Donating to the beggar on the street

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I have a question for the people on this thread who seem to think that every homeless person is a substance abuser. Do you carry AA / NA meeting schedules and information on charitable drug rehabs (the Salvation Army runs a phenomenal one) to offer to these people? How about AA’s Big Book or NA’s Basic Text, you can get copies of them for free from the regional and national offices of AA and NA, do you hand these out to beggars?

Seriously, if the reason you don’t give assistance is because you’re worried they will spend it on drugs and / or alcohol do you carry the materials to help them with their addictions?

I do not give money, because I would rather assist in other ways. I’ll provide food. I’ll provide clothes. I’ll provide a blanket. I just prefer not to give money but to take the time with the person to find out what they need right now and give them that. I think it shows more respect and allows the person to maintain more dignity if I actually speak with them to find out what they need than if I just throw a dollar at them.
 
My sponsor for my coming into the Church had what I thought was a wise response,. If he does provide some cash to someone begging in the street, he insists that the person pray for him or for one of his intentions. He won’t give them the cash unless they agree. Of course, they can lie and take it without any intention of following thru, but there may be at least a twinge of conscience to face. And if they actually do follow through with their promise, well, a conversation has begun.
 
In 2 of the synoptics, Jesus says simply, “Give to those who ask you.” So I give. I don’t pay attention to what i think he may do with the money, I just do what Jesus told me to do, “give to those who ask you.” He didn’t qualify his words, he just said give. I trust that God sent that person to me because he needed help, and over the years I’ve noticed that it’s very rare that I ever get asked for money when I’m temporarily short, it’s almost always when I’m flush. SO I just give, whatever I can.
 
I don’t mean to be patronizing, but please – those of you who think it’s OK to give money because then you have done your part, and it’s up to the recipient to do the right thing with the money – you don’t understand addiction.

The person addicted to drugs and alcohols will and does lie to obtain money to buy alcohol and other drugs. It is simply imprudent to take a request for money as anything but a request for drugs, unless you have a definite reason to believe otherwise.

People addicted to drugs will do much worse than beg for money. They are driven by a physiological need.

The suggestion to give cards with information about drug rehabilitation programs and other help is a very good one. Or better yet, offer to take the person to a clinic or program.

Please realize that it is exactly because you are your brother’s keeper that you must not give money that will likely be used to fuel addiction.

Because it is also likely that unless that person who is asking for money gets help to be cured of his addiction, he will die of an overdose or other drug-related cause – probably sooner than later.

Think of a request for money as a call for help.
 
mikemar said:
In 2 of the synoptics, Jesus says simply, “Give to those who ask you.” So I give. I don’t pay attention to what i think he may do with the money, I just do what Jesus told me to do, “give to those who ask you.” He didn’t qualify his words, he just said give. I trust that God sent that person to me because he needed help, and over the years I’ve noticed that it’s very rare that I ever get asked for money when I’m temporarily short, it’s almost always when I’m flush. SO I just give, whatever I can.
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That’s a very good attitude to have, I think. I don’t follow it though, because I am financially unable to give to all who ask. With funds as limited as mine, I pick those who are in most need, and give to them.

I was part of a street ministry in college. We’d go to people who were homeless and sleeping on the streets and provide them with food, blankets, and addresses or even rides to soup kitchens. You’d be suprised at the attitudes of these people. Some of them even have jobs. I met one man who had a job, but didn’t want to be “tied down” to paying rent. Another had a job but spent his money on alcohol, cigarettes, and heroin, then beg for money to pay his rent using “need food money” as an excuse to get the money. He also refused to go to soup kitchens because so many of them were “religious” and he didn’t want to expose himself to those “Stupid religious freaks.”
 
totallylost said:
What is your stand on donating to the beggar on the street?

snip snip

But I would like to know Catholic Church’s stand on donating to the beggar on the street.
Thanks.
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I seem to recall the scripture about giving the coat off your back etc… charitable acts of mercy. It is our sin if we do not give, their sin if they abuse the gift or take advantage of the giver; & perhaps being judgmental on our part to question the beggar’s intentions & a sin of ommission to not give or proivide for their needs.

