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

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In New York City, there are plenty of homeless people virtually everywhere. Whenever I go to the supermarket, I see a couple of men sitting across from the market, always talking to one another. I pass them by but they never ask for anything so I don’t wish to offend them by offering them any money. I suppose I could ask them if they need anything, but they do not seem like beggars although they are apparently homeless. Sometimes I even feel guilty when I leave the market with several bags loaded with food. I have contributed money and food to others, however, when they ask. But it’s a pretty bad situation and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better for many years.
 
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I don’t feel guilty if I don’t help these particular people. Everyone can help someone. God knows I have enough already to deal with. If you look at my other threads and posts, you will understand. Charity starts wherever you are, and for me the neighbors in need are my disabled wife and my wayward son. All children of God are equally important. Also, my employment is quite literally helping to care for those in prison.
 
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Franciscan are doing a great job in NY providing food and link to medical and legal services for homeless and people struggling in the area of Penn Station. They also happily accept volunteers, donations or pro bono work. By the way, you don’t need to be Catholic or even Christian to partecipate in their mission with the poor.

 
Sounds good. Don’t forget that you may be able to give them something that doesn’t cost money: recognition of their humanity. A nod, a compassionate look, a greeting or kind word (if it is safe to do so), or a prayer for that one person.
 
You can and should always pray for them. Also if you can’t give them something, then you can greet them or look at them or smile at them if this is appropriate … admittedly it isnt always. they are humans and turning your eyes away might just make them feel more outcast or lonely, dont you think? just makes me think of Jesus on the cross and all those under him who were chatting about their own stuff and abandoning him to his own suffering instead of trying to comfort Mary or his followers or at least maintaining respectful silence.

Just for the record homelessness is rife here too in England, I live in a coastal town where they tend to head to especially in the summer as it’s pleasant to sleep rough on a beach and our city is known for it’s accommodating nature. So it is more unusual to not see a homeless person when walking for ten mins than to see one. I won’t comment on whether you should or shouldn’t give money as there are a thousand posts on that, but I do think you should do what the Holy Spirit calls you to do and that should never be nothing. You can always pray for that person and for all the homeless people and beggars which at least here are different, and in fact for all people who suffer poverty. If you do choose not to do anything directly for that specific person (other than prayer) then you may wish to give to your parishes poor box or foodbank instead or the local homeless shelter. Or support a local homeless shelter by volunteering if you are low on cash yourself.
 
I don’t think God calls everyone to do everything. Every one is placed by God in such capacity as to deal with a small part of the overall problem. And if we all do what God calls, the whole problem will be dealt with collectively. Singling out a specific group, such as the obviously homeless, leads to people either ignoring the rest of the population, or feeling, and/or being labeled as, guilty of not caring, because their attention is, rightly or wrongly, elsewhere.
 
The salvation of our immortal souls is linked to helping the destitute. We can do much more both collectively as a nation and as individuals to help these people and to give them comfort and purpose.
 
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Saintp said:
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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Everyday God allows us a chance to show a charitable heart.
Maybe it was the elderly person in line you spoke kind words to who has been feeling so lonely & invisible.
Perhaps the lady with a cain and a limp you saw struggling to put gas in her car.
The young person with a Down syndrome you smiled with and made them laugh too.
The homeless person standing on the street you “--------------”

Make eye contact, smile at them…if you have a few bucks give it to them…it is not yours anyway…we are just the servant entrusted with the talents our Master has given us.

Remember, Christ warned us we all have a “heart problem”…do not let it grow cold.

Everyday is another chance to humbly serve the Lord.

Just my two cents…

M
 
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Due to the suggestions from a previous thread, I’ve started making little brown lunch bags with water, protein bars and I was going to include a grocery gift card but then someone pointed out that they can sell the cards for cash.

I don’t want to give cash. Too many aren’t truly homeless or destitute and I can’t tell the difference between the truly needy and the scammers. I do include the names and numbers of local assistance facilities. I’d like to include some type of gift card but decided to inclose toiletries instead. I have a strong aversion to being taken advantage of and realize I can’t prevent 100% of it but the last thing I want to do is encourage drugs, alcoholism and sloth.

I have charities that I already contribute to and feel pretty ok with my solution. Ymmv.
 
Don’t forget you can also help people in another country via donations to the missions.
The homeless in USA are generally not going without food, water and clothing. Charities will provide these things to them, and to be honest, I never see an underfed-looking homeless person in USA unless he or she is skinny from drugs. By contrast, there are people in other countries who literally have no drinkable water, very little food and wearing rags.
 
I am a little more lenient about it in my older age, but years ago when I worked downtown in a big city, I would only give to those who looked and or smelled like they had been living under a bridge.

If they were in fresh looking cloths and clean shaven, I would keep going.
 
