal or give them my doggy bag.

You didn't have an option that I could vote for.

I would give them food, because with money they'd probably use it to buy drugs and alcohol.

Poverty and begging is a capitalistic creation.

Pretty much everyday.

Poverty and begging is a capitalistic creation.

How do you come to that conclusion?

I have noticed that the real homeless don't beg, they are too proud to ask, that's why they are where they are, unfortunately. The visible beggars are nothing more than cunning people that tap into those bleeding hearts wallet. Some street youths will admit to making hundred or so dollars a day, just by begging, some with a puppy on their side because that gets people to be even more generous. In Europe you have a lot of immigrant women that beg with their children, they say that they are refugees. They are actually sent onto the street to beg by their husbands. While he is working or sits in the café (pub) all day. Sorry I work hard for my money.

How do you come to that conclusion?

The overproduction and accumulation of capital creates a concentration of wealth which inevitably leaves others with nothing and a small elite with wealth enough for the need of millions rather than their proportionate number.

The overproduction and accumulation of capital creates a concentration of wealth which inevitably leaves others with nothing and a small elite with wealth enough for the need of millions rather than their proportionate number.

So begging and poverty only occurs with capitalism?

Poverty and begging is a capitalistic creation.

The overproduction and accumulation of capital creates a concentration of wealth which inevitably leaves others with nothing and a small elite with wealth enough for the need of millions rather than their proportionate number.

None of which answers the OP's question...

None of which answers the OP's question...

No, your better off giving it to your local socialist or communist movement, better to put your efforts towards the disease and not the symptom.

No, your better off giving it to your local socialist or communist movement, better to put your efforts towards the disease and not the symptom.

Fair enough

How do you deal with a homeless person who asks you for a handout?

Ohhh good one. The question though is how do you know who is homeless and who is not?

I know a chap that sits out side my local train station every morning, with his hand out. I used to give him cash, then one day whilst visting a freind of mine in a homeless hostal I saw this fella.

I talked to my freind about him and was told ohh yeah, that lazy bastard, just don't want to get a job.

I give under certain circumstances. If I have the money, if they're polite, if they're not smoking, if I'm not in an area where I'm likely to get swarmed by others.

I figure that a few dollars isn't going to hurt me. It might really help someone, or it might be wasted. But neither leads to me getting hurt by giving the money. I might as well take the chance of helping.

Send the beggars to South Park. They always have change........ Change? Change?

No, I don't, because the beggars here are mostly either addicts or former mental patients that the government tossed out of the hospital when they lost funding and neither are particularilly stable. A woman gave a sandwhich to a begger and had it thrown back at her. A man gave a beggar money consistantly outside of a church, only to then be assulted and robbed right after giving money for the fourth time.

So~ no, I don't give away my money to people like that.