What does the DU think about giving money to homeless people whose hands give

[applegrove]

them away as drug users. When I walk downtown and get asked to give a little money 'for the bus' or 'for some food' from people who are addicted to something. I usually give to the first people I see if I have the change. I always think to myself 'well they might actually use it for food'. I don't give to the later people. I am an enabler. But I can't not give to at least one person. I've been so lucky in so many ways (not in others) in life. Should I keep giving to the addicted?

[DJ13]

1. Are they people who need help?

I say yes, help any way you can.

[applegrove]

3. But should I not give a few hundred, once a year, to an addiction treatment centre?

[DJ13]

4. Sure, help any way you can

You sound like a caring person, which is a rarity nowadays.

[upaloopa]

12. You already do through state sales tax and vehicle license fees.

States collect those taxes and pass them on to counties to fund alcohol drug and mental health services

[Control-Z]

32. Perhaps I'm not understanding your question.

Why not do both? Give a little spare change or a few bucks to someone asking and also give a few hundred to a treatment center. One has little to do with the other.

If I give money to a stranger, I don't care how they spend it. If they're outside of a 7/11 or other convenience store, or if I have no cash, I might ask if I can buy them a sandwich.

I'm not naive enough to think that withholding a few bucks will "save them" or prevent them from buying drugs. And I kind of figure, if they are addicted, they probably need both the drugs and the food.

[REP]

37. That's what my mom taught me ...

Not giving them a buck won't 'save' them, but especially with alcoholics, it could spare them DTs. Nothing wrong with not handing over money you can't afford to, or to people who are aggressive or threatening, or because it's your money, but never pretend withholding money is keeping someone from alcoholism or drug abuse.

Since I usually don't have cash on me, I usually buy food or a drugstore or fast food gift card. The gift cards are easy enough to carry and let the recipient decide what they want and when they want to get it, at least.

[99Forever]

2. Addicts are people too.

It's a disease, not a moral failing. Bless you for giving.

[99th_Monkey]

53. +10,000 nt

[Live and Learn]

65. Well said. nt

[idwiyo]

5. What does it matter? One shouldn't attach any strings to charity. Otherwise it's hypocrisy.

I just give money. Buy and give hot food when I have a chance. I don't care what someone spends the money on, it's THEIR money as soon as I give it to them.

[datasuspect]

6. every man is my brother

every woman is my sister.

if a goddamned beer can take away the pain, who am i to begrudge them?

i know i for damn sure would want a beer if i had to shit outside.

[Go Vols]

26. +1

[woofless]

31. +2

[Control-Z]

33. Yes.

Exactly this.

[idwiyo]

43. +4 Here but for the grace of god go I...

[Iggo]

50. He's my brother.

He ain't heavy.

[upaloopa]

7. Addiction is an illness. If it were someone asking for help

for a bad cold would you decline?
Look up your county homeless outreach program. Write the address and phone number on a piece of paper and give it to them along with change to pay for a phone call. Also give them a few bucks for food.
I feel this way. Giving them money creates good karma. Karma for me because I feel good and karma for them because they feel good about getting money. Now where else can you get double karma like that?
It's not mine to judge what they want the money for. Karma is not based on that.

[hedgehog]

9. What an excellent idea!

[upaloopa]

16. Well I do homeless grant work via HUD

I work for a county alcohol drug and mental health services dept. we have several homeless outreach grants from HUD

[applegrove]

13. That is a good idea.

[polly7]

8. I'm the same, and it's probably a good thing I'm not around those situations too much, I'd have

nothing left to shop with ...... even though I hate shopping in the first place and only go when I absolutely have to. I give what I can, and believe they wouldn't be asking if they didn't need help .. for whatever reason. It's not for me to judge.

[darkangel218]

10. I wish they had shelter.

And clean clothes. And food.
But they don't. So they escape reality.

I don't care where my dollar goes.

[appleannie1]

11. I buy food coupon books and give them that instead of money. Most chain restaurants have them.

[applegrove]

14. That's a plan.

[Marrah_G]

36. That is a great idea

[haele]

15. If they aren't overtly aggressive and I have something to give, I'll share.

If they aren't assaulting me for my money, who am I to judge?
They are asking because they have a need.

Haele

[applegrove]

18. Yup. That is usually what happens. If they are polite and I happen to have a two dollar coin,

I give.

[SoCalDem]

17. A gift is given freely without judgement

If it's given with stings attached, it's not a gift.

