[Closed] Do you give money to beggars?

Don't forget the person to person eye contact as you hand over the moolah.

[img] [/img]

but to become homeless in the uk is pretty hard to do.

Mmmm. Phhhh.
Yeah, I get what you're saying. You're right of course, but it depends on what you [i]want[/i] to happen and what yo've got the balls/not got the balls* to do.
Many years ago I was in a dark place, mentally. It was my own fault. And when I had to move out of the shared house I was in, I couldn't face living with other people. I wasn't 'homeless' as such, as I had a camper van to live in, and I held onto my job somehow. I didn't live in a house for around 8-9 months.
But I can see how it happens, put it that way. I understand the mentality of just going home one day and deciding to not open the door, and just turn away and live on the streets. It could be easier, in a way.....

For me, it worked. Thinking about it I sort of rebooted my life, if you like. I walked away from a whole group of 'friends' and never saw or spoke to them again. Whilst I was living in my Van I bought a BMX, met some BMXers and started over. All these people are still my friends, and in the long run it led me to my wife, my house and working now in the bike industry. I don't regret it. When I look back, that wasn't me for a while, I wasn't right, I was trying too hard. Now I'm chilled. I know how bad it was for a while and my future isn't like that anymore...

*could be either, depending on which way you look at it.

allthepies - Member

Don't forget the person to person eye contact as you hand over the moolah.

That pic says a lot about that person being sooo tight fisted when it comes to his own money. Something to do with his upbringing perhaps?

However, he is so willing to spend the public money like no tomorrow ...

😆

Yeah sure, all the time if I've got it, but then I'm often broke. If a man has resorted to begging in order to feed himself/buy booze/smokes/get a train ticket whatever then he's in a worse situation than me. If you believe all that guff about homeless people having Rolls Royce's parked on their drive then you're an idiot.

No because I have been duped before. However, we buy and cook, well my wife does, food probably every month for the lunches our local church provides to the homeless.

Interesting thread. So... it sounds like some beggars are genuine, but some are chancers.
Some are decent types who have got into difficulties; but some of them are just useless arseholes.
Funny - in some ways they're almost like [i]people[/i] aren't they?
🙄

I will admit I don't give to beggars.
I do work part time for a charity in the homeless sector, and also help out when I can with a local soup kitchen admittedly it isn't that often, but every little helps, also each Christmas I go to London and help at Crisis.

Congratulations Mr Woppit with a valuable contribution again, for starting a unpleasant and divisive topic. Bravo and also congratulations on a witty OP.

That aside, homelessness is not a choice.

Anyone that thinks that, will either be looking down on these people, conveyed either in their behaviours or opinions as posted, or just simply thought.

On a different day these same people may well be moaning about the bike industry creating new standards to take their money off them.

There are many, many, many scenarios that can result in homelessness and it is an is extremely unpleasant, scary and dangerous situation.

Whether to buy a Stockton 5, or Firefox woodburner, is not. [b]That[/b] is a choice.

I don't give money to beggars. I do help out several different people on the streets every week, from a cup of coffee to a jacket or some gloves or a meal deal.

That's not from a prejudiced position believing any donated cash will be spent on drink and drugs, rather I have no inclination to give money to those who ask. Often, begging is carried out by aggressive , intimidating people leaving the quiet, reclusive folk wanting.

I can't spare my change. But I can spare my time.

You should be helping out your sisters in return even if they are well off as others have nothing to do in helping you when you were in nee

What makes you think I dont?

iolo - Member

You should be helping out your sisters in return even if they are well off as others have nothing to do in helping you when you were in nee

What makes you think I dont?

The way you posted on the thread.

You should at least mention them (sisters) too otherwise others (in this case me) might read it differently.

Yes, good on you for helping out everyone in your case.

😀

I haven't read the above.

Yes, absolutely. I would and do give money to homeless folks. Some of the homeless people you see on the streets are utterly dependent on alcohol or drugs. In some cases they can't give up drink as to do so would damage their already fragile health. For some alcohol comes before food and they haven't chosen this as a lifestyle. It's tragic to see people reduced to this level and if a couple of quid makes their life a bit more bearable then I'm happy to give to them.

I wouldn't expect anyone else to give a homeless person money as it's a personal decision.

I do appreciate inventive begging, though.

Signs like "I'm crowdfunding my addiction" and
"I don't get paid to sit here all day looking ****ing miserable...".

Seems that only happens in London though.

I never see any beggars except when I go on holiday to Goa, & even then there's not that many. The only homeless guy I help out is a disabled lad who sells newspapers on the beach there.

Would you employ them

10 - Member

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mGv55XchN8

Salt lake city homeless given homes.

My Mum and Dad run a night caff for the homeless in Dundee (Meadowside St Pauls for any locals) They can't get into the shelters until late,one thing is very clear,being homeless and begging is neither enjoyable or a lifestyle choice.

I've never give them money - god knows what they'd spend it on (sweeping generalisation I know).

