Feed homeless on street

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One potential drawback to bringing food - the person may not be able to eat what you bring. For example, you bring the person a sandwich, but the person has no teeth. Or has an allergy. Homeless persons often are leery of taking someone’s food; they don’t know if it’s been doctored.

I’m not saying don’t do it, just be mindful of some of the challenges you might encounter. Another poster suggested gift cards. That’s not a bad idea. If you don’t want to limit it to a particular restaurant, you could make it a gift card to a grocery store.
 
I’m not sure if gift cards can be used for cigarettes or alcohol at the supermarket, though. That’s the thing.

In our smallish city, the homeless can get 3 square meals daily, so eating is not a problem.

One person gave something to a person panhandling at walmart, and she found out that immediately after that they went back in to walmart and returned the item. It cannot be returned for cash but someone supposedly saw them buying needles at the pharmacy.

This person is super charitable and had asked what exactly the person needed before she went back into the store to get “supposed items” for them.
 
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That’s definitely a possibility. A “safe” thing to do would be as you suggested above - giving to a known charity that serves the homeless. I totally respect that approach (recognizing that even charities sometimes scam or are hit by embezzlers).

Personally, I get uncomfortable with the idea that I might be neglecting my neighbor because I think I know his or her intentions. If the OP is inclined to want to give when presented a personal opportunity, a gift card might help minimize (of course not eliminate) the chances that the gift be used for bad purposes.
 
I normally have given to the Franciscan church by me that runs a lot of help for the homeless in the area (and most parishes, probably about every, does SOMETHING - food drives, fund raising, etc.). I’ll give change and a few bucks here and there, but I do tend to have the worries others talk about regarding how they’ll use it. Instead, I’ll just go somewhere and buy a sandwich and give that directly to one of the people around here.
 
JamalChristophr said:
I’m not sure if gift cards can be used for cigarettes or alcohol at the supermarket, though. That’s the thing.

In our smallish city, the homeless can get 3 square meals daily, so eating is not a problem.

One person gave something to a person panhandling at walmart, and she found out that immediately after that they went back in to walmart and returned the item. It cannot be returned for cash but someone supposedly saw them buying needles at the pharmacy.

This person is super charitable and had asked what exactly the person needed before she went back into the store to get “supposed items” for them.
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This is actually good information. If I ever do this, I will remove the tags/unpackage the item, keep the receipt, and not hand it to them in the bag.

Even Walmart has tightened down their once very liberal return policies.

It’s a shame that you have to be uncharitable (distrusting) to be charitable. I get the grip of addiction, but still…
 
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stuartbrianhenlis said:
go about doing so?
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Here in Pittsburgh, students from Franciscan U in Steubenville were coming in weekly and feeding homeless in downtown Pittsburgh

I never go downtown, I don’t know if they are still doing it, but some of the local restaurants were not happy with the Franciscan students. The concern was the outdoor feeding program was attracting homeless to Market Square which was repelling the customers of the restaurants.
 
There are also other things that are needed.

I’ve been approached before by homeless women asking if I could spare some feminine products. (I rather imagine it’s mostly women who get asked that.) That’s apparently a real issue for homeless women.
 
I know a bit here (UK) but presume you are not here…not sure where Midwest is presumable US? though we have a mid west here too, though generally we say midlands.

Anyway rule of thumb is to see what is already being offered and step in volunteer. Churches are a good place to start.

I understand your concern about making the street a place to want to be and that’s where God comes in to it. Honestly there is no way you or I are ever going to know if we are making someone stay on the street. In my humble opinion and experience some people are homeless and some are street people. I have seen homeless people turn down free meals and bed for the night (in winter) for in their words ‘a night off’ by that they meant a night sleeping free on the streets. The reasons were complex, to avoid rules like no drugs and alcohol, not having to be in a room with 14 others and having to be woken up in the morning etc. Some of them that I spoke with wanted homes and a life just like you and me and by the way they didn’t all like to be called ‘homeless’ , one girl told me she was between homes. Another guy didn’t ever seem to manage to get to grips with living in society and kind of managed it for a while then ended up back on the streets again. I got the impression it was a relief to be back and trying to fit into society was just too hard. He did have an alcohol abuse problem though…great guy. My point is that people are going to be on the street or not whether we help them there or off the street in programs. It’s not up to us to say where they should be. Let God guide you as to which place you help them, the street, or the many programs that help them once they are off the street. But don’t worry that you will make them go back to the street, that’s not your choice.
I know it might well be different here in UK than there but probably not that different, sadly.
 
