B
ble
Guest
Hi Everyone,
Have you ever driven in the street and come up to an intersection and there are several homeless people with signs out saying they need help, they are homeless veterans, they need work? (most don’t I heard, they just have it to get sympathy).
I used to give money to those people all the time, maybe a $1, $5 or even sometimes $20 if I don’t have change. But then again, I see the same person in the street corners all the time and know that some people are making minimum wage at $5.25 an hour. At least those people are working instead of getting a free handout. Because of that, I give less, maybe $1 or $2.
During weekends in San Diego, the Union/Tribune hire people (usually very poor) to sell newspaper at street corners. Now those people I don’t mind giving 100% tip as they are doing a service. They are working and helping themselves instead of looking for a free handout. But it seems like some of the homeless people are also in the same location as those newspaper sellers! What nerve I thought. Imagine yourself working at a street corner walking back and forth to sell $1 Sunday newspaper and a young homeless man doing the same, but instead of selling, he wants money.
Another thing that I noticed more is that some of the homeless people are very young or middle age, really fit and seem very strong. Some are in the mid 20s. I see many young women begging now and they are not dressed in rags. Occassionally I would see old men in rags begging. Those I would be more willing to give. When I say begging, it is not like you’re at a gas station and a nice gentleman come up to you to ask for some money because he ran out of gas (his car is there), it is perpetual begging. I see them all the time.
I’ve talked with a Jesuits priest, also my spiritual director, who told me to never give to the homeless in the street. He told me it is a great harm I’m doing these people, making them dependent on handouts - reducing their dignity. He told me that there are numerous organizations to help the homeless and that if I see a homeless, I should point out these organizations to them. These organizations would rehabilitate them and get them working again. Since we don’t know what these people will be doing with the money we give them (food, alcohol, drugs, sex… who knows), it is best to give to an organization to help them.
In third world countries, poor people who begs are usually those who are unable to work and is disabled (like those in the Bible). The only way they can get food is to beg. But here, it seems, poor people want more than food… I bought some food for them and they were surprised I am giving them food. They are not hungry!
Yet, I still feel guilty driving pass them and not giving anything as I was taught when growing up to give to the poor… What do you do if you were in my case?
Warmest regards,
-Ben
Have you ever driven in the street and come up to an intersection and there are several homeless people with signs out saying they need help, they are homeless veterans, they need work? (most don’t I heard, they just have it to get sympathy).
I used to give money to those people all the time, maybe a $1, $5 or even sometimes $20 if I don’t have change. But then again, I see the same person in the street corners all the time and know that some people are making minimum wage at $5.25 an hour. At least those people are working instead of getting a free handout. Because of that, I give less, maybe $1 or $2.
During weekends in San Diego, the Union/Tribune hire people (usually very poor) to sell newspaper at street corners. Now those people I don’t mind giving 100% tip as they are doing a service. They are working and helping themselves instead of looking for a free handout. But it seems like some of the homeless people are also in the same location as those newspaper sellers! What nerve I thought. Imagine yourself working at a street corner walking back and forth to sell $1 Sunday newspaper and a young homeless man doing the same, but instead of selling, he wants money.
Another thing that I noticed more is that some of the homeless people are very young or middle age, really fit and seem very strong. Some are in the mid 20s. I see many young women begging now and they are not dressed in rags. Occassionally I would see old men in rags begging. Those I would be more willing to give. When I say begging, it is not like you’re at a gas station and a nice gentleman come up to you to ask for some money because he ran out of gas (his car is there), it is perpetual begging. I see them all the time.
I’ve talked with a Jesuits priest, also my spiritual director, who told me to never give to the homeless in the street. He told me it is a great harm I’m doing these people, making them dependent on handouts - reducing their dignity. He told me that there are numerous organizations to help the homeless and that if I see a homeless, I should point out these organizations to them. These organizations would rehabilitate them and get them working again. Since we don’t know what these people will be doing with the money we give them (food, alcohol, drugs, sex… who knows), it is best to give to an organization to help them.
In third world countries, poor people who begs are usually those who are unable to work and is disabled (like those in the Bible). The only way they can get food is to beg. But here, it seems, poor people want more than food… I bought some food for them and they were surprised I am giving them food. They are not hungry!
Yet, I still feel guilty driving pass them and not giving anything as I was taught when growing up to give to the poor… What do you do if you were in my case?
Warmest regards,
-Ben
My husband said I bet the phone is dead and he uses it as a prop…