I can't speak for other countries, but in the US, nearly all homeless people (I'm not counting short-term homeless) are homeless by choice. They refuse free housing because they have to follow rules to take it, and they don't want to follow anyone's rules or live by anyone's schedule but their own. My town has 30-40 long-term homeless and they won't take the housing that's been offered, or any of the other assistance except money or EDC ("food stamps").
No matter what the story, the money you give them is invariably used for booze, cigarettes, or drugs. So, you are actually hurting more than helping by giving them money.
I try to avoid giving them straight cash. For one thing it’s dangerous for them to carry it. For another many homeless people have a drug or alcohol problem and I don’t want to fuel that. Usually I’ll give them gift cards or food that I have with me.
If I were to give them anything, it would be food, not money. Homeless people can make about £200 a day from begging (London), which is enough for them to continue buying drugs. Before you say that it's a stereotype, there was a programme where a presenter lived homeless and mixed with homeless people and even those who appeared like they weren't druggies, always turned out to be addicts. Some were very open about using the money they get to get more drugs. You're just contributing to their drug problem and you can usually tell when they don't seem particularly pleased/thankful about receiving food.
I don't give money anymore but I do give food. I cannot stand to see people digging through the trash because they are to the point of dig or starve. I will buy you a hot meal or something from the grocery store rather than see that.
Nothing. I donate to a church and a shelter and a food bank in my community
The homeless have a responsibility to the community to seek help from available resources first. First r those that are incapable of helping themselves. Well they shouldn’t be encouraged to stay on the streets that’s only gonna end bad.
Money just shouldn’t be given to the homeless. It does little to help and is often going to a con person
Buy them food or give clothing or basic necessities if you must but no cash.
While some of them really do need the money, unfortunately many of them will use that money to buy drugs and alcohol, and I don't want to risk enabling that. However, I would happily buy a homeless person a meal at, say, McDonald's, if they asked me to.
I don’t, except for one woman I randomly spoke to a while ago on the streets of Dublin which is littered with homeless people lately. It was sad as she was a funny person, but noticeably sad because of her crisis and I felt she deserved better. So I gave her a fiver & a few bits
Where I live in Switzerland, it's illegal to be on the streets. Everyone also legally has the right to work, and the right to shelter, regardless of money or skills. We have organisations that will find work for you, and give you a place to live. This is why we have almost zero homeless on the streets. Therefore if someone is on the streets, they are most likely running from the law, or illegal immigrants. We don't go near them.
I’ve never met a homeless person, so I kind of never gave any money to them.
But the thing is, even if I met one, I probably couldn’t give them any cash, since I keep it all in my credit union account, and I almost never have cash.
Dépend on the person. I only give money when It’s a kid but when it’s an adulte I prefer to buy him food because I don’t want my money to be wasted on drug and alcohol.
If I was rich I would bathe them... give them food... and get them a job at my company at least cleaning the building. I would literally just have a special house for the homeless. Like a safe house. men and women alike. Get them food and clean clothes. Currently I can't give them money but if I ever get the chance to get rich you bet your butt I am going to help out in my own way.
I never give them money but I'll offer them some food and a hot drink, that way you aren't giving money to the fake ones or funding a drug habit or something.
Nothing. I used to, until I realized when I needed help and was very poor, nobody helped me, so now I will just watch someone starve and not care.
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Anonymous
(25-29)
+1 y
On numerous occasions I have offered homeless people food, but they never accept it. What they want is money so they can buy alcohol, drugs or cigarettes, and I have no interest in feeding those habits for them.
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Anonymous
(18-24)
+1 y
I never give them Money cuz most of them are just going to spend on drugs and to smoke it. I only give them food and water whenever I had some, until tho I'll be hungry
I give a dollar. I don't know what their story is but there is so much help program they can go too but choose not to... usually because they are on drugs.
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