I quite often used to buy a sandwich/crisps/sausage roll to a near-to-work Big Issue seller.
He was always very grateful and I'd like to think I made his day a bit better.

I gave a few quid to a busker as a treat to me on my birthday. He replied with a cheery "thank you guv'nor" and a spirited rendition of you are my sunshine on a his ukulele.

Karma Bargain!

Said it before: Shelter don't help rough sleepers. They do valuable work but not with rough sleepers. Before you go lording it over the dispossessed with your £2 a month just make sure your 'sancti-money'* is properly allocated.

* Just made that up, quite chuffed.

Oh and if you're worried about giving money to a professional beggar get yourself in a phone box in the sleazy end of town and order yourself a £10 prostitute/rent boy. They'll be the real deal. And thy're even preapared to work for their money.

For context, used to work in the homeless offenders unit in manchester and I can tell you 'get a job' merchants that you clearly don't have the first ****ing idea what you're on about.

Yes.. As someone who very nearly ended up on the streets after leaving the Army, then I'll help in anyway I can..
WGAS what they spend it on, if it offers them some bit of comfort, then, well who am I to judge.

Also, it makes you feel ace when you give a bit. Certainly cheers me up.

Boxing Day Tottenham Court Road a guy was begging outside boots, I pulled all my change out of my pocket probably about a £2 in 5's 10's 20's I gave it to him and said sorry it was all the change I had, he then scooped it all up told me to **** off and threw the whole lot back at me.

In Leeds we have st Georges crypt . it is the crypt of a church . it is well organised now but essentially every evening they open up feed the homeless and give them a bed for the night they can also get health checks a shower etc every morning they turf them out.
It is a real life line. They accept donations including food (we dumped our left over wedding buffet on them at midnight with no problems) they also collect in supermarkets by asking you to just buy an extra item to give on the way out. I side with the idea of direct giving to the homeless but if you want to be sure your gift goes on immediate good not smack or a third sector wage then a volunteer run charity on the front line is a good target for your cash.
So St Georges Crypt Leeds Google it and donate or find your local equivalent.

No but will go and get them some food or coffee or whatever if there's a handy shop nearby.

My girlfriend told me that an old guy was sleeping rough in a doorway opposite her house last night and she heated up a ready meal for him .This is in the middle of Fordingbridge which isnt awash with deprivation.

Congratulations Mr Woppit with a valuable contribution again, for starting a unpleasant and divisive topic. Bravo and also congratulations on a witty OP.

I'll assume that's a compliment, seeing as you decided to join in...

Seems popular, anyway.

A friend who worked for a local charity that rehabilitates the homeless (finds them beds, jobs, etc and tries to re-integrate them into society) says the hardest part is breaking the drug/alcohol dependancy and that his job would be a lot easier without well-meaning people giving them money to buy booze/drugs!

Zilog6128

A friend who worked for a local charity that rehabilitates the homeless (finds them beds, jobs, etc and tries to re-integrate them into society) says the hardest part is breaking the drug/alcohol dependancy and that his job would be a lot easier without well-meaning people giving them money to buy booze/drugs!

Fair play to your friend.

For some homeless people booze/drugs is the most important thing in their lives, these are people right on the edge of society and require a lot of input to help break the cycle of alcohol/drug dependency. Ultimately the individual needs to take the first steps to breaking the cycle. They will find the means of funding their habits regardless of whether they get a few quid from passing strangers or not. If they don't have money for drink/drugs it doesn't stop them from getting hold of drinks/drugs. Their situation is often compounded by mental health issues as well as poor physical health, poor decision making, verbal & physical abuse, lack of mainstream education and the list goes on.

Luke - good on you for helping out at Crisis, what centre were you based in?

theres a bloke in Bury town center who begs outside M&S. he gets a taxi to and from his house every morning and night!

Just waded through this thread, the one thing that strikes me is that there a lot of anecdotes about 'someone who begs but isn't in need' type situations, like the post above ^

What's sad is that this seems to be being used as an excuse by some not to help the thousands of others that genuinely are in need.

It's like the whole 'I once saw a cyclist run a red light argument' but a bazillion times worse 🙁

There's a few gems in here from people saying that if they get conned once in a while it doesn't matter to them as long as the other 90% of the time it's genuine. I think we need to hold onto that and not let a minority of bad apples further deprive those in need.

A few quid, a meal, a jacket, sometimes even a just chat with another human being willing to look you in the eye can make all the difference.

'someone who begs but isn't in need' type situations

What's sad is that this seems to be being used as an excuse by some not to help the thousands of others that genuinely are in need.

Oh the ironing of this statement and similar. Just because you don't give to someone in the street due to direct experience does not infer the above. Does the giving in the street not just satisfy the immediate desire to "do some good"? When in fact it may, in the long term, do the opposite, the real answer is [b]"you don't know"[/b]. There may not be a right or wrong answer to this, just your point of view.

I [b]always[/b] pay decent Buskers.