When one gives/loans money , it should be done without a payback or consequence..If you cannot do that, you should not give it..

[cali]

19. I say yes. I always have.

[madinmaryland]

20. I carry very little cash, such that I have nothing to give away.

[Whisp]

21. If you decide to give anything, once it leaves your hands, it leaves your hands

and it is not yours any more and you shouldn't worry about how it is being used.

[OneGrassRoot]

68. An excellent life approach, imho.

[Evoman]

22. A drug addiction is a real need. Found it out the hard way.

I feel worse for the drug addicted panhandlers....because they really are in worse straits than just the hungry. I'm addicted....or rather "dependant" on painkillers, since being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. I couldn't really help it....I had some pretty severe pain issues that caused me to get to the point where I now need drugs, even when I don't have pain per se.

Withdrawal and addiction sucks. You can die from it, in some cases. I can't even imagine the horror of having to depend on the random kindness of strangers to keep the habit going, as all I have to do is contact my doctor or palliative care.

If they want to use the money I give on drugs....then let them do it. I'm not fucking judging them. Maybe they did make mistakes....getting addicted is a huge one....but the suffering they go through withdrawal is not a deserved punishment.

[idwiyo]

41. K&R your post deserves it. Thank you and lots and lots of hugs.

[Peter cotton]

23. I've never given money to panhandlers regardless of their drug habits.

[darkangel218]

25. You must have a very cold heart. nt

[Peter cotton]

60. Because I save my generosity for friends and family

rather than strangers who are likely scam artists?

Interesting standard you have there...

[darkangel218]

67. Homeless are scam artists?

Hopefully you'll never have to walk in their shoes and learn the hard way how wrong you are.

[Peter cotton]

69. People who are genuinely homeless? No.

The guy holding up the "will work for food" sign at the intersection? More than likely, yes.

[bike man]

44. Nor have I. I have offered to buy them a meal, but most have refused.

And I advise them that panhandling in many states is illegal (it is in mine)

[Peter cotton]

54. Everything I've read on the subject indicates the (vast?) majority of panhandlers are scam artists.

[bike man]

55. Imagine that! Another bubble, burst. nt

[Lady Freedom Returns]

61. There are a small number that are.

But sadly many are not.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

66. Many can find food, but other things that one needs cost money.

And they already know it is illegal. But if they don't have certain things at the shelters or the walk-in centers and you need it, what else to do? Many rather beg that to take.

There was a saying that I heard in Springfield Mo, then again in Tucson. I have even used it here on DU. They call it "Walking While Homeless". And from personal experience, many find it almost as bad as murder.

[LAGC]

73. I've only done it once.

Just a few months ago I was passing through Reno, Nevada, stopped to use a restroom at a convenience store right off the freeway.

There was an older gentleman (probably in his late 50's) sitting on the pavement at the corner of the building, half-way between the front door and the restroom entrance around the corner. As I passed he kind of shyly asked: "Spare a little change?" Something about the way he said it, how it wasn't very aggressive or in-your-face about it like many panhandlers are, caused me to pause and whip out my wallet and hand him a $5 bill, saying "Here ya go, bud." He didn't thank me, but immediately got up and went inside the store, saw him after I had used the restroom -- he had bought himself some hot food from the store, and by the looks of it hadn't eaten in awhile.

I've bought food for a couple panhandlers standing on busy corners before, but after I found out many of them make more money doing that than what hard laborers make digging ditches all day, I'm reluctant to contribute. I hate the way many of them stare you down if you get caught at a red-light, trying to guilt-trip you into giving in.

I understand the economy is tough and not everyone can find decent-paying work, but most of the panhandlers I see seem to be in fine physical shape, just found that they could make more money begging than working as day-laborers. I'd rather the government just give everyone a check (basic wage), versus people having to degrade themselves like that and make spectacles out of themselves, not to mention impede/slow traffic.

[justiceischeap]

24. When I lived in VA, there was a homeless guy that hung out in front of the local video store

He and I became friends of a sort. Sometimes I'd give him money (and he'd walk to 7-11 and buy beer) and sometimes I'd give him food (I'd buy a take-out meal at a local eatery for him). I don't generally like to give money to the homeless directly because of an incident that I saw in NYC--a mother and her children were begging for money and she took her kids to a stoop, opened up a brown paper bag, took an onion out and rubbed it in the childrens' eyes. They were no older than 5 probably. After that, I became very stingy with my help to the homeless.

