Several years ago, when I lived in San Diego, there was a huge article in the S.D.Union about all the people standing with signs asking for money. There was an investigation done and it found that most of those people aren’t homeless at all, their “job” is to stand on corners and freeway entrances, asking for money. That’s how they make their living and they make a lot of money doing it. There’s also others who are homeless and they give all the money people give them to their “boss” who then provides a motel room for many of them to sleep together, in the very crowded room. They get a little food to go with the room, but basically, the “boss” is who’s getting rich off our donations. It’s so hard to know what to do really. My donations go to charities like St. Vincent de Paul and then wonderful organizations like St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, where the parents of critically ill children are never charged for doctors, surgeons, any treatments and medical expenses whatsoever. I also give to Salvation Army because I know they have programs for homeless to teach them skills and help them get jobs. And of course, the very many second collections for various things at Mass. But I don’t give to those standing with signs any more, although I still feel somewhat guilty about it.