Beggers? No. You are feeding a habit. Pure and simple.

Oh the ironing of this statement and similar. Just because you don't give to someone in the street due to direct experience does not infer the above

Well I was referring to the comments from people (both in this thread and off it in real life) saying they don't give because of the above, very little inference there, and hardly an absolute statement when I qualified my comment with 'some people', ie: not all, not you, not me, but some people.

How you choose to help is entirely up to you (including not at all), I just think it's sad that comments like this help to perpetuate the idea that people on the streets don't need help.

Choosing not to give because they might spend it on X/Y/Z and in the long run that might not be the best way to help is one thing.
Choosing not to give because they [i]might [/i]live at number 23 and be off on hols to Ibiza on monday is another matter entirely.

There may not be a right or wrong answer to this, just your point of view

Absolutely it's my POV, I never claimed to be providing a solution or to be 'right'. But do you not think that trotting out these anecdotes and stories does more harm than good?

And you're right, in the long run [b]I don't know[/b], I wrangle with this every single time and I don't know what is the right thing to do as it so often varies from person to person and circumstance to circumstance.

Such is life, full of colour, and many shades of grey.

I always pay decent Buskers.

Beggers? No. You are feeding a habit. Pure and simple.

what if the busker is feeding a habit?

Same could be said for your employer and your bike part habit

Don't be daft! Musicians don't take drugs! Everybody knows that! 🙄

Don't normally donate due to conflicting advice on whether its helpful or not, but have a great deal of admiration for all the people involved in this story -
[url] http://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/dec/17/student-raises-thousands-of-pounds-for-homeless-man-who-offered-her-money [/url]

I have found a cuppa (or cold bottle of water in the summer) is often more welcomed than some loose change.

Some genuinely unpleasant people have outed themselves on this thread. Well done for not having a broken noggin / ever having been unlucky several weeks in a row. I'm bloody lucky but I recognise that and try my best not to judge those who maybe aren't.

last few days I've noticed a chap in an old bus shelter that I cycle past, he always seems to have a lot of bags, its dark and its a nice area on that bit of my commute, I go a different route home so dont know if hes just there for the night or more. So what should I do... last few days I've thought about stopping to find out more and then deciding if I offer him food/cash. Hmmm having read this thread I now have no further idea, so many contradictory opinions. I think first step is to talk to him, find out some more and go that way home and see if hes there.

hora, it's enough of a struggle to get you to buy a round in a pub. Christ knows what it would take for you to give money away for nothing.

passed a beggar at lunch time today made eye contact and recognised him as a robber from a case I did a couple of years ago he made no effort to ask for cash so I had a chat , he is not homeless he has a really rough flat , he was off gear and drink ( from appearance and demeanour I believe that plus he'd most likely be straight with me) his benefits are suspended but he has an appointment to lodge a fresh claim . he just has no money no food and an uncertain timescale before he will have anything . There is no way you would sit out in leeds in this weather if you had a choice . I gave him some change . I know his back story I know what he has done in the past and turned away from a few quid to keep him getting by and on a better track is a few quid well spent.

I do wonder what I would have done had I not read this thread before I saw him.

ti_pin_man - Member
last few days I've noticed a chap in an old bus shelter that I cycle past, he always seems to have a lot of bags, its dark and its a nice area on that bit of my commute..... ...... [u]I think first step is to talk to him, find out some more [/u] and go that way home and see if he's there.

Do just that, just talk to him, say hello.

He might not want to talk and tell you to '**** off'! He might quite like to talk to you as you might be the first person to speak to him in quite a while. If he wants to talk then ask him a few questions and you might find out a bit about him. If he is homeless he might appreciate the offer of a waterproof coat, gloves or an old sleeping bag. A decent pair of trousers are highly regarded if you don't have any money to buy any and live on the streets.

If you do get talking to him you might find that he is quite similar to other people you know but just had a run of bad luck and will quite happily talk about his past. He might be a horrible old grumpy bastard that just drinks too much. Just be prepared to not judge.

There's a young lad who sleeps rough in an underpass on my way to work. He never begs, he's never drinking, smoking or look like he's on drugs. he just tries to get his head down.
occasionally I would say hi and pass over what change I had, he was grateful for what people gave him but never begged.
the clothes he had were old and worn and his blanket was full of holes.

as someone who spends a fair bit of time camping etc I knew I had a mound of old kit so I asked him if he would mind if I offered him some of my kit. my reasoning being that I could never donate enough money to make that big a difference to his life.
he was made up by my offer, I was made up by seeing his gratitude.
I spoke to a friend or two about what I was going to do, they all thought it was a great idea and went away...
the next day I walked into the underpass looking like santa, I had an old royalmail post sack filled with an old 3 season sleeping bag, roll mat, Gore-Tex jacket, trousers, boots and a wooly hat and gloves.
he could not have been any happier. it may not have gotten him off the streets but it meant that his days were a little more comfortable.

I have no problem in helping those in need, it's just knowing how best to do this.