When people homeless beg for money on the street corner, how often do you give them money?

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This varies a ton for me. Depends on the person, what I have on me, etc.

In a town I used to live near there were many professional homeless people. They had various corners they worked. Various signs depending on which location they were at for the day, etc. I’ve personally seen them taking a lunch break around back of the store, sitting in the AC of their van having a meal, then go back out to the corner again. Next week they are at a different corner, near the humane society, now their dog is with them (instead of in the air conditioned van) and they are asking for extra to feed their dog.

There was one woman who used to panhandle during her lunch break from work wearing her professional clothing and wearing heels. Another guy was a veteran when he worked the corner near city hall and a recovering addict when he was near the addiction recovery therapy office.

Yeah, I know that people in all walks of life can fall on hard times etc, but I know for a fact that these people had homes, vehicles and that panhandling was their day job. Years of seeing them here, there and everywhere with their variety of personas, as well as counting their take before they headed home for the day, brought me to realize what was going on.

That being said, there were also, in the same city those who really had no home and depended on kind folks for their next meal. Thing is, many of those also had serious mental issues that caused them to be paranoid or angry and aggressive. The cops knew the difference too. So the city set up a system where you could buy vouchers to give to these folks for clothes from the thrift stores or five bucks worth of groceries, but they asked you to no longer give out cash. The professional beggars didn’t want clothes from the thrift and I guess they got enough vouchers for groceries because it did curtail their business pretty quickly, and sadly, the really down and out ones still suffered because they didn’t have the mental capacity to use the vouchers.

I’ve seen some of the pros throw clean socks and undies back at the person who gave them to them, cursing, because they wanted cash, and had zero need for clean socks. They had car payments to make!

I say this as someone who has been homeless, is a recovering addict with serious mental illness and has worked for Catholic Charities. It’s just a really big, complicated issue.

If you see someone who is down and out and want to help, that’s great, but overall I think it’s probably most useful to find a vetted charity that knows the locals and can see that the help is going where it’s needed and if the form that it’s needed.

My brother lives in chicago and has a ministry bringing sandwiches to homeless men. They tell him when one of the regulars needs some particular extra kind of help etc.
 
I have the inside struggle because we are so tempted to judge them ( will they use the money for drugs? Alcohol?). This is none of our business. Give them enough to at least eat a meal so you can know in your heart you tried to help them. Truly we should eat a meal with them, and treat them like an old friend but we " fear" and fear holds back so many of us. Give like Jesus is watching. And say prayers for them too.
 
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This is passive-aggressive, especially when posted a second time. This thread is a DISCUSSION, a process that requires give-and-take. Not hit-and-run comments. If you feel that a thread will trigger you, refrain from participating and move on with your life.

I realize you won’t see this response, but I’ll post anyway.
 
This is a good point. At least if I provide food or change, (however my intuition guides me), it’s reaching someone directly, not paying for a non-profit director’s salary or administrative expenses. I’m not at all against giving to charity, (St. Vincent de Paul is my favorite), but as you said, charities should be screened rather than just donated to indiscriminately.
 
I go by intuition. If I’m uncertain, I hand out one of the Starbucks or Subway gift cards that I carry around. We do have a racket of somebody “pimping” out beggars in my city. The most charitable thing I can do is provide lunch for them, something from which their bosses won’t benefit.

On the other hand, a woman on public transit opened up to me about a very sad life story. She never once asked me for anything. But I noticed her shoes were tattered and full of holes. On my way off the bus, (to avoid humiliating her too much), I gave her a wad of cash and urged her to get off at Target and buy some new shoes. If she spent it on something else, it’s between her and God.

Again, it’s just a case-by-case intuition thing.
 
You’re welcome! 👍
Keep up the good work because if there’s anything I’ve noticed it’s that too many people don’t care and always assume that it’ll be spent on drugs. Whenever I put that money aside I tell myself that it’s not my money, it’s for God and this has never failed me. Hope that helps.
 