I will never give a homeless person money – that could be potentially enabling them to buy drugs or alcohol. But I am happy to buy them food or something warm to drink (like tea) if they want it and give a kind word offering prayers and God’s blessing to let them know that they are human beings, children of God just like everyone else, and that they are loved. In the future I think I’d like to carry some prayer cards to give to them too.
 
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I have been homeless (for only about a month, but you learn a lot).

There are things that well meaning people implement that increase dependency.

Breadlines are not one of them.
 
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GodSoughtMe said:
There are things that well meaning people implement that increase dependency.
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This is what I worry about. This organization gives camping stuff. Seems to like that keeps them out squatting on public land instead of coming in and medical/spiritual/psychological help they could get off the street.
 
Bluebright said:
not sure where Midwest is presumable US?
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One of our quirks.

The entire “midwest” is in the eastern half of the US! In a rational language, we would call where I am the midwest, but we’re the “west” (southern Nevada)–which stops well before the western border . . .

We certainly have fake homeless here, with expensive cars parked a block or two way and houses nicer than mine, but how can you tell?

I want to prepare some bags with pre-packed meals that can stay stable in my car for two days in our summer heat, so I can hand them out.

hawk
 
Ok, that makes sense in a weird way., lol.

I know all about ‘fake’ homeless from my him country where they have mansions but do ‘begging’ as a job. Sadly they also do it as a scam and try to hurt, kill you or worse if you stop to help and police generally advice not opening your car window to give to
beggars (people don’t really walk around the streets except in malls). Anyway less about that, though the fear is something I have to get over constantly now I am in a safe country. You can’t tell, but God can, let the Holy spirit guide you. Give to people
anyway, what does it matter if they are fake homeless? It is their sin of deception and lying not yours of charity…if you feel called to give to them, trust in God, He has a plan, it doesn’t matter if you know what it is.

That’s your call. But do remember homeless need more than food eg clean socks and underwear, sanitary products, toothpaste and many other basics etc Food is often covered by local support services. Or they might need other things just like the rest of us like
bus fare or clothes so you are much better off working with an agency or some support service but it is a nice thought. Check out what’s already being done in your area, we are always better working as a team. Good luck, its great you want to do something.
 
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Many homeless people are homeless through no fault of their own. And while some may prefer staying on the streets, most do not. There are places for them to stay at night if it’s too cold or too hot. Many of these places will also help train those who seek their assistance.

Catholic Charities is a wonderful organization that helps people of various situations. You might look them up and volunteer your services with them. Or you can volunteer at a local shelter, mission or soup kitchen. All of these help the homeless as well feeding not only the body but the mind, heart and soul as well.
 
There’s also a lot of little problems people don’t see at first. It can be very hard to get a job when you’re homeless. You have to have clean clothing that’s acceptable for work - many places have uniforms that you have to buy and wear. When I worked at Walmart, it was about $5 for a polo to get started, and about $15 for a pair of pants. You also obviously had to be relatively clean yourself, have your hair (including facial and body hair, as applicable) trimmed and neat, and so forth. They also wanted people who could work extended hours; trying to limit your working hours to the hours the bus runs at most places results in not getting a job. And ID. A lot of homeless people lack identification documents, and it can be very difficult to replace them. There’s often various fees, plus the new real ID laws require proof of residency to issue an ID.
 
DarkLight said:
also obviously had to be relatively clean yourself, have your hair (including facial and body hair, as applicable) trimmed and neat, and so forth.
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This is why I try to donate my shirts and suits to Catholic Charities together, so that they can be given out for interviews.

A suit that I can’t wear to court anymore still has enough wear for other purposes, and a shirt with an elbow through (with 36" sleeves, this is an ongoing matter) won’t betray itself under the suit.

When I asked a priest who worked with him if this was doing any good, he said absolutely, and that they could deal with the lack of cufflinks. Also, that such suits could give the deceased dignity at a funeral that he would otherwise not have.

As for the overcoats, they go in the back seat and I watch for someone who needs it.

hawk
 
And like I said in another post, giving food or anything to the homeless makes them feel that they are part of this world and visible. How many people just past by the homeless and not even acknowledge them not even saying a simple “hello”? They’re essentially invisible, and just think of how that makes them feel. It’s like they’re not even considered part of society or even human.
 
Hello.

Thanks for the reminder. I need to start bringing stuff to the Catholic Worker house here.

Please pray for me.
 
This is an excellent Chart. Thanks for posting it and God bless.
 
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