[demosincebirth]

27. Better to give to them than have them, maybe, strong arm some inocent victim. I give, with common

sense, to anyone who asks me. if I have it.

[sabrina 1]

28. I would say give them something. We don't ask Wall St Bankers if they are

spending the trillions we give to bail them out whether or not they are drug or alcohol abusers. And I am sure some of them are.

As someone else said, addiction is a health issue. If you can brighten someone's day, why not do so?

[datasuspect]

30. rich people get all the best dope

ask glenn frey or david bowie

[KarenS]

29. My Husband & I give as well,,,,

Always have, always will.

I do not consider a kindness "enabling".

[Cleita]

34. I don't feel it's my place to judge what they are going to use it for.

If it's drugs or alcohol, instead of food so be it. I will tell you a story. I had gone to a restaurant for a sandwich and it was too much for me to eat so I got the half that was left to go. I was accosted by a homeless guy out in the parking lot. At the time all I had was $5 in cash which I gave to him and as an afterthought I asked him if he wanted the portion of my sandwich I hadn't touched. He actually took it very gratefully and thanked me. He looked and smiled and said roast beef, my favorite. Now, maybe he was being courteous, but I really think he was hungry.

[Autumn]

35. It's not up to me to judge their needs. If I am blessed to have it I give it.

What they do with it is not my concern.

[grasswire]

38. my encounter this week

Was walking alongside the supermarket, carrying two bags of soda containers to the recycling center.

A woman was walking slightly in front of me, in the same direction. A man approached her and asked her for bus fare.

She lit into him with fury. "No!! Get a job!!" He sidestepped and turned away toward the street.

Then she turned to me and started talking to me as if I would be in agreement with her.

"I'm surprised he didn't ask you for your cans! I never give to panhandlers! Next thing you know he'll be in my house taking my stuff!" Yada yada yada.

I stopped and looked at her. She was steamed.

I should have asked her if she calls herself a Christian. Maybe I should have put more fear into her and told her she'd better hurry home and pull the shades down.

I was disgusted. All I could say was "I always give what I can. There but for the grace of God goes you, and me."

Her level of smugness, of fear, of entitlement has bothered me all week since then. She ASSUMED that I would approve of her action.

For 2,000 years the church of Jesus has been telling the world that he loved beggars and losers, and that his followers should give sacrificially, with no strings or expectations of return. The message isn't taking.

[Voice for Peace]

45. it's just become a bunch of parrots who have no idea what the words mean

[grasswire]

48. maybe the new pope will have some influence

Actually, I should not have painted Christians with such a broad brush. There are plenty of charities who do wonderful work. But modern America seems particularly infested with meanspirited, greedy religious folks.

[Iggo]

39. I give 'em money anyway.

They need help. I can help.

I'm not gonna check their fingernails first.

[Voice for Peace]

40. if the money is handy I give it, and don't think about how they'll spend it.

Probably I benefit more from giving than the receiver.

When I acknowledge their humanity by sharing a little
bit of what I have, it fills up my own heart, and that's
my private motivation.

When I give I hope that for a second they feel some
dignity, or kindness or love, and for a moment they
don't feel any shame. That's something, even if it
goes towards drugs or alcohol. A moment can make
a whole lifetime more meaningful.

[grasswire]

49. Agreed.

I always make a point to be very kind and warm to anyone who asks for help. How would I want to be treated? Jesus told the early church to treat strangers as brothers. It's all spelled out how we should treat others. The teachings of the great faiths are all the same. Golden rule, and all that.

[AsahinaKimi]

42. About a year ago

I was walking down the street in San Francisco and found, to my surprise a 5 dollar bill on the ground. As I picked it up and was about to stash it in my coat pocket, I saw a homeless person standing there, looking the other way.

I thought to myself, this is street money. I walked up to them and said, "Here you must have dropped this.." and walked on. I am sure I made their day, briefly. I have given money to homeless shelters in San Francisco as well as food pantries,. Sometimes I wish I could do more.. but I am often strapped for cash myself.

[Voice for Peace]

46. street money.. nice story

this is a lovely thread.. heartening.

I often wonder (and hope) -- when we give freely,
it comes around again. I've been poor but never
starved. I've always shared what I had, when I
could. It seems to work well.

[AsahinaKimi]

47. I once went three days without food..

The best I could do at the time was take those ketchup packages and put them in water, boil it for a weak tomato soup. Believe me, I know what its like to go hungry. I will never let that happen to myself again.

