Do you spare change for the homeless?

Do you spare change for the homeless?

Author
Discussion

vrsmxtb

Original Poster:

2,002 posts

155 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
quotequote all
So if you're in a city or large town, do you spare change for the homeless?

If yes, how do you determine which ones you give to, or do you just give to them all? How much do you usually throw in their pot?

If no, why is this? Assumptions that what you give them won't be spent in the interest of their well-being? Feel threatened by them? Just turn into the typical blinkered "too busy" city commuter? Feel awkward at a confrontation?

It's an interesting one, I only ask as I was sat outside at a south-east London pub with mates, and a young guy obviously down on his luck was approaching tables asking for change. Now we're all well-educated, compassionate guys but unanimously we made the minimum contact with him, a brief "sorry, mate" and continued with our conversation. It just made me think, and would be interested to hear others' thoughts.

Kermit power

28,635 posts

212 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
quotequote all
If I have any spare change left after the painful amount the government steals out of my pocket in direct and indirect taxation then I'm going to send it the way of a charity whose efforts I appreciate, not give it to some pointless, drugged up peasant on a street corner.

HOGEPH

5,249 posts

185 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
quotequote all
I usually buy their dog some food or a treat.

DoubleSix

11,691 posts

175 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
quotequote all
My mrs is a very compassionate sort, a nurse by profession.

Yesterday she bought a sandwich and a coffee for a vulnerable guy sleeping rough.

"No thanks, got any spare change?" Was the response....


She was totally dumbfounded, and admittedly a little naive to level of dependence most of these people suffer with.

I'm far more hardened sadly, rarely feel moved to give these days as keeping my own family finances together is so damn hard. When things were easier I would often give away change or more...

LiamB

7,923 posts

142 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
quotequote all
Yes.

Saw a homeless guy yesterday with a dog and when it comes to animals I turn into a big girl so bought him a sandwich, a 2L bottle of water for him and the dog and a can of dog food smile

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
quotequote all
No, I generally don't give them anything.

I have worked in the social housing sector for 7 years and based on that I don't give them money, instead I start telling them about all the hostels and council accommodation that currently have spare capacity, and asking them if they have tried those places today.

I usually get a load of excuses as to why they haven't tried any of the hostels, and some of the reasons have validity, but more often then not they just want the money so they can get a couple if cans of Special Brew or a joint.


Edited by NinjaPower on Tuesday 14th October 12:31

Baryonyx

17,990 posts

158 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
quotequote all
No, like feeding stray dogs, giving them money would only encourage them to hang around and keep begging. I wouldn't spare a penny. I'd rather throw my last coin down a drain than give it to some drugged up criminal vagrant.

ManFromDelmonte

2,742 posts

179 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
quotequote all
Kermit power said:
some pointless, drugged up peasant on a street corner.
Baryonyx said:
I'd rather throw my last coin down a drain than give it to some drugged up criminal vagrant.
Wow

DoubleSix

11,691 posts

175 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
quotequote all
ManFromDelmonte said:
Kermit power said:
some pointless, drugged up peasant on a street corner.
Baryonyx said:
I'd rather throw my last coin down a drain than give it to some drugged up criminal vagrant.
Wow
Indeed. There but for the grace of god we go etc

Mental illness, trauma, perhaps the loss of a loved one all has the potential to send us on a downward spiral. Not everyone has a support network to fall back on or the self worth to drag themselves up from the gutter should they find themselves there.

williamp

19,216 posts

272 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
quotequote all
I did some volunteering in the summer at a soup kitchen. Free hot breakfast, no questions asked, no judgement made.

As it was a nice day, very few homeless turned up. We had to throw the food away. Couldn't even give free food away....

Does make you think. More so if you are the cynical sort.

DoubleSix

11,691 posts

175 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
quotequote all
williamp said:
Does make you think. More so if you are the cynical sort.
Yeah. People like doing such things on nice days. Every done it in the pissing rain on a cold January morning?



/I'm just kidding, well done mate

BoRED S2upid

19,643 posts

239 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
quotequote all
I was approached a few weeks back his line being he was 50p short for his hostel that night. I felt like walking him to his hostel and handing them the 50p I wish I had now to see if he was telling a lie. I would also have had a better story for this thread wink I usually just say sorry mate.

vixen1700

22,671 posts

269 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
quotequote all
ManFromDelmonte said:
Kermit power said:
some pointless, drugged up peasant on a street corner.
Baryonyx said:
I'd rather throw my last coin down a drain than give it to some drugged up criminal vagrant.
Wow
Wow indeed, some real caring folk on here.

W124

1,497 posts

137 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
quotequote all
If I have any change I always give. I've been lucky my whole life and lucky with the circumstances of my birth and, unlike some, I can accept luck has paid a huge part in where I am now. So I always give.

drivin_me_nuts

17,949 posts

210 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
quotequote all
Depends. I'd rather buy someone a coffee and a sandwich. I do think that when you give someone money what they then do with it is entirely up to them. Hence coffee and a bun rather than a can of wifebeater and/or something else.

sc0tt

18,032 posts

200 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
quotequote all
Much like cigarettes I don't carry spares. They are all mine.

ReallyReallyGood

1,620 posts

129 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
quotequote all
In London the Pret sandwich shops donate most of their unused sandwiches to the homeless each day, so I don't expect the money they are 'raising' is going on food.

D1bram

1,500 posts

170 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
quotequote all
Occasionally, if I have some loose change and the thought occurs then yes I will.

Prefer the idea though which some cafes etc have where you can for example buy yourself a coffee and pay for one as a lay away for when someone homeless comes in looking for a hot drink.

Always look for a charity box when I'm given my change to throw the coppers and 5p's into though.

chibbard

1,554 posts

259 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
quotequote all
The last one I saw begging for money was trying to conseal a working I-phone so my sympathy has changed somewhat to these people.

Bradgate

2,819 posts

146 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
quotequote all
Absolutely not.

I would happily but a copy of the Big Issue, donate to Shelter or buy a homeless person a sandwich if they asked me to, but giving them money to spend on drugs and booze is counter-productive and harmful.