That being said, i don’t always follow follow my gut to give, though one night in the bad part of town, instead of giving money (they askd for beer money!) I bought these three Indians the beer itself & joined them in the alley to drink it (to make sure they didn’t mis spent it on clothes instead? :eek: :D)

Alls well that ends well (I guess)🤷
 
One of the young priests at our parish told this story. He went to the North American seminary in Rome. The seminarians were told that they were never to give money to beggars but if possible, they were encouraged to take them out for a meal. One of our priest’s classmates met a homeless man and took him to lunch. Over lunch, the homeless man revealed that he was a priest who became an alcoholic and abandoned his ministry as he couldn’t overcome his addiction. The seminarian talked the beggar into going with him to St. Peters for confession. It happened that this was Good Friday. The man got into line at one of the confessionals. In confession, he told his story. The confessor came out from behind the screen and knelt before the beggar and asked for his blessing. The confessor was Pope John Paul II. The Holy Father then led his brother priest to the papal apartments and arrange for the priest to live in the Vatican and have treatment.

Our parish priest didn’t know what became of the beggar/priest.

I rarely meet the homeless in my vocation as a homeschool mom. To be honest, I’m a little afraid of them. My poor mom had a bad experience last year when a beggar threatened her and exposed himself in the Cathedral downtown here. Later, this same beggar pulled a knife and carjacked a person as they tried to hand him money. I guess I’d be more like the Jews who passed the man beside the road than the Good Samaritan. Our pastor said it was a common ruse in those days for a robber to feign injury…

maybe I need to pray more about this…
 
mikemar said:
In 2 of the synoptics, Jesus says simply, “Give to those who ask you.” So I give. I don’t pay attention to what i think he may do with the money, I just do what Jesus told me to do, “give to those who ask you.” He didn’t qualify his words, he just said give.
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You may give if you wish, but it would be irresponsible to provide for someone’s addiction.
 
johnbaer said:
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.
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St Vincent de Paul. Who knew quite a thing or two about beggars…
 
I’m inclined to agree with the last post: it’s amazing how we can reduce this problem to the level of money. In fact, money can be a cop-out, a conscience appeaser. The question we must ask is, “How can I serve and love this person as Christ?” How can we affirm the dignity of the person here that is being undermined through his/her own actions and the abhorrent neglect of the world, which says he/she is nothing? “Sorry, not today” may not be enough. A smile, a momentary gift of self…
 
Jonquilius said:
I’m inclined to agree with the last post: it’s amazing how we can reduce this problem to the level of money. In fact, money can be a cop-out, a conscience appeaser. The question we must ask is, “How can I serve and love this person as Christ?” How can we affirm the dignity of the person here that is being undermined through his/her own actions and the abhorrent neglect of the world, which says he/she is nothing? “Sorry, not today” may not be enough. A smile, a momentary gift of self…
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Good point. I am thinking right now of Acts chapter 3:

1One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
6Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Now, not many of us can heal the sick and lame, but I think we can use this passage in a very good way. The apostles did not give money to this beggar, but healed him of his affliction. Many of the beggars you see, and the homeless have an affliction. Be it drug addiction, alcoholism, or mental illness. Maybe we can’t heal them directly, but we can lead them to people who can, or the great Healer, Christ Jesus! 🙂
 
I’ve been reading many of the posts re donating to beggars on the street. It’s amazing to me how many people think they shouldn’t give money because it will feed an addiction, how many people seem to think they know better than Jesus. The fact is we don’t know what’s going to be done with the money we give. It’s possible it will feed an addiction, but it’s not an iron-clad probability. What I came to realize after a few years of not giving is that there’s probably a reason that God sent this person to me to ask for money. If God is trying to help that person, and if money is the answer, God isn’t going to do magic, to simply deposit some cash in the beggar’s pocket, unless you call it magic when He sends that person to me, and I have money, and I give money. If you’re a football fan, just Al Davis every beggar who comes to you, “Just give, baby, just give.”
 
