Do You Give Cash to the Homeless?

Do you consider it helping or enabling?

There was a situation a few years ago - I can't remember if it was just before I left Houston or just after I came here.

In both cities, it was common a few years ago, for the homeless to wander near freeway intersections with signs asking for handouts. In this particular incident, a man probably around 30 had a little girl with him, apparently his daughter, and was seen forcing her to stand right next to moving traffic with a carton for holding cash. Enough people saw it and reported it that he was picked up. It turned out he wasn't homeless after all. (The child was taken from him).

The thing is, when an individual asks for a handout, one never knows if s/he needs it or not. That person might be asking for money for drugs or alcohol.

I think it is better to donate money or time to organizations that have trained staff and know more about the situation.

My mother got me started helping the Salvation Army. She was on their board for several years. My kids even got in on it by donating toys they had outgrown.

Ann

Good point, Ann.

My mother -in-law worries me . She has befriended a homeless man and believes everything he says.



He claims he has to have $70.00 per night for a hotel.

Is he too good for shelters? Tell her to send him to the Salvation Army.

Ann

Great idea.

The Salvation Army is a great organization. They have housing, drug rehab programs, employment and more. They have no millionaire executives. They are one of my favorites. I direct those in need to the Salvation Army. With food and shelter people receive more than a handout; they receive the opportunity for dignity. I know of several people who found a new direction with the help of the Salvation Army, even saving lives through hope. Donations to them go to people in definite need. The price on things in their stores are just enough for a person to feel they have made a purchase, not that they are a charity case.

People who are homeless often have multiple issues; it really takes a professional to help them. Money is not usually the answer; only temporary. When the money is gone, they are often back on the street.

"Billy" Dean Cochran has played lead guitar in three different bands with his close friend and fellow musician, Russell Crowe. After Crowe started working in stage musicals and movies, the band became everybody's "night job." Billy Dean's day job for nine years involved working with a "Salvation Army" type organization, which went around Sydney, Australia, picking up guys off the street and trying to help them. On the full version of the DVD that this clip comes from, Cochran explained that it didn't matter if you knew these guys would go right back to the street. You accepted them, and worked from there.

He and his friend Russell co-wrote a song about one of those guys. Listen to the lyrics and you start to get the tragedy, and how important it is to try to help.

If possible, you might want to fast-forward through the first couple of minutes, since part of it includes some bits of the kind of clowning around rock musicians probably do quite often, during rehearsals,but is extremely "irreverent" for many audiences. The rest of the clip is "The Legend of Barry Cable," as it was performed by the band