The Poor - Up Close and Personal

[RosalieM]

I live in a large city with many homeless, most of whom are men. I rarely see a homeless woman. I say this because lately I am wondering about the poor. If a homeless man comes into a church to sleep in a pew, the police are called and he is escorted away. If the homeless come into a church enough times to be distracting, they are escorted away. If homeless men approach me for money, I feel threatened. When I see both sides of a neighborhood street lined with poor people asking for money, I become insensitized and walk past them.
I give to organized requests for donations through the church now and no longer look into the faces of the poor and hand them a donation. I’m confused because it was at times gratifying. Am I doing enough? Jesus said, “the poor will always be with you”. I take that to mean the problem of poverty will never really be solved on earth. Then there is “when I was hungry, you fed me. When I was naked you clothed me…”
Thoughts?

 

[TrueLight]

I live in a large city with many homeless, most of whom are men. I rarely see a homeless woman. I say this because lately I am wondering about the poor. If a homeless man comes into a church to sleep in a pew, the police are called and he is escorted away. If the homeless come into a church enough times to be distracting, they are escorted away. If homeless men approach me for money, I feel threatened. When I see both sides of a neighborhood street lined with poor people asking for money, I become insensitized and walk past them.
I give to organized requests for donations through the church now and no longer look into the faces of the poor and hand them a donation. I’m confused because it was at times gratifying. Am I doing enough? Jesus said, “the poor will always be with you”. I take that to mean the problem of poverty will never really be solved on earth. Then there is “when I was hungry, you fed me. When I was naked you clothed me…”
Thoughts?

Personally, I have started to give to the homeless or poor on the train, whereas before I would simply stare at my book or at the ceiling.

$.50 to a dollar is not going to make me go broke. I have even begun to get into the habit of carrying some extra change with me just in case.

It’s easy for me to say, “Oh please, there are shelters, you’re going to booze up the money, etc.”. but even drug addicts get hungry too.

What if I am the vehicle that God wants to use today as an answer to a sinner’s prayer?

Now I am not saying this is right for everyone, but the Spirit has been dealing with my heart when it comes to the homeless.

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

 

[thomasf]

Giving money to beggars on the street is not the same as helping homeless or poor people. You never know if the street person is truly homeless or poor, or if they are asking for drug money, or even scamming you. That sounds cynical, yes. But this is a world where people prey on your good intentions.

If you want to help the poor or homeless get involved in a ministry that helps the poor. Cook meals, help give people a place to stay, find them clothing, etc. There are a lot of resources for poor and homeless people who are in need, and if you take part in that you’ll be doing a lot more than you would by giving beggars on the street cash.

I see plenty of homeless or poor women in the ministries I take part in to help those people in my community. And honestly, there is a level of homeless or poor people that are always going to be that way. Whether it’s mental illness or addiction or just plain inability to deal with life, they can’t get off their feet. It’s sad to say, but it’s true. When you help the poor, you don’t judge them, you just help them. Smile, give them a kind word, and try to help them with what they need. IMO that’s what Jesus asks us to do, just help people who need it.

 

[TrueLight]

Giving money to beggars on the street is not the same as helping homeless or poor people. You never know if the street person is truly homeless or poor, or if they are asking for drug money, or even scamming you. That sounds cynical, yes. But this is a world where people prey on your good intentions.

I totally understand what you’re saying.

I am naturally cynical.

If you want to help the poor or homeless get involved in a ministry that helps the poor. Cook meals, help give people a place to stay, find them clothing, etc. There are a lot of resources for poor and homeless people who are in need, and if you take part in that you’ll be doing a lot more than you would by giving beggars on the street cash.

One can do both.

 

[RosalieM]

I used to carry change around for beggars. Then I became afraid of homeless men with aggressive attitudes. Perhaps I could give to those in the wheelchairs, cripples, the blind. Although I haven’t come across any blind beggars. Not one. The personal contact that I used to find gratifying has become a source of fear. I wear my purse over my shoulder so it’s difficult to snatch. I feel a sense of desperation from these men on the streets who are able-bodied poor. There was one who had a little dog and I gave change to him regularly. I asked if he had a place to stay and he said he did.
It makes me think I should leave distribution of money and goods up to the charitable organizations and give to them to pass it on to those who are really in need.

 

[puzzleannie]

I live in a large city with many homeless, most of whom are men. I rarely see a homeless woman. I say this because lately I am wondering about the poor. If ?

I have volunteered on occasion in ministries serving the homeless in 3 metro areas and about 1/3 of those who come for assistance or to shelters are homeless, and about 1/3 of those have children with them. For every 100 beds in shelters for single men there are perhaps 10 for women and children. My relatives who work full time in this ministry say that is about ballpark.

How you personally decide to help is up to you, and you should use the virtue of prudence as well as justice to discern that. If you think giving to or volunteering with institutions and charities who assist the poor is more productive and more likely to provide real lasting benefit you can certainly do so. If you feel moved to give more direct aid like a handout, and are not putting yourself or anyone else at risk, you can do that. Either way, love for the individual that come as close as you are capable of loving a you would Christ himself is the goal. It is not to make you feel good, nor is it merely to assist the person. It should go beyond that, to seeing the face of Christ in each person you help even if your contact is remote not direct.