leonie said:
One of the young priests at our parish told this story. He went to the North American seminary in Rome. The seminarians were told that they were never to give money to beggars but if possible, they were encouraged to take them out for a meal. One of our priest’s classmates met a homeless man and took him to lunch. Over lunch, the homeless man revealed that he was a priest who became an alcoholic and abandoned his ministry as he couldn’t overcome his addiction. The seminarian talked the beggar into going with him to St. Peters for confession. It happened that this was Good Friday. The man got into line at one of the confessionals. In confession, he told his story. The confessor came out from behind the screen and knelt before the beggar and asked for his blessing. The confessor was Pope John Paul II. The Holy Father then led his brother priest to the papal apartments and arrange for the priest to live in the Vatican and have treatment.

Our parish priest didn’t know what became of the beggar/priest.

I rarely meet the homeless in my vocation as a homeschool mom. To be honest, I’m a little afraid of them. My poor mom had a bad experience last year when a beggar threatened her and exposed himself in the Cathedral downtown here. Later, this same beggar pulled a knife and carjacked a person as they tried to hand him money. I guess I’d be more like the Jews who passed the man beside the road than the Good Samaritan. Our pastor said it was a common ruse in those days for a robber to feign injury…

maybe I need to pray more about this…
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wow, awesome story! 👍
 
mikemar said:
It’s amazing to me how many people think they shouldn’t give money because it will feed an addiction, how many people seem to think they know better than Jesus.
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If I see a beggar on the street and Jesus beside him with a sign stating the man is not an addict, then I will give money.

Else they are going to have to deal with a gift cert for food.

It is not charity to support someone in their vices.

Since I cannot tell if I am supporting an addiction with cash, I am going to always take the more responsible option that prevents that eventuality.
 
If I go to lunch or dinner, I always get a box for leftovers. Should I happen upon an “I’m Hungry” sign, I give the leftovers, otherwise, I’ll hand over a business card with my 800#. I promise to have someone in my office locate shelters, food banks, clothing centers, and soup kitchens in the local area, as well as rehab centers. Twenty five years and I never got a call.

My brother would pick up “will work for food” guys and drag them home. He’d have them sweep, weed or some other minor labor then make them a very nice sack lunch, complete with chips, dessert and beverage. He never had a repeat customer.

I have given cash from the window in my car, especially if it’s a mom with kids or a youngster. If I see the mom repeatedly, I’ll call social services if the kids seem like they may be in jeopardy.
 
we had a story recently about a couple that worked different areas of town they would each take a separate street carrying a gas can and beg for gas money. The paper said they were taking in thousands a week.
 
leonie said:
we had a story recently about a couple that worked different areas of town they would each take a separate street carrying a gas can and beg for gas money. The paper said they were taking in thousands a week.
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I’ve seen a young couple around here at different exits w/ ‘out of gas’ signs. Funny, I never think to have a sign w/ me when I run out of gas…:rolleyes:
 
Give as you are able if you can not give money than give them words of hope. I’ve been homeless three times in my life and not being seen is worse than hunger. If you do not want to give money than don’t but never ever ignore the homeless. I knew one man who had been homeless for a number of years who committed suicide becuse he was ignored by people comming out of the very church he was baptised in and attened for 22 years. he lost hope becuse of all the lip service and no action. the next homeless person you meet you do not want to give money to tell them this " I have no money to give you but I can give you something more valuble than gold or silver the good news that jesus christ the son of god died for you sins and rose from the grave he forgives you of all your sins".

remeber Jesus loves you so you better love the least of us if you really want to feel that love.
 
There’s two ways to look at the homeless problem. No one, and I mean no one, can survive without money in their pocket. Take all of your cash, debit and credit cards and so forth, and then try and buy ANYTHING! No gas, no cofee, no food ( and yes, no drugs or booze). Most “Christians” have no idea what living in proverty is all about. Faith w/o works is dead according to St. James.

My point here is that everyone must use good judgement. Gift cards are great, but they don’t buy bus tickets and so on.

Read or listen to Fr. Corapi’s conversion story. You’ll get an understanding of what it’s like living on the streets of America.
 
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