What's the best way to witness to homeless people?

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As Christians, we shouldn’t really pass a homeless person without giving them some money (unless we have good reason to believe they are a scammer and not really homeless).

When giving them money, what should we say to let them know that we are a Christian helping them (i.e. letting them know the one person who has stopped to help them is a Christian) …should we say “God bless” or hand them an apologetic tract or something like that?

We can’t really just give them money and walk on - they might think an atheist or humanist has just given them money …and think highly of them.
 
St Mother Teresa used to carry around large bags of Miraculous Medals, such as when she met the violent Nicaraguan dictator, she gave one to him, one for his wife, and one for each of his seven children. Or when she was finally admitted into the Soviet Union, herself and her entourage of sisters and a few priests brought with them a huge bag of them to be distributed whenever (including giving one to the inspection guard who ought to have confiscated them as religious paraphernalia).

You could fold it up inside a dollar bill.

Or I would just say something simple like “God bless you”.
 
I prefer to give actual food rather than money…there is a major drug problem among the homeless here. But yes I will often say “God bless”.
Of course you can also donate money through your archdiocese / diocese / parish charitable programs.
 
Harry123 said:
As Christians, we shouldn’t really pass a homeless person without giving them some money (unless we have good reason to believe they are a scammer and not really homeless).

When giving them money, what should we say to let them know that we are a Christian helping them (i.e. letting them know the one person who has stopped to help them is a Christian) …should we say “God bless” or hand them an apologetic tract or something like that?

We can’t really just give them money and walk on - they might think an atheist or humanist has just given them money …and think highly of them.
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“Homeless” is not a monolithic entity - how do you know the “homeless person” isn’t Catholic? And if I were destitute and living on the streets and living hand to mouth, I don’t think my first thought upon receiving a $5.00 bill is: “Did an atheist just give me a $5 bill? Why, those atheists are mighty altruistic and good people-!” On what basis do you believe any homeless person would make such a trivial pronouncement? Respectfully, just a very confusing comment. :confused:
 
randomuser said:
“Homeless” is not a monolithic entity - how do you know the “homeless person” isn’t Catholic? And if I were destitute and living on the streets and living hand to mouth, I don’t think my first thought upon receiving a $5.00 bill is: “Did an atheist just give me a $5 bill? Why, those atheists are mighty altruistic and good people-!” On what basis do you believe any homeless person would make such a trivial pronouncement? Respectfully, just a very confusing comment. :confused:
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I’m assuming a homeless person sitting on the sidewalk all day has alot of free time on their mind. And probably ponders about the people who leave him money. That free time, in a way, is a gift from God. So why not use it. Use it as a way to remind them of the goodness in Christianity. This is why I suggested giving them a bible tract when giving them money. They could sit there for the next 15 to 20 minutes and ponder on the person who just gave them that and whats behind that person - ie ultimately Christ.

If you gave the person $10 with a bible tract, it might cause them to think of you more that day than any other person who gave them money (because you gave more than any other person that day). You might just save their soul. Even if they are Catholic already, they might need a re-awakening.
 
I agree with randomuser a bit. I’m not sure a homeless person cares whether you’re Christian or not, and it’s certainly not our primary concern to let them know (recall Jesus warning the Pharisees about doing their good deeds for recognition).

The best way to witness to the homeless is help them fix that situation. The rest will take care of itself.
 
One person I know recently discussed how, even if she doesn’t have any money or gift cards on her, she acknowledges each homeless person and looks them in the eye. She said they are very grateful to be acknowledged as people instead of passed over.

Our parish has a great ministry where every other week they take dinner to a common area where homeless people congregate. In the winter they get about 60 people, in the summer, over 200. And after serving the parishioners sit down with them and just talk, like normal, everyday people. Many of the people are on drugs or clearly mentally ill, but they are very appreciative, again, just to be treated like normal human beings.
 
pensmama87 said:
One person I know recently discussed how, even if she doesn’t have any money or gift cards on her, she acknowledges each homeless person and looks them in the eye. She said they are very grateful to be acknowledged as people instead of passed over.

Our parish has a great ministry where every other week they take dinner to a common area where homeless people congregate. In the winter they get about 60 people, in the summer, over 200. And after serving the parishioners sit down with them and just talk, like normal, everyday people. Many of the people are on drugs or clearly mentally ill, but they are very appreciative, again, just to be treated like normal human beings.
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This! Treat them with the basic human dignity God gave us all.
 
EricF said:
This! Treat them with the basic human dignity God gave us all.
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Exactly. It can be easy to forget a homeless person on a sidewalk is in as much need of a dignity lift as they are in need of money.
 
Personally, I don’t think handing anyone a religious tract is going to convert them. I’ve been handed tracts by Jehovah Witnesses, and a large number of protestant groups over the years, and I’ve never been converted.

If you really want to make a difference in someone’s life, establish a relationship with them. Ask their name, talk with them, listen. A ten dollar bill with a religious tract seems pretty heavy-handed to me – and I doubt very much you’d be the first or last person to take advantage of their misfortune to try to spread your own beliefs.

Relationships. Time. Listening. Service. Valuing the person. Not because you’re trying to save them, but because you love them as Christ – “in his distressing disguise of the poorest of the poor” (St Teresa of Calcutta).

