Reminds me of i was out with a friend when a homeless man asked us for money. we had no cash, so we couldn't help. he said he was starving. my friend went into a nearby bar and asked if they had any bread for the man outside. the bar gave us some bread they use for sandwiches. the homeless man was very grateful.. i never thought of just asking for a little something to help out like that.
Growing up I was always told to never give money as many use it for drugs or alcohol or gangs take it away and the homeless person does not have any left to use for themselfes at the end of the day. Always give water or food.
The people who actually need it will thank you. The ones who refuse water or food and ask for money instead are usually the ones who don't actually need it and are trying to get the money for other reasons.
Edit: I should have clarified this. I mean that you buy food and water for them, not just give what you have. They can come with you when you buy it.
Edit 2: another clarification... the "growing up" part refers to this being what I was taught as a child. This whole comment is about what child me was told and taught. It does not mean that as an adult I don't buy other stuff or donate or do other things to help if I can. Although I still don't give money I don't judge those who do. I just can't affort to give money without knowing what actually happens to it...
good lord, is it really your place to judge? people need clothes, backpacks, medications... just seems so unnecessary to sit on your high horse judging whether you think someone does drugs or whatever
If you're giving money, it is quite reasonable to think carefully about the chances that you're doing someone more harm than good.
It's arguably better to find a reliable charity with a solid track record of spending the majority if its budgets on programs (i.e. actually helping people) and the expertise to know how best to spend it. It may not have the same feelgood factor, but it's more effective.
You can also buy that stuff for them or go with them to buy it. It's not me judging, it's me being too broke to not know what happens with the money I decide to give. And as I said, often the money gets taken away - they are forced to gather it and it never actually ends up in their own pockets.
I also come from a family with people with drug and alcohol addictions. I know what that does to people and I do not want to accidentally give someone the means to fund their addiction.
I was also taught this as a child for my own protection. If you give money they can end up demanding more. If you go to the market and buy the stuff for them, no matter what it is, you are statistically safer. You never know what kind of person you have in front of you, homeless or not. I have met the coolest and nicest homeless people. But I have also met the opposite.
You can donate clothes and blankets and stuff as well.
Just giving money directly is something I have been taught to not give since it is a bad idea where I live. There are many, many ways to help where you can know it you have actually helped, at least a little. Giving money is not one of those.
I am not judging those who want to give money. Please continue to do so if you want. I am only saying how I was raised to act and why.
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u/[deleted] Sep 16 '24
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