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In the USA or Europe I have never given money to a homeless person. Other countries, yes. The simple reason is the fact that anyone can get free food or shelter here if they are sober and willing to go where this is offered.
This is a good point. The homeless in America have it pretty good here. They have millions of people who will go out their way to support them with soup kitchens, halfway houses, donations, gofundme, legislation for rights, etc
I've been Actually homeless, it's surprisingly easy to not be homeless. Most beggars are far from homeless and deserve nothing more than a close watch.
Just as soon as someone develops a way to identify the scammers from the actual homeless (who Want help), I'll offer help. Never money. Never.
Emphasis mine. What law prohibits it? I've never heard of this.
Some places state that is illegal to transfer anything from a car which can become a traffic hazard and also gives LE the change to clean up the streets.
For me, it depends on who is asking, as I don't chose to provide my earned money for those who are trouble makers.
I speak to them, but I don’t give them money. That is, I acknowledge them as a person, but whether I give them money, or not, will not change their circumstances, and I live on a shoe string myself.
I was in a smaller town in California and a guy was sitting in a wheel chair at a intersection. I went to do my laundry and found him STANDING in a isolated corner. He was sorting his money on the wheelchair.
It was considerable. He had MORE money than I had on a daily basis.
I wish there was a mechanism for helping people that need help without helping those too lazy to work. However, I suspect this is an industry taken over by charlatans.
When you see a Homeless person, Do you give to them or ignore them?
If so, why do you give to them?
Do you think you made a change?
If not, why do you not give to them?
Do you think that they will just go buy drugs or alcohol?
Go!
There are RARE exceptions when I give something directly to them. Because of two incidents in my past.
The first was a homeless person staggering down the street who came up to me, grabbed my shirt, and said, "Hey buddy. Can you give me some money so I can go buy some beer to sober up with?"
The other was when I gave to a homeless person for food, and walked right into a 7/11 and bought a large bottle of beer.
On the other hand, in all fairness, on a bitter cold night I gave a homeless person $20 so he could get a room at local motel. Several months later a guy literally stopped me on an escalator and said "I'll meet you at the bottom" (no pun intended). And he paid me back the $20!
Instead I choose to give to organizations that run soup kitchens or other similar venues for the homeless.
On the other hand, in all fairness, on a bitter cold night I gave a homeless person $20 so he could get a room at local motel. Several months later a guy literally stopped me on an escalator and said "I'll meet you at the bottom" (no pun intended). And he paid me back the $20!
Instead I choose to give to organizations that run soup kitchens or other similar venues for the homeless.
That is the rub.
I would give someone more than $20 IF it would help them over the hurdle. I would even pay MORE in taxes to make sure that anybody that needed help could get it.
I even had a person ask for money so he could get a beer and get drunk. Ok...this bender is on me. Don't figure on other one.
HOWEVER, if you are faking it and collecting money in a wheelchair.....well, I would rather see my funds going to a local food bank, taxes for helping the mentally ill, or anything to cut he scammers out of the system.
I'll never give cash because that could easily be spent of drugs or alcohol. Whenever we are on vacation we purposely look for a homeless guy at a corner or bench and offer him or her the contents of our disposable cooler. Most times there are unopened snacks and bottles of water inside. Rather than just dumping everything in the trash.
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