Donating to the beggar on the street

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I do not give money to people on the street. I will give them just about anything else; I’ve gone so far as to get them a hotel room for the night and a change of clothes. I try to keep this song in mind when I’m performing corporeal works of mercy: youtube.com/watch?v=xZEO1Lug25s
 
Why not just do as you feel led? Sometimes I will give money, sometimes I would offer a hotel room for the night. Maybe a blanket or some gift certificates, dinner. I would truly advise using extreme caution before letting one into your home, but admit I have done it. And have had others open their home to me and my family.

I have a hard time forgetting that Jesus was a homeless man.

Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
 
mommamia said:
Why not just do as you feel led? Sometimes I will give money, sometimes I would offer a hotel room for the night. Maybe a blanket or some gift certificates, dinner. I would truly advise using extreme caution before letting one into your home, but admit I have done it. And have had others open their home to me and my family.

I have a hard time forgetting that Jesus was a homeless man.

Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
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We know an older gentleman at church who took a homeless man into his home & was severely beaten & robbed.He was lucky to survive.Let the shelters do their job.Much safer.Unless it’s an individual/family you know personally.
 
Cracker_Mom said:
We know an older gentleman at church who took a homeless man into his home & was severely beaten & robbed.He was lucky to survive.Let the shelters do their job.Much safer.Unless it’s an individual/family you know personally.
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That is why in my previous post I advised to take extreme caution before taking anyone into your home. But I have done it before, however its never something to take lightly.

I also want to say to be very cautious about offering rides and such too.

But I do say you are wrong about one thing. Its not the shelters “job”, its our job. We should be at the shelters, on the streets handing out food and blankets. Just giving a few dollars isn’t really helping. These people deserve to see the unconditional love of Christ. Not to be ignored and pushed aside because we don’t want to see it.

One of the best things I ever heard a homeless man tell me is, that his calling in life is “testing hearts for Jesus”.
 
mommamia said:
That is why in my previous post I advised to take extreme caution before taking anyone into your home. But I have done it before, however its never something to take lightly.

I also want to say to be very cautious about offering rides and such too.

But I do say you are wrong about one thing. Its not the shelters “job”, its our job. We should be at the shelters, on the streets handing out food and blankets. Just giving a few dollars isn’t really helping. These people deserve to see the unconditional love of Christ. Not to be ignored and pushed aside because we don’t want to see it.

One of the best things I ever heard a homeless man tell me is, that his calling in life is “testing hearts for Jesus”.
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We have folks from church who volunteer at the shelters & soup kitchens.You want to be careful, though bringing kids to volunteer because the shelters, here at least, house sex offenders.
I hear you, but what I meant was that we need to let the shelters care for the homeless in their facilities because they generally know what they’re doing & can do it in a safe way.It’s our job to support them either financially or through volunteering.
 
Yes, homelessness is such a complex problem. I’m not sure there is any one answer.

I don’t want people to face jail for sleeping in parks, but on the other hand, I don’t want mentally ill, possibly dangerous folks running free where my kids play. I want them treated with dignity, I don’t want to be followed and intimidated because they think they can get more money out of me. So, the answer in my life is to follow my heart, and my gut instinct.

My children were sweeping floors and washing tables at the soup kitchen since they were little tots. They met some great folks, and received a lot of love and learned compassion.

However…

Children should never, never, never be left unsupervised with anyone you don’t know well. Homeless or neighbor. Poor or affluent. Children must be watched closely at all times. While compassion is a great trait, safety must be taught as well. My children knew even to go to the bathroom, they had to tell dh or I and we would go with them. I can’t imagine letting my children run unsupervised anywhere.

One thing I have a big problem with is public (government) offices that won’t even let the indigent use the bathrooms…but complain that they can’t be on the street because of bathroom issues. Now, I have no problem with a private business refusing use of facilities, but do have a problem with government buildings, that have “public” restrooms not allowing there use.
 
mommamia said:
Yes, homelessness is such a complex problem. I’m not sure there is any one answer.

I don’t want people to face jail for sleeping in parks, but on the other hand, I don’t want mentally ill, possibly dangerous folks running free where my kids play. I want them treated with dignity, I don’t want to be followed and intimidated because they think they can get more money out of me. So, the answer in my life is to follow my heart, and my gut instinct.

My children were sweeping floors and washing tables at the soup kitchen since they were little tots. They met some great folks, and received a lot of love and learned compassion.

However…

Children should never, never, never be left unsupervised with anyone you don’t know well. Homeless or neighbor. Poor or affluent. Children must be watched closely at all times. While compassion is a great trait, safety must be taught as well. My children knew even to go to the bathroom, they had to tell dh or I and we would go with them. I can’t imagine letting my children run unsupervised anywhere.