I was led by our Lord to a homeless camp, yes led to it because I had no clue it existed at this particular location nor had I ever witnessed these kind of conditions in person. While I was eating lunch about 8 years ago at my favorite restaurant the Lord prompted me to get up and go, so I did, and boy did it change what I THOUGHT I knew about the homeless. My mission of feeding this camp every Wednesday lasted two years and I really got to know them and their conditions very well. There were addicts, prostitutes, theives, and even eventually a man who killed two brothers at a local church pantry. By all means these were people whom society rejected.

The common denominators were mental illness or past sexual and or physical abuse that was traumatic enough to alter their lives forever. Because i truly got to love them the way I love my own family it was amazing how they would open up to me when I would spend time with each one individually. I could then see the person God sees, that is His children, although very damaged and considered worthless by most of society I could see them as in their childhood, still with innocence. When you see them that way it is a game changer.

Here is what I learned by listening to them. They did not fit into shelters because they can not handle a structured way of living, they would lose their individualism if they stayed in a shelter. Their addictions were their escape from past trauma, every day was a desperate attempt to escape the trauma that messed their lives up so the cycle would repeat itself every day. Many had medical conditions that would not allow them to walk to a mission to eat or shower every day.

The thing that made them feel most loved and respected, using their name! Yes, they seeked that over money is what I learned. Just looking them in the eye and asking them their name was like saying “hey there is still someone who loves and respects you.” Even if you do not want to give them money so they can feed their addictions, you can give them a real treasure that might make them feel normal, if only for a small moment in time. Love them and see past their issues, see them as children of God!
 
How you all feel about the homeless is the way I feel about my inmates. So my mission, as well as my job, is to help care for them the way you do for homeless, and as Jesus does.
 
Jesus said you will have the homeless poor and down trodden for ever. He didn’t seem to have time to start shelters.
It’s only after did the apostles set up miniseries to take care of widows. With deacons. As in Acts
 
GoodWills, in some states, at least, sell anything for half-price on the first Saturday of each month. During chilly and cold months, I try to keep some freshly laundered jackets and warm hoodies in my car, along with knitted toboggans, mufflers, and gloves. They used to appreciate galoshes, too, but I rarely find them now. Usually, the homeless find it very difficult to launder their clothing, so they appreciate replacement clothing.

I hound GoodWill for additional items that I’ve learned they appreciate, too: a weatherproof and sturdy rolling suitcase, such as a Samsonite; sturdy umbrellas with a curved handle, if long, or a collapsible one with a carrying loop; and rain capes. Food or drug store gift cards for nearby stores within walking condition are also appreciated. We have a lot of Speedway gas stations and their gift cards are likewise appreciated.

One man smelled so horribly that I don’t know how he stood the odor. I took him to a nearby St Vincent’s store that launders the clothing before displaying it and ended up taking him also to Walmart because he was difficult to fit. He spent well more than an hour trying on belts, and almost an hour and a half looking at wallets.

He was 34, bipolar, over 6 ft tall, and could hardly walk because he’d been born with club feet. He left indelible memories. I had two friends who took turns being with me when I took him to the places he needed to go for social services. I could fill several notebooks with what we did that winter and summer to make his circumstances better. Although I did bow out after I got his disability checks reinstated, he’s still in my prayers.

The first time I took him to a cafeteria, he ordered THREE entrees!! His bill, alone, was close to $27.00! That was in 2013. We suspected that he would’ve eaten every bite, but that he deliberately saved part of the food for the carry-out container.

@DeSales You were so right when you said that the homeless need to hear their name, and that they need us to meet their eyes when we talk to them.
 
Anyone who has a mortgage or pays rent, is only about three months away from being made homeless. It only takes an accident, being made redundant, or a break down in a relationship so you can’t afford the payments on your own.

Everyone who has been made homeless has a story, it takes time to get to know them and their story. When you get to know them, then you can find ways to help and make a difference.
 
Mike1w said:
They only want cash.
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Bit of a broad brush there.
Mike1w said:
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.
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That kinda stuff doesn’t help the way you think it does.

Say you get a homeless 3 loaves of bread, well even if he has a place to put it which most don’t he has to eat it before it goes bad. He also has to carry it if he’s forced to move. These people like to live light for a reason.

You know whats lighter than food and fits in your pocket? Cash.
Zaccheus said:
“They don’t want opportunities”? That sounds to me like classic blame-the-victim.
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Exactly.
Opal0427 said:
At least pray for them please.
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Our Religion is based on prayer and works like a row boat. You ply the paddle of the one you row in circles.
Considering we still have homeless guess we need to work more to end poverty.
 
We also still have inmates, wayward teens(including those who are or will soon be parents), and disabled people. They are as important as the homeless…
 
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