Eh, I think the more Christian thing is giving them the benefit of the doubt, don’t you? Idk about you, but I have a nice home and food to come home to every day. I can manage handing out a few dollars.
 
billge said:
When homeless beg for money on the street corner how often do you give them money?
How does their begging effect you?
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Probably a couple of times a week. I remember handing a woman begging at my subway stop a couple of bucks the other day. Not sure if she was homeless, though.
 
I read the story to which you linked. Great story, and the Pope is eloquent about how we should think of giving money to the down-and-out.
 
New menu: Chocolate milk powder for a whole week instead of coffee, and sandwich with plain yogurt, tomato or Swiss chard from my gardens. They know where to get free hot water and cup for chocolate milk powder.

They can enjoy delicious and high nutrition meals on the weekend while I save hours for cooking and cleaning! Less than $10 for a dozen homeless.

Just got a 12V cooler warmer today to store foods, but an inexpensive insulated bag can do good job too.

God bless,
 
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Thanks for biblical reply. I will keep in mind.

God blessed me like a jackpot today too.
 
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I got asked for money three times outside the Walmart store the other day. Two times were from the same person. I ended up having to say no because I am so poor myself. The sad part is I have seen so many hiring signs in and around the Walmart that day and in My hometown that if they wanted money and were willing to work someone would pick them up.
 
In writing “We should not assume that those begging in public are homeless,” I meant that we should not assume things based on appearance. The poorly dressed or those begging may not be homeless, while those who are homeless or desperate or nearly so may not show it.
 
J_the_Centrist said:
Always, my fifth pocket has money only for that purpose. Either that or my shirt pocket. I got into the habit of doing it because I always felt guilty for not giving it. Now I always do it.
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Hello,
Please take this post as an effort to learn how you think and how you came to the conclusion to give in this way. I certainly see the advantage in doing this personally. I am curious, how do you handle the wonder or understanding that some, or possibly, nearly all of the money given may be doing harm? How does your not feeling guilty make doing some harm okay? I am really curious about this. Have you thought it through or just go with what feels better? Again, I understand that this may seem an attack on you or doing this but please take it in the spirit of helping me understand how you came to the decision to just do it this way. It may be as simple as you just do it to not feel guilty.

Thank you.
 
Unless they’re extremely mentally ill and look like they’ll never get off the street, I generally don’t give to the homeless. I just give to the St. Vincent de Paul box at the back of my church on a weekly basis…
 
I give them food, drink and attention. Sit with them and listen to them no matter what they say. I leave and tell them God Bless you! Sometimes they answer “Amen” and sometimes they answer with “oh no, don’t you come with God stuff to me”. I just smile 🙂
 
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EXdrinker said:
Please take this post as an effort to learn how you think and how you came to the conclusion to give in this way. I certainly see the advantage in doing this personally. I am curious, how do you handle the wonder or understanding that some, or possibly, nearly all of the money given may be doing harm? How does your not feeling guilty make doing some harm okay? I am really curious about this. Have you thought it through or just go with what feels better? Again, I understand that this may seem an attack on you or doing this but please take it in the spirit of helping me understand how you came to the decision to just do it this way. It may be as simple as you just do it to not feel guilty.
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I am not imposing an answer on the person whom you ask the question of, but quite possibly he/she found the meaning of “It is more blessed to give than to receive”…It is liberating. It always is when you’re not confounded by judgment.
 
Wondermom said:
I give them food, drink and attention. Sit with them and listen to them no matter what they say. I leave and tell them God Bless you! Sometimes they answer “Amen” and sometimes they answer with “oh no, don’t you come with God stuff to me”. I just smile 🙂
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Anyone can “just smile” when they have a roof over their head, food in their stomach, insurance, a job, etc. The homeless have none of those things. Try walking a mile in their shoes, e.g., spend a week homeless, and see if it’s a lifestyle for which you’d thank God for blessings.

I don’t mean to offend you, personally, but I think you’re offending the homeless, etc., with the smile, which probably comes off as arrogant to them, no matter how charitable you want it to be. Being homeless and ill and hungry is nothing to smile about.
 
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It’s no longer about feeling guilty at all. Once I put that money in the fifth pocket I no longer consider it mine any longer. Can it do harm? That is very possible but that’s up to the recipient, not me. As I said, the money is no longer mine but God’s money. Hope this helps.
 
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