When I see all the homeless people in parks and with signs . I go cold now.how about you?

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Saintp

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When I see all the homeless people in parks and with signs. I go cold now .
how about you?
I just turn my eye’s away.
Then when the news shows LA. And San Fransisco. Its out of control
 
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I would offer to help them find a job, or learn something that could help them make some money, but mostly they don’t want opportunities, or even food. They only want cash.
 
Follow the example of the Good Samaritan. Direct them to an agency/charity where there are professionals to help, and make a generous donation to that charity.
 
I thought homelessness was bad in Seattle. Then I moved to the Bay Area, and it was on a whole new level. Personally, I don’t have the means to help every homeless person I see, but I’m not going to turn them away without reason (e.g. they want cash, which I don’t carry). If they appear dangerous, I’ll also avoid them.
 
Visited SF for work back around the “turn of the century”. I remember that the leaders at our sessions reminded us of overwhelming number of panhandlers and that northern cities bus homeless people to their city. Guess nothing has changed.
 
I like the idea of keeping care packages in the car (water and a pack of trail mix), as opposed to giving cash, and you can add a card with contact info for the organizations that are available to help them.
 
Assuming they accept the package, and/or follow up with the organization, that is a good approach. But even if not, at least you tried to do the right thing.
 
Seeing others less fortunate than me always reminds me to take action. Usually that involves stroking out a check to one of the charities I trust to help the homeless. I decide how much I want to (and can afford) to give, then I double that amount.

No, I don’t go cold when I see this. I get frustrated and sad over it at times, but I do what I can do.
 
Mike1w said:
I would offer to help them find a job, or learn something that could help them make some money, but mostly they don’t want opportunities, or even food. They only want cash.
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I have heard of people putting noxious things into food items to offer to panhandlers. Because of that I don’t hold it against a panhandler who won’t take food if offered.

“They don’t want opportunities”? That sounds to me like classic blame-the-victim.
 
Our Lord commands us to love and care for the poor. It is a central mandate of the Church and one She has always taken very seriously.
Of course, how we go about caring for the poor is a matter of debate and prudential judgment.
 
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I don’t blame them for having problems, but I do expect them to take action when offered the chance. If they don’t want food directly from me, I would offer to take them to a store, and buy them a food item that is unopened, or even one they saw prepared or ready to eat, and give it to them directly after paying.
 
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At least pray for them please.
I know homessness is a complex issue and none of us can save everyone, but don’t give up completely. Accept your littleness and do something little.

When I was homeless, food in my area was abundant. Space in my bag wasn’t. But yes, a lot of homeless people have mental health or drug addictions too & can be dangerous.

I don’t know what to recommend. Except to remember poverty isn’t ours to solve, but it is ours to help. We aren’t allowed to give up completely.

When you can’t think of a way to help right this minute, still pray. Try to find little ways to serve when apparent.

Homeless people are still family. Still beloved children of God.
 
twf said:
Our Lord commands us to love and care for the poor. It is a central mandate of the Church and one She has always taken very seriously.
Of course, how we go about caring for the poor is a matter of debate and prudential judgment.
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Oh yes. Christ in scripture tells us to feed the hungry, but He doesn’t say exactly how to go about it.

Adam gives money to his local church soup kitchen.
Beth donates to the Salvation Army.
Cyril gives money directly to panhandlers.
Dave will bring a panhandler to the nearest food outlet and pay for their choice of meals.
Ellen hires them to do chores and labor, pays by the hour and pays better than the going rate.
Fred tries to find job opportunities for them.

All six are obeying God. They seek to feed the hungry.
Opal0427 said:
Except to remember poverty isn’t ours to solve, but it is ours to help. We aren’t allowed to give up completely.

When you can’t think of a way to help right this minute, still pray. Try to find little ways to serve when apparent.
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And this. If you can’t to a lot, then do a little. But do it as much as you can.
 
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Does anyone know… Does it work well for the homeless if someone gives them a supermarket gift card? I was thinking of doing that. (Here in Massachusetts, most supermarkets don’t sell alcohol or tobacco, so the gift card would more likely be used to obtain food.)
 
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I try to help homeless people in an appropriate way, like giving them into info about job openings if I have seen any lately, or how to contact Catholic Charities.

I used to be more consistent about giving them a dollar or two (any fokd in my car would have melted!) but since hearing about these begging rings, I have noticed a number who have no belongings with them, so I am more careful who I give to now. I actually encountered one guy twice a few months apart with the same story of having broken down on his way back to a faraway state…

I should probably get cards from CC to hand out.

Anyway, the people I feel worst about are the very poor elderly people I see. They are struggling to do their shopping and have no car. One really old-looking woman asks me for a bit of money and I always give her some. She looks like she’s in her 90s, and all curled up with arthritis.

Very sad.
 
Annie said:
Anyway, the people I feel worst about are the very poor elderly people I see. They are struggling to do their shopping and have no car. One really old-looking woman asks me for a bit of money and I always give her some. She looks like she’s in her 90s, and all curled up with arthritis.
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I too am most concerned about these people, whether they are homeless or not. Many of them on fixed income may have a roof over their head, but they are still just struggling to get by.
 
Grieve so as to reopen the heart. These are hard times we are in, but that does not allow us to stop being compassionate. We are all being stretched to help on more levels, imo. It also does not mean we give to all or in the same ways, or to have no boundaries. Sometimes creatively connecting maybe by smiling, acknowledging them by talking is what a desperate person needs. Or, an apple. A sandwich. A prayer. Donating to a shelter or volunteering in a soup kitchen
 
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TheLittleLady said:
Guess nothing has changed.
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From what I’ve heard, it’s changed a lot. It’s just gotten much worse. I haven’t been around long enough to see the change, though, but even in my relatively-homeless-free area, I’ve see a few tents and RVs start showing up.
 
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