Hmm, just gave a homeless dude some coin

[HEyHEY]

I like Don, he's a good guy. Whenever I see him he doesn't always ask for something. Sometimes we just talk. So, he has an ear infection. And needs some medication for it. I gave him $20. I don't know that he'll spend it on the medication. But, I see him as a friend and don't want to assume he's lying. So, I figrue all I can do is hope he does spend it on what he says he will. Sound like the correct approach?

[Fleshdancer]

1. I think so

that's what I would have done if I were in your shoes. :shrug:

[harmonicon]

2. Gin and night train cure ear infections?

Well, we learn something new every day. Oh, okay, I'm being a little silly. I used to know a lot of homeless guys and even most of the decent ones would spend all of there money on booze or drugs. There was one guy who wasn't like that, but he was completely crazy in a way that I never really figured out. He was smart and educated, and some times worked as an interpreter or language coach (he spoke a ridiculous number of languages). This was in Chicago. I saw him one day and he was really excited that he got a job as an interpreter for Japanese tourists in Florida. I didn't see him for about a year, and then he was back in chicago washing car windows for change. I asked him what happened, and he said that there wasn't much work in Florida on the off-season and that he didn't like the weather... I kind of get it, but not so much that I'd wash windows hoping to save enough money to stay at the Y in Chicago over slow work in Florida in the winter.

[enigmatic]

3. I do the same here w/ one guy

I work Downtown, and there's a guy who sells The Street News around the corner from where I work. We mostly talk about the Oilers, but we've talked a couple of times about his homelessness; he stayed in Tent City last summer before they closed it. His name is Spencer; I try to give him whatever change I have when I see him. He got all my Tim Hortons Roll Up To Win winners I've been saving for him; coffee and dougnut winners.

He's a good guy.

[Alexander]

4. I offer to buy food for homeless people, instead of giving them money.

So far nobody has approached me regarding medication, but I figure if they're hungry and need food, I can just get that. I bought a frozen dinner for one such person a while back. He was pretty grateful.

If they say "No, I just need the money", then it's obvious they just want to get wasted, and I spend enough money getting myself wasted.

[flvegan]

5. Nice work, you clueless fucking enabler.

Sorry, doing the inner-Freeper channel there.

Look at your post.

You can give that same $20 to a charity and you don't know that it was spent how you wanted.

Shit, you could go $20, 40, 60...and still never get where you wanted. You hit Don up 3 times with $20...maybe you make a big damn difference.

You said that you see him as a friend...

Helping save a friend? Bloody priceless.

[mokawanis]

6. Good for you

I gave a guy $5 when he approached me a few days ago. He needed it to get a prescription filled for an ear problem and headed straight into the drug store we were standing near when I gave it to him. I usually don't just give cash to strangers but in that case I'm glad I did.

[Lethe]

9. dude!

if i knew your # i would rickroll you right now, totally (multiple times)

:D

[HEyHEY]

10. that's true, all goes to Admin probably

[Lethe]

7. The guys I know are all good guys

I fish a lot in a park that is inhabited by many homeless people. None of them has ever asked me for anything. They come by and talk to me while I'm fishing. They have a unique perspective on life, and usually very interesting life stories. A person can learn a lot by just listening to one of them.

[NanceGreggs]

8. You did the right thing.

I'm in Toronto - and I, too, have a "sidewalk friend". His name is Mikey. He panhandles on the corner outside the courthouse where I work several days a week.

I'd always give him a loonie or two-nie when I had it; sometimes we'd just chat for a few minutes.

About six months ago, he excitedly told me that he'd been hooked-up with a social worker, who had found him a room in a boarding house. I gave him $20 as a "housewarming gift". At first he refused it - said it was too much. But I insisted that having his first real "home" in years, he would want to stock it with some staples, maybe some clean sheets, toiletries, etc.

He took the money reluctantly, and promised he wouldn't spend it on drugs or booze. I told him it was a "no strings attached" gift, and he was free to spend it as he liked. But he insisted that having been clean and sober for thirteen years after being a heroin addict (which is what led to his being on the street in the first place), he wouldn't go back to that life no matter what.

A few weeks ago, Mikey reappeared on the corner. I asked what happened; had he lost his room after all?

No, he said, the room was still his. But he was back to panhandling in order to get together enough money to buy a warm sleeping bag, as he was back to sleeping in the park. I was shocked by this, as we were in the midst of yet another massive snowfall.

He explained that the boarding house he was in was full of drugs, and how easy access was to same. "I know my own weaknesses," he said. "Sooner or later, there will come a night that I say, 'Yeah, why not,' and I'll be back in that life I struggled for years to get out of. I don't want to go there. I'd rather sleep in the snow."

I told Mikey that he had more strength of character than a lot of people I know - and were our positions in life reversed, I might not have the fortitude he has.

Whatever I 'donate' to Mikey's lifestyle is money well spent. Sometimes the guy on the corner isn't just another homeless guy down on his luck - sometimes he's someone to look up to. Like Mikey.