[bemildred]

51. Compassion is never a mistake.

Just don't give away what you need, and don't advertise your generosity.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

52. I would like to cation people about giving money.

Please be carful due to in many places it is illegal to give homeless people money. You can get a ticket, but the person you are helping can end up in a holding cell for a night or two and a fine that can't pay.

[Bluenorthwest]

56. List such places. It is certainly not the case here, but you say 'in many places' as if you know, so

add the information. If you are not just riffing on something you heard from someone somewhere about something they were told by this guy who read it in a some paper....

[Lady Freedom Returns]

58. Springfield Mo is one of them.

I was lucky that it was just coming on the books there. If the lady was to give me that sandwich two days later I would have had a big problem. Since it was still a couple of days out, I was let off with a warning. There was a small story in the newspaper letting people know about it. The guys at Bill's Place made sure we all got to hear about it.

Then here in Tucson, if you look around at the parks, there are signs telling you not to give things to people and you can be fined. There was one in the park on Stone and Speedway, but someone swiped it.

Look around your town. Stop a police officer and ask. Many towns are enacting what the street people call anti-homeless laws. They are different from city to city.

[Bluenorthwest]

57. How do their hands give them away? I don't get it.

I think you are making assumptions and calling that perception when all you should do is have empathy. How can you tell by being asked for change that a person is addicted to something?

[applegrove]

59. There is soot all over the hands from smoking drugs.

http://memoiresofaheroinhead.blogspot.ca/2011/07/why-do-heroin-addicts-have-dirty.html

"My boyfriend smokes heroin and smokes crack.

Izabella,

-----------

Aunt Agony says:

Izabella, the dirt on your boyfriends fingers will come from two different things.

Firstly it will be the soot (carbon) which forms on the underside of the tin foil he smokes his heroin on. Unless your boyfriend washes his hands after each time he smokes (which would mean him living in the bathroom) his fingers will get this black residue on it. (Some users preheat the foil and then wipe away the carbon before using it to prevent this, but it doesn't stop it completely, and in a rush there's no time to be preheating your foil before taking a boot.) Secondly, as your boyfriend also smokes crack, his fingers will get dirty ashing up his pipe (carbon again) and picking up crumbs of rock that are on the table/tile around the ash etc. It looks much grimier than it really is.

Finally, no, the dirt is not drugs. If it was your boyfriend would have smoked his own fingers years ago. There will be some trace elements but nothing to worry about.

Hope that explained what the dirt is... All My Thoughts Agony"

[talkingmime]

62. When possible, I give food (a sub or something) instead of money.

In general, I give them the benefit of the doubt. At some point they will get hungry. A lot of people in the situation you described pull out of it and return to society eventually. The ones who don't weren't going to anyway.

[sweetNsassy]

63. I don't pay attention to their hands or arms or consider potential drug abuse

if someone needs the money and I have it to give, I give.

[Kalidurga]

64. You know what the saddest thing is...

that we have to debate this. We don't have to have a homeless population. We just don't. It isn't as if there isn't enough money to build permanent residences for people that need them or better yet use existing structures. We have the resources we just do. Drug addiction is a lot trickier, most people need long term treatment to kick the habit. Some people like my brother have made do with AA. I think it is horrible that we let so many people live without shelter and without the means to make sure they get at least 3 meals a day. I live in a suburb of a large city I used to live in the city actually and I got to see up close some of the problems. It really broke my heart. I am extremely poor myself. But, I have a place to live thanks to my SO and I have enough food. I know there are a lot of people much poorer and this should be unacceptable to everyone.

[bluestate10]

70. Give money to a free treatment center, homeless shelter or abuse shelter instead.

I no longer give money to people that are asking for money on the street, there are too many fraudsters are around.

[Broken_Hero]

71. I don't know if they are addicted

some are, some aren't and truth be told, I really don't care that much about that aspect, I see someone in need, I give what I can. I do realize that some use the money in non-helpful ways, but I know I've done my fair shit of fucked up things, and I tend to not judge others that hard.

[BainsBane]

72. I would not

because you are not helping them by giving them money for drugs. If you want to give them some food, that would be helpful.

[Spider Jerusalem]

74. You know...

I don't have a problem with it. If I give money to a homeless person, and they use it to buy drugs, or booze, or cigarettes? It's their money, once I've given it to them; they can do as they wish with it. Pious moralising about how terrible it is to enable their addictions isn't going to change the fact that they're addicted, and addiction is a medical issue, not a moral failing.