Stoped by a homeless guy

[Robinrs]

I heard Joyce Meyer speak one time and she keeps a small stash of McDonald's Gift cards in $10 increments on her and gives those out to the homeless. I think it's a great idea but I do usually just give cash.

My father was one of the highest ranking executives at IBM back in the day and he ended up homeless and broke on the street because of alcohol. He died at 58.

I always try to give if I have cash available. Of course, there aren't that many where I live, and I realize I could not do this if I lived in a big city and passed one every few feet.

Joyce Meyer's brother died homeless, also. Sad story.

When I was in NY EVERYONE I knew was a few paychecks from being homeless. One of our DJs at the radio station was caught living in the office snack room . She had lost her apt and there are very few, affordable or not, available to move into.

There is a big difference between the mentally ill indigent and the economically homeless. Joyce's brother was an addict and even though she would've done anything for him he chose to live on his own terms. My cousin, a top hairstylist here in Atlanta, met some guy on the internet, moved to North Carolina to live with him and ended up with nothing when he ripped her off. She lived in a homeless shelter for weeks before contacting us because she was "embarrassed".

 

[cabanafrau]

Constantly working to refine our efforts to help at church because we don't want our help be the assistance some of the addicts need to harm themselves further. We house a rotating shelter a week every year, run a food pantry & do coat giveaways and other events. We had given some grocery cards away for a while also, but we found that many of our regulars were using them to get alcohol -- which they then would frequently bring back to our church grounds to drink. We had to inform the membership that giving $$ was really not helping either because we found lots of drug paraphernalia w/ the empty liquor & beer bottles.

So hard to find ways to help that you know won't be used to self destruct. We offer up our fellowship hall two nights a week to AA & NA to meet in, hoping we can help some on that end also. Heartbreaking.

 

[MSSANDRA]

We are very blessed and we know it and we feel a huge responsibility to give back. That being said, we NEVER give money to the homeless. We have worked with different agencies and shelters and they all will tell you not to give them money. I do like the attitude that you give in faith and it's up to them to use it the correct way but it is not only not a help, but a huge hurt if they use that money to buy drugs or alcohol. Not all will, but many will. We donate often to shelters, and give things like blankets etc to them rather than yard sale or goodwill. We try to have things in our car that we can hand to someone. A pack of crackers, bottles of water in summer, a pop can of food etc. I have gone though a drive through and bought food a few times and most say a big THANK YOU. I recently had a older women approach me in the grocery store parking lot and tell me she had no money for groceries and asked if I would buy her a few things. She was quite old, dirty and looked very weak. I agreed and she gave me her very reasonable list. As we shopped however, she started wanting to toss other items in the cart. It was really funny, almost like taking my little guy shopping. I allowed a bit of it but set some limits. She was walking home but 'I just did not feel comfortable taking her into her neighborhood. She gave he a huge hug of thanks. It really felt good. Each person has to find what is comfortable for them,
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[Cantw8]

There's a REAL easy way to bypass the guilt of dealing with these people that quickly separate those in need from the apparent sea of scammers: Offer to buy them what they say they need the money for directly! Three weeks ago, as I walked into a convenience store attached to a gas station a man stopped me as said "Can you spare some money? I need some food." I told the guy I'd be happy to go into the store and buy him some food and asked what he wanted. He quickly said "No, no, no... I need some money." I said "Sorry, don't carry cash." If he had said "Some stuff to make sandwiches and some milk, please" or something like that I'd have bought it in a heartbeat. This technique will give the people what they say they need, without the fear that your money will go to booze or meth.

I have had instances where people actually accepted my offer to directly fulfill their request. A very happy middle-aged woman who apparently really DID need a couple gallons of gas to get home when her car was on "E" and she had no wallet comes to mind.

Excellent solution

 

[Disney Doll]

I usually do what a PP does and offer to buy them what they request the $ for. Ask me for money to but food? I'll offer to buy you food. If you're truly hungry you'll take up the offer.

There have been times when I have handed someone $. But generally I try to fulfill their need without giving cash.

 

[Aliceacc]

There's a REAL easy way to bypass the guilt of dealing with these people that quickly separate those in need from the apparent sea of scammers: Offer to buy them what they say they need the money for directly! Three weeks ago, as I walked into a convenience store attached to a gas station a man stopped me as said "Can you spare some money? I need some food." I told the guy I'd be happy to go into the store and buy him some food and asked what he wanted. He quickly said "No, no, no... I need some money." I said "Sorry, don't carry cash." If he had said "Some stuff to make sandwiches and some milk, please" or something like that I'd have bought it in a heartbeat. This technique will give the people what they say they need, without the fear that your money will go to booze or meth.

I have had instances where people actually accepted my offer to directly fulfill their request. A very happy middle-aged woman who apparently really DID need a couple gallons of gas to get home when her car was on "E" and she had no wallet comes to mind.

My husband does that every chance he gets. If someone is asking for money to food outside a deli or McDonalds, my husband will go inside and get the guy anything on the menu, and more for his next meal or a gift card for the next meal.

He's been working with a local homeless guy for about 8 months, trying to get the guy into housing. Every time they get really close, the guy bails. He's mentally ill, living in a delusional world where his aunt or his mom are coming any moment to get him a home in CA. But in the meantime, he's cold and hungry and living in his car. So my husband has bought him breakfast at the diner more times than I can count, sometimes accompanied by our son, and left money at the diner with the understanding that it would buy "Tom" Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner... the people at the diner also look out for him. We gave Tom one of the Target gift cards I got for Christmas from a student... the next time we saw him he showed off the warm sweater it had gotten him

He may not be able to cure "Tom's" mental illness, but he can put some food into his stomach.

We each do what we can. It's something we really want to teach our kids: There but for the grace of God go I.