One thing I have a big problem with is public (government) offices that won’t even let the indigent use the bathrooms…but complain that they can’t be on the street because of bathroom issues. Now, I have no problem with a private business refusing use of facilities, but do have a problem with government buildings, that have “public” restrooms not allowing there use.
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This brings up an interesting point. I have thought, for years, that their should be public toilets in U.S. cities like those in London.
 
Well, the department store chain for which I used to work,
always let the homeless use the public restroom on the 3rd floor.
My office was in the Downtown store, and let me tell you that practice of charity
was a mixed bag. I am glad that some who were genuinely needy were helped by the open door policy, but others took advantage of it. Some of them would smear manure, feces, all over the walls and doors of the stalls and other things even more horrible to mention.

As for helping the poor, if they ask me for a buck, I give them a buck.
Two bucks? Give em two bucks. I rarely get asked for that amount anyway.
I figure that could be me some day ( and I have been laid off recently and am unemployed right now ), or it could be an Angel testing us. Who knows?
Give and give some more, but if it’s someone you have seen many times and whom you know is on the street by CHOICE (and there are a lot of them like that), I really don’t know what to suggest to you except that you pray about it before making a decision.
 
*I have one guy, John who I will give a few dollars to. I have seen him for years and, yes, I know he begs because it works for him (as it does for most). But I’ll give him a few dollars or if he is outside my local grocery I’ll take him some food from the deli. He is always appreciative and tells me God Bless. I don’t know his circumstances…he could be a millionaire for all I know but that doesn’t bother me either. My intention is to give him kindness so that is all that matters. God loves his soul just as much as he does mine, rightI *
**
A little story about John…I had not seen him for quite awhile and he had been on my mind. I asked God to bless him and take care of him and I hoped he was fine. One day, as I was driving in a different town I missed my turn. But about two blocks down there was John, not on a busy corner…just sitting in the grass resting. God truly listens to our prayers doesn’t He!
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I will say, though, that in talking to my local shelter they do recommend that we don’t give money but have bags in our cars with juice, protein bars, etc. and I really like the idea of giving McD’s gift certificates - great idea.
 
What you decide to do when approached by a beggar is between you and God, What the beggar does with the money is between him and God.
 
The most important thing is to treat the person asking for help with courtesy – as if it were a “respectable” person asking for something – don’t be rude or ignore the person.

That being said, do not be naive about giving money to people. It is almost certain to be used for alcohol or drugs, making you an enabler of the person’s deadly addiction. In doing that, you are perhaps taking the easy way out but in fact helping to destroy the person.

That is not unfair judgment, that’s just using common sense.

There is help available through churches and other charitable institutions. You can donate to those institutions, and direct the person asking for help to those places – again in a courteous manner.

Or you can give food, food coupons (please, not McDonald’s!), blankets, or take the person for a meal.

But don’t give money – you could be actually helping to kill the person.
 
When we lived in Boulder, Co, there were always beggers on the corners at the four lane intersection which was next to the supermarket. I bought $5 supermarket gift coupons and wrote on the back: “Please say one Hail Mary for me.” I also had holy cards with the Act of Contrition written on the back. Then, when I stopped at the intersection I would give them the coupon and the holy card. I asked at the store if any of the cashiers noticed what people bought with the coupons: “food” they said.
 
I used to carry a dollar or two in my pocket so I wouldn’t have to take my wallet out in the street.

I’ve had down-and-out people ask for money and I’ve had better dressed people on the steps of a cathedral ask for spare change. I go with my heart since it tells me we have to serve our brothers and sisters. Sometimes it tells me to speak and walk on, and sometimes it tells me to hand them a dollar.

Someone said to me “they’re probably going to buy liquor or drugs with it” and what popped out of my mouth was “if it keeps them from having the D.T.s and falling in front of a bus, then that’s fine with me.” The Lord told us not to let our left hand know what our right hand is doing, so I just follow my instincts. The Lord knows what both the street person and I need to do and I leave it to Him.

Of course, if we’re outside a liquor store and someone completely able-looking makes a pitch, I sometimes just say “sorry, I can’t.”

I once saw a very thin young lady on the curb outside McDonald’s when I was getting my breakfast. She was sitting down, vomiting in the street. I had a cup of water with my order, so I took the water and a packet of wipes to her and said “maybe this will help.” She looked up and laughed in my face. I just commended her to God and kept going. I was embarrassed but it didn’t seem like someone getting sick really would want food at that point. One never knows.
 