God bless you for wanting to be of service! May He grant your heart’s desire in serving His children.
 
Harry123 said:
As Christians, we shouldn’t really pass a homeless person without giving them some money
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Where are you getting that from? Experts on poverty will usually advise you not to give cash to strangers, because it supports alcohol, drugs, tobacco; but rather to support appropriate services.
(unless we have good reason to believe they are a scammer and not really homeless).
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How exactly do you identify who is homeless at a glance?
 
PaulfromIowa said:
Where are you getting that from? Experts on poverty will usually advise you not to give cash to strangers, because it supports alcohol, drugs, tobacco; but rather to support appropriate services.

How exactly do you identify who is homeless at a glance?
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This is a global forum. In many parts of the world there are few to no services to support…and starvation is a very real threat.
 
In the city, when I am with my kids and we see someone or are approached by someone who asks for help so they can eat, we like to take them to McDonalds, or what ever is nearby and buy them food and sit with them a while and just talk.

They few times that you run into a scammer they will run away and make some excuse to not go with you for food. But most homeless folks will enjoy the meal and company.

We don’t want to give money that they might spend on alcohol or drugs.

There are some mentally ill folks around too so you need to stay in a public place preferably near cops. I like to ask the local cop if he knows the person. The cops will tell you if it is somebody that they know you should stay away from. But most of the time you are dealing with a person who will enjoy the food and company.
 
Harry123 said:
As Christians, we shouldn’t really pass a homeless person without giving them some money (unless we have good reason to believe they are a scammer and not really homeless).

When giving them money, what should we say to let them know that we are a Christian helping them (i.e. letting them know the one person who has stopped to help them is a Christian) …should we say “God bless” or hand them an apologetic tract or something like that?

We can’t really just give them money and walk on - they might think an atheist or humanist has just given them money …and think highly of them.
Click to expand...
I was in Anderson, South Carolina and there are a lot of homeless people there and there was a lady at the street corner asking for change and it was not an uncommon sight so what I did is I took some change I rolled it up in a Saint Michael prayer card and gave it to her. I think sometimes that’s the best thing you can do.
 
Frankenfurter said:
In the city, when I am with my kids and we see someone or are approached by someone who asks for help so they can eat, we like to take them to McDonalds, or what ever is nearby and buy them food and sit with them a while and just talk.

They few times that you run into a scammer they will run away and make some excuse to not go with you for food. But most homeless folks will enjoy the meal and company.

We don’t want to give money that they might spend on alcohol or drugs.

There are some mentally ill folks around too so you need to stay in a public place preferably near cops. I like to ask the local cop if he knows the person. The cops will tell you if it is somebody that they know you should stay away from. But most of the time you are dealing with a person who will enjoy the food and company.
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That’s remarkable. I think I would find it difficult to do that myself, but hats off.
 
I will either give them a small amount of cash, or, depending on where we are, buy them something to eat from a place like Subway, plus a bottle of water.

I always ask them their name, tell them my name, shake their hand and ask them to pray for me.

I hope this communicates to them that I value their prayers, and that I realize God hears their prayers.

Edited to add: before giving money or buying food, I ask if they are hungry. The answer is almost always, yes.
 
pensmama87 said:
One person I know recently discussed how, even if she doesn’t have any money or gift cards on her, she acknowledges each homeless person and looks them in the eye. She said they are very grateful to be acknowledged as people instead of passed over.

Our parish has a great ministry where every other week they take dinner to a common area where homeless people congregate. In the winter they get about 60 people, in the summer, over 200. And after serving the parishioners sit down with them and just talk, like normal, everyday people. Many of the people are on drugs or clearly mentally ill, but they are very appreciative, again, just to be treated like normal human beings.
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Perfect/

I knew someone who used to get up early, make sandwiches and flasks of coffee and on her way to work stop and share with some rough sleepers. And chat with them,

The idea of dropping money at them… for there but for the grace of God go we,. and yes danger in giving money.

But ordinary nonjudgemental company… a healing and rare.
 
Gertabelle said:
Personally, I don’t think handing anyone a religious tract is going to convert them. I’ve been handed tracts by Jehovah Witnesses, and a large number of protestant groups over the years, and I’ve never been converted.

If you really want to make a difference in someone’s life, establish a relationship with them. Ask their name, talk with them, listen. A ten dollar bill with a religious tract seems pretty heavy-handed to me – and I doubt very much you’d be the first or last person to take advantage of their misfortune to try to spread your own beliefs.

Relationships. Time. Listening. Service. Valuing the person. Not because you’re trying to save them, but because you love them as Christ –

God bless you for wanting to be of service! May He grant your heart’s desire in serving His children.
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I get deluged with tracts in summer. Never even read them an I am not JW or NORN evangelical either thank you !
 
Pondering as I clean the kitchen floor…

Why do we have to think of any thin we do as “witness”?

Why not simply for love?

Why does it need to be organised? Why not simply part of our caring day?
 
How about having your parish organize a shelter for the homeless? That way the homeless can associate charity with the Church. That will solve a lot of concern about drug addicts and scammers.

I do give money to beggars on occasion based on whim so I am not opposed to that.
 
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