 

[jojos_faith]

I live in a large city with many homeless, most of whom are men. I rarely see a homeless woman. I say this because lately I am wondering about the poor. If a homeless man comes into a church to sleep in a pew, the police are called and he is escorted away. If the homeless come into a church enough times to be distracting, they are escorted away. If homeless men approach me for money, I feel threatened. When I see both sides of a neighborhood street lined with poor people asking for money, I become insensitized and walk past them.
I give to organized requests for donations through the church now and no longer look into the faces of the poor and hand them a donation. I’m confused because it was at times gratifying. Am I doing enough? Jesus said, “the poor will always be with you”. I take that to mean the problem of poverty will never really be solved on earth. Then there is “when I was hungry, you fed me. When I was naked you clothed me…”
Thoughts?

What I do is that I give homeless people a 211 card or tell them to call 211. It is a nation-wide resource service line that will help them with their needs.

 

[Ohana]

Interesting thread. I don’t think we are required to become the victime of the “aggressive” poor, or the out of control poor, or the purse-snatching poor. I like the suggestion of getting involved in a feeding ministry, or other means of assistance; I think you will find that after a while these people become individuals to you. Then you more easily separate out the ones who are needy and the ones who are looking to score. I worked with these folk for a time and found that sometimes more than a handout, they needed a touch, a smile, eye contact - things which affirm their personhood. Developing and delivering meals is important, as is providing a safe place to sleep, and protection from the elements. Providing a place for taking a shower would be another important goal. Failing that,providing soap, shampoo, towels, cloths that people can take with them is a good effort. One group I knew collected those little toiletries from hotels that people bring home and never use. Believe me, they are valued by the homeless.

 

[RosalieM]

This is really good (name removed by moderator)ut and I appreciate it. I have difficulty with this issue. I’m closer to a personal solution.

 

[on_eagles_wingz]

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” - Galatians 6:9 NIV

 

[TrueLight]

I live in a large city with many homeless, most of whom are men. I rarely see a homeless woman. I say this because lately I am wondering about the poor. If a homeless man comes into a church to sleep in a pew, the police are called and he is escorted away. If the homeless come into a church enough times to be distracting, they are escorted away. If homeless men approach me for money, I feel threatened. When I see both sides of a neighborhood street lined with poor people asking for money, I become insensitized and walk past them.
I give to organized requests for donations through the church now and no longer look into the faces of the poor and hand them a donation. I’m confused because it was at times gratifying. Am I doing enough? Jesus said, “the poor will always be with you”. I take that to mean the problem of poverty will never really be solved on earth. Then there is “when I was hungry, you fed me. When I was naked you clothed me…”
Thoughts?

Rosalie, by the way, I do not give people money who approach me on the street. That can be risky and I understand your discomfort.

I feel relatively safe doing that on the train.

 

[SurlyMermaid]

We’ve been talking about this in Sunday School (Episcopalian), especially how to interprete “the poor will always be with you.”

I don’t think we get let of the hook for caring for others by this statement, as I was raised to believe (“They’re always there so we don’t have to do anything.”) I think each individual has to decide what they will do. Everyone has a different opinion. I knew a rabbi who always gave to homeless, saying, “If 1 of 10 uses the cash for food rather than booze, my job is done.”

I’ve known others who would go back to the person with a sandwich or something. One of my stepfathers, who used to “ride the rails” and was homeless for quite a while, would use his gut to determine what he would do on a case-by-case basis.

I think every Christian has to do something, even if it’s just regularly dropping some canned goods into donation boxes at the supermarket.

We’re reading a book in Sunday school, The Dangerous Act of Loving Your Neighbor by Mark Labberton, who, I believe, is a Methodist minister. I really like his book and it’s food for thought. It’s a nice springboard for discussion and thought about what are beliefs and barriers are in dealing with others. I discovered that I have an easier time hanging out with impoverished people, lower income, etc. than with the well-dressed, well-manicured ladies of my own Sunday school class! I was raised in a small, impoverished town. I feel like we have our own mild caste system in the United States. One of the reasons my grandmother was angry with me was because I went to college and grad school. I was trying to “rise above [my] station.” It occurred to me as well that in the back of my head I sit in Sunday school at this Episcopalian church of middle class, upper middle class, well educated parishioners, and feel like, “I’m not supposed to be here.”

Just some thoughts.

 

[RosalieM]

I think I’ll plan on donating through organizations and through the Church – and in person only when it seems genuinely urgent.
I imagine the present-day poor in our cities aren’t like the poor of old in the Bible. Nor are they like the victims of disaster or famine. It gets tricky in cities. I like the “211” suggestion. I have spoken with young people I’ve seen begging and directed them to charitable organizations. I’m grateful I’ve never seen children with the beggars.
Thank you for your thoughts. God bless you.

 

[Blossoming]

Personally, I have started to give to the homeless or poor on the train, whereas before I would simply stare at my book or at the ceiling.

$.50 to a dollar is not going to make me go broke. I have even begun to get into the habit of carrying some extra change with me just in case.

It’s easy for me to say, “Oh please, there are shelters, you’re going to booze up the money, etc.”. but even drug addicts get hungry too.

What if I am the vehicle that God wants to use today as an answer to a sinner’s prayer?

Now I am not saying this is right for everyone, but the Spirit has been dealing with my heart when it comes to the homeless.

What a lovely post. God bless.