Let the Holy Spirit, or your “gut instinct”, if you will, be your guide in discerning whether to give money or not. Some people are truly in need, others are con artists. In my community I have encountered some people who asked for money–say for bus fare, etc, and I gave it to them if I had it. Others, I mistrusted, especially some who approached me asking for a dollar and then after I had given it to them said “Can you give five dollars?” Had I done that, the person might have asked for ten, and then twenty…the real aggressive people are probably not needy. But also try to be charitable when you refuse…as has already been posted, direct them to a soup kitchen or offer to buy a meal. (By the way, McDonald’s is a terrible place. I don’t recommend that anyone go there, but that is subject for a different post. There are much better meals at soup kitchens!!!, and, they cost less. ) As Jesus said, “Be as wise as serpents and as gentle as doves.” One thing I would advise is remember not to treat the street beggars with contempt–in this day and age, homelessness can happen to anyone. But also, if you feel threatened, again, trust your instinct. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. Personally, I will give if I feel led, but most of my charitable giving to the homeless consists of donations to the St. Vincent de Paul Society at my church and helping to fix sack lunches to be distributed to those in need in our community. Also, let’s pray for those who are on the streets and have substance abuse problems. They are not necessarily evil people, they have an illness. there are also those who have mental illness and cannot get treatment, or are not even aware that they are mentally ill. St. Dymphna, Pray for Us. Peace.
 
HopeSE said:
As a person of God you have to do everything you can to help. Take them into your home if they need shelter. Give them food if they need eat. If you don’t, then you are no better than the faithless masses.

Do not give them money though. Money is something people use to corrupt, the person may be on drugs, or sex or even something else. You do not know and you should not contribute to this kind of sinful behaviour. You should however refrain from being greedy and give what you can in all other ways. Shelter, food, clothing, these are all things that we can all do to help.

Teach a man to fish, and…you know the rest.
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HopeSE said:
As a person of God you have to do everything you can to help. Take them into your home if they need shelter. Give them food if they need eat. If you don’t, then you are no better than the faithless masses.

Do not give them money though. Money is something people use to corrupt, the person may be on drugs, or sex or even something else. You do not know and you should not contribute to this kind of sinful behaviour. You should however refrain from being greedy and give what you can in all other ways. Shelter, food, clothing, these are all things that we can all do to help.

Teach a man to fish, and…you know the rest.
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Really! You would invite a drug addict into your house?! That’s very trusting of you, considering that you can’t trust them enough to give them money. I’m all for giving them food.
 
I think that Mapleoak (#11 on page one) has one of the better answers. There are others too.

When asked, I try to give somewhere between $1 and $10, favoring more than $1 if I have the right change. I also try to make eye contact and hold the begger’s hand a bit longer to acknowledge him as a person. Total engaged time is about 15 seconds.

I have no way of knowing what HE will do with the money. Sure, drugs or booze or food are likely. But I feel that HE is doing the best HE can in life at this point and whatever HOPE I can give is worth the benefit of the doubt as to how my donation will be used. IF no one cares about you long enough, why live? We all need reassurance that we matter to others.

While beggers may make a good living as some claim, I have not read any reliable story of beggers living well. I see a begger’s appearance, sans Hollywood makeup, and I see a person who has a very hard life. Why his life is hard, and who is to blame is not mine to know.

There, but for the grace of God, go I. One should not have to explain WHY one is in need. I’ll trust that God’s Will is working in ways I do not know.
 
I give them money when the spirit moves me…

but if they look like they are on drugs I give them twice as much, because they have more need for that money than someone who is just hungry.
 
I was once chastised by someone at work for giving money to someone in the street. Like I told the lady at the time, sometimes needing another drink can be a real physical and mental need as much as being hungry. Whatever we do for the least . . we do for Him. I would like to think that if the Lord needed a drink I would give him one. Sure, in a perfect world it would be nice to be able to “cure” all of this dependency, but it’s not always easy - less so if THEY haven’t decided to quit. A little money and a prayer are sometimes the best you can give to and for them.
 
We are obliged in charity to give of our surplus to the genuinely needy, and in some cases to deprive ourselves provided our primary obligations have been met, and we don’t renege on our particular duties of state, especially those that apply to family and our local church. Prudence dictates that we don’t give money to drunks or drug addicts, etc. One must also beware of the con artist, and the sob story which is patently untrue. This knowledge comes with experience. Not everyone who asks deserves to receive. There must be a practical, down-to-earth approach and even limitation to giving. Almsgiving is a particularly Christian practice, but remember, all charity begins at home.

-Fr.Leo Boyle, SSPX
 
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