Giving to panhandlers

[Tim_D]

What I’m trying to say is it’s not up to me to decide how they spend the money. Of course I wouldn’t be happy if that happened, but my willingness to share is not the cause of their death.

Your absence of discretion would certainly give you a degree of culpability.

 

[jediliz]

I prefer to support a local soup kitchen and outreach that serves the homeless and working poor. They serve meals everyday and provide services (showers, drug and alcohol counseling, transition houses, life skills and more)

That way I know I am helping the least of these.

 

[JanetF]

Your absence of discretion would certainly give you a degree of culpability.

I’ll risk it. I have confidence in a just and merciful God who knows my heart.

 

[Tim_D]

I’ll risk it. I have confidence in a just and merciful God who knows my heart.

Have you ever heard the expression that good intentions buy you nothing? Or maybe even the one about the road to hell being paved with good intentions?

 

[bquinnan]

My small church group was talking about giving to panhandlers, common objections, etc. Then, Pope Francis spoke on it. Definitely some things to consider.

I would say that anything the pope says is something to consider. I’ve been trying to think about whether their might be a way to balance this a little, like perhaps I could pick up some $5 gift cards to Subway or somewhere like that and give those out, along with a little map showing where the local Catholic homeless shelter is. Then the person could buy a sandwich but not drugs or alcohol. (I think maybe I should check with the homeless shelter on that, though, to make sure they take walk-ins.)

A former pastor of my parish was discussing this and said, basically, that if someone abuses our generosity, they will have to answer to God for that; if we are not generous, we will have have to answer. But then I heard someone from a homeless shelter saying that, when we are charitable, we need to take reasonable precautions to ensure that our actions won’t do more harm than good.

I think sometimes we make the ideal the enemy of the good on this, though.

 

[SuperLuigi]

I agree with the Pope, duh!

If I have cash on me, I share it. If I don’t have cash, sometimes I’ll stop and ask if I can buy them a sandwich and bring it back to them, or just chat with them to let them know they are not alone.

It’s not up to me to guide them in how they spend it, or determine if they are telling me the truth that they are without a job, etc. It’s up to me to see Jesus in them and share my blessings with them.

“Whatsoever you do for the least of my brothers, so you do unto me”

We are also called to avoid scandal. What if you are just funding someone’s drug habit?

Or is the standard now just feeling good inside?

 

[Jared2914]

I don’t give money to panhandlers, but I see nothing wrong with giving physical things they might need such as bottled water and nonperishable food. We keep a bag of these things in the car to give to homeless. It’s true that the money they save by not buying the things we give them can then be used for drugs, but at least we’re not directly funding their drugs. It’s also true, as others said, if the giver doesn’t know how the money will be used, it is always fine to give money. Of course, if you know someone uses the money you give them for drugs, you should not be giving them the money. Giving physical things avoids having to worry about that, and I am always looking for ways to avoid worry.

 

[Seamus_L]

It depends on the person. If I meet a guy who smells like alcohol, I certainly am not going to give him money. I’ve offered to buy homeless people something to eat, as have others I’ve known, and surprisingly have been told that they’d prefer money on more than one occasion.

 

[exnihilo]

I generally don’t give money to beggars. I’ve heard from those who specialize in caring for the homeless that it is better not to. I’m quite sure a lot of beggars are just scammers for drugs. I will give food and drink to a beggar. A lot of folks who want money for gas, and this is a common scam, won’t take the actual gas if you offer to buy it.

 

[signit]

I generally don’t give money to beggars. I’ve heard from those who specialize in caring for the homeless that it is better not to.

There is a big sign up in my town, in fact, requesting that we not give to panhandlers, but we give to a charity or agency instead.

I’m quite sure a lot of beggars are just scammers for drugs. I will give food and drink to a beggar. A lot of folks who want money for gas, and this is a common scam, won’t take the actual gas if you offer to buy it.

This a big problem for me, from personal experience.

I don’t like being lied to.

I’ll never forget the two men asking for money with a big sob story, and then, when I gave it to them, seeing them head into the liquor store. And this was at a time in my life I was living below the poverty line myself. So I still think about that when someone begs me for money.

 

[ConfusedLucy]

I will only give if I feel safe. I once gave money to someone who began following me and getting aggressive trying to get more, it really scared me although luckily I had someone with me.

 

[LundyLund]

What I found most helpful from Pope Francis’s message is that it has caused me to look at my own internal motivations. I typically don’t give to beggars. As I reflect on that, I of course come across many of the reasons others have given (it doesn’t help them, etc.). But, if I’m truly being honest with myself, I think the primary reason is that I don’t want to.

Heck, yesterday, as I was leaving a restaurant, I’m pretty sure a man across the parking lot was trying to get my attention to then ask me for money. I got in my car and left. Mostly because I don’t like it when people ask me for things. And that’s my problem, not theirs.

What really brought it home to me was that I had been reading Matthew 25 yesterday and today. And Jesus talks about what we do or don’t do for the least of us is what we do or don’t do for him. I definitely felt convicted after that. I now realize that I have an attitude that I need to really prune and improve.

 

[Amator_Dei]

I walk a lot in an urban area and so encounter a lot of panhandlers. I approach each panhandler as the unique person they are, but I always help a homeless woman or an elder. It is good to stop and talk to the person, ask their name, offer yours. I truly believe the biggest help to anyone is really acknowledging them.

For the recent arrivals and newly homeless - I usually carry little papers with directions to the soup kitchens and homeless programs near us. Anyone who has been homeless for more than 2 weeks knows it all and the papers will just be trash.

I usually have a bus pass or two on me for people who say they need money for the bus.

If I eat out, I eat half and give the other half away. I have never had my left overs rejected. There are a lot of men out there who can no longer visit soup kitchens or homeless shelters because of their bad behavior (usually they are mentally ill as well). They are still children of God and need to eat - and I have found them to be the most grateful. This practice feeds them while making sure money isn’t spent on bad things and protects my safety by not having me engage them for too long. Bonus: Portion control!

I usually try to carry some cash for people who ask when I am in too big a hurry to stop to talk to them.

I realized the importance of getting to know each person after I made a big mistake one day. I saw a man begging while I was on my way into a store(and I really didn’t want to take him in with me!) and thought well I will go buy him some food instead of giving him some money. So I bought him food and gave it to him. He looked at it so sadly. He had no teeth and couldn’t eat any of it!! I didn’t have time to rectify the situation. So I wasted my money and he didn’t get to eat.

The biggest thing I have realized about always giving to people is that it detaches me from my money big time. If I give some money away I have absolutely no control what happens to it. It is not “mine”. I held it for a few minutes but it just passed on through. Nothing bought, nothing gained, it just passed on through. In taking the time to engage the people I pass it to, I have learned to love in new ways.

Yes you have to be wise about giving, but that wisdom is gained through giving! You have to be open to giving to begin to engage people and learn what to do in each situation. If you don’t have the time or inclination to do that, then smile and be kind to them and give your money to the St. Vincent de Paul or some food bank. I think the Pope wants us to be heroic in our love and generosity for others, which means taking the time and slowly learning to love and give. I have spent enough time listening to drug addicts and alcoholics to be fairly confident that Mr. Joe Catholic giving the occasional $1 bill isn’t causing a wave of drug induced deaths.

All that being said I would never give to the people who stand at the freeway off ramps. In my neck of the woods that is an organized racket.

 

[Horton]

I’ve been judgmental of folks who panhandle, often driving by in my late model car, coming from my nice home with plenty of heat/cooling, full pantry and full freezer, generally on my way to buy one more thing I really don’t need, as I check my $700 cell phone, thinking why should I give to some bum who will just spend it on drugs or alcohol?

But my heart has shifted and I now see a person who hasn’t had the opportunities I was blessed with. The person, who for whatever reason, lives in a condition that so many of just don’t understand. I see the person who probably really doesn’t want to be standing on that street corner. But I still just drive by thanking God it’s not me standing there.

So today I will change my actions. Today I will make up bags of simple necessities, bottled water, toiletries, non perishable snacks, and a gift card to a fast food restaurant. Today I will put my thoughts into actions. I’m sure there are those out there who will scam or not appreciate my gift and that is OK.

 

[signit]

What really brought it home to me was that I had been reading Matthew 25 yesterday and today. And Jesus talks about what we do or don’t do for the least of us is what we do or don’t do for him. I definitely felt convicted after that. I now realize that I have an attitude that I need to really prune and improve.

I think about Matthew 25 as well.

But, at the same time, some of what we pay in our tax dollars is going to help the poor, so it’s not as if by not giving a panhandler money I’m not helping them at all.

 

[GLam8833]

Even panhandlers compete for your
money… here in this City, I have heard
them criticizing so and so, that ALL the
money you give to THEM will be spent
on drug injections “all into their veins”!!
I got sick of the gossip when I found
out that the claims were unfounded, for
a while I LIMITED my giving… But
reading the Article in the OP, I think that
I should “give w/o finding fault” just as
God does w/ us!! SEE James 1:5

 

[GLam8833]

I will only give if I feel safe. I once gave money to someone who began following me and getting aggressive trying to get more, it really scared me although luckily I had someone with me.

People who are homeless or REALLY in need
feel compelled to get money and some even
get aggressive like the one you met up w/.
Next time threaten to call the police on him.

One time, I went to the soup kitchen after
Church and this panhandler was staring at
me in my “expensive” suit and I thot he
was going to hit me, but, thank God he kept
his peace.

 

[GLam8833]

There is a big sign up in my town, in fact, requesting that we not give to panhandlers, but we give to a charity or agency instead.

This a big problem for me, from personal experience.

I don’t like being lied to.

I’ll never forget the two men asking for money with a big sob story, and then, when I gave it to them, seeing them head into the liquor store. And this was at a time in my life I was living below the poverty line myself. So I still think about that when someone begs me for money.

I talk to the panhandler and find out what
their situ. is and regularly support them if
they deserve it, at least I have gained friends!!
“make friends with unrighteous mammon, so
that when you die, you will be received into
eternal dwellings” Luke 16:9