I felt so bad about this guy sleeping under this overpass. it was very cold and pouring rain out. i rushed to the nearest Target to buy a new blanket and pillow and drove right back to him. i offered it to him and he said 'no thanks' i was like 'you sure man? its cold out.' and he still refused. i told him to try and stay warm and drove off.
im very baffled by it. maybe i should have left it near him anyways. why do homeless people refuse help or gifts like this sometimes? what do you think?
Speaking from a person that used to be homeless. Yes I was truly homeless when I was young.
If it was not the help of a homeless Vietnam Vet that taught me how to survive and how to build shelters. I might not be here today.
See some see it as you have pitty on them and they don't want your pitty. Plus many also feel that its charity and feel like they don't have self worth
Even though thats not the case.
Since I was once homeless, I leave money, food, blankets and coats in boxes and mark free for homeless. Then leave the box in their known area.
They are more willing to take the help if you can't see them.
Did you know some people choose to be homeless, but most don't
The ones that do it for choice, do it to get away from bullshit of the modern world.
I even thought about going back to being homeless. See the modern world is so full of spying, loss of freedoms and constantly controlled by money.
To a rare few being homeless is a form of freedom
While I applaud your kindness, the lesson here is that next time, ask first. "Can I get you a warm blanket and pillow? Do you need something to eat?" I strongly recommend against giving them cash - that will almost certainly go towards booze or drugs, and increases their likelihood of committing violence or of dying from their addiction (s), but if they're hungry or cold, then offering them food or a blanket certainly isn't going to hurt. But ASK FIRST, because you can't know their situation.
Maybe they don't want it because they can't carry them around, and don't plan on staying in that place more than a night. Maybe they don't want charity. Maybe they refuse due to a mental health issue. It's hard to say, but if you ask first, you can avoid these issues, and perhaps help them in a way that they feel is more useful.
Maybe he was bitter?
Maybe he was being practical?
Maybe he was embarrassed?
I'd like to know as well because one time I was trying to give money to a guy who was in a wheelchair who also didn't take it and was basically shooshing me away not that that's even a word but anyways, note to self don't offer money unless they have a sign and don't assume they want it if they aren't asking. My only guess is that they don't care to live anymore or who knows
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I took my sister and niece to eat at McDonald's and this elderly man who kept running to the bathroom and all I could think he was sick, but I went over to him and ask if he wanted a meal with drink, and he took me up on the offer, and he ate like no tomorrow but to this day I don't know why he kept running to the bathroom wish I had the answer.
some people don't want you pitying them (as a former homeless person, i would know), some have a hard time accepting gifts but are still internally grateful for your kindness, and some are just too crazy to accept any help. it's really sad.
Maybe he thought you were a social worker, or from an NGO, and that if he accepted the blanket, there would be strings attached? If I were you, id have just dropped it next to him anyway, and just drove away. Be careful Doug, I know you are a good man, but dealing with the homeless can be dangerous if you are not trained. Especially at night!
Homeless people aren't used to receiving help. Maybe he would've felt guilty for taking it directly.
He probably didn't know how to react. Something similar happened to me back in the late 90s where i tried to give homeless man a sweater and he refused it and said it would have been better off in my hands.
Because people always accuse them of being lazy and needy. So some would rather freeze or starve. I have had folks refuse money and food.
s Maybe he was deceived by someone who pretended to help him. Now he doesn't trust strangers. Or he thought you wanted something from him.
Maybe they just don't trust other people and wouldn't want some random person randomly giving them something. I was walking home from work one day and some lady pulled up to me and tried to give me her leftovers. It made me uncomfortable. I could imagine they probably felt uncomfortable.
I agree with all of you while it is odd some people have a very deep seeded sense of pride and on the other hand he may of thought somebody else could use it more than himself? Who knows but it was very thoughtful of you to do that for him💖
he's homeless noy disabled. When I was on the street I learned to survive without anyone's help. Most of the other homeless people I encountered were teens like me or older people who's lives had fallen apart.
From what I've learned, homeless people got what they got one night. And if they wake up, it's gone. What da hell, what happened to m-
*sees thing being used by other homeless person... and he has a ak47 and smiling at homeless victim*
Why didn't you ask him why he refused? And maybe the next homeless man would love the blanket.
You're a good person for trying to help. Maybe they refused it out of pride? They're in a bad situation but don't want to feel like they need other people's help. I don't know. It's sad though.
Pride also sometimes they may have a blanket but no food therefore thanks but I don't need that give it to the next homeless guy you see sure it won't be long that said respect for trying to help
Pride and ego. That's basically it, they refuse because of that or because it's not something they can support a habit with, example drug users.
Most likely he had too much pride to accept your donation. They may be homeless but they don't want any charity. We have a few people like that near where I live.
No idea. There are no doubt grifters and actual homeless poor people in need. But to be homeless, I’d expect drug abuse or mental illness which is hard to deal with.
Maybe with all the stigma of homeless people being lazy drug addict's, they don't like taking hand outs.
He hasn’t had anything nice in years and years which is sad so he didn’t want you to give it to him
That was a nice thing for you to do. And next time you can ask, "I'll buy a pillow and blanket for you if you want." Or "I'd like to help you. What can I get you?"
Homeless people are almost universally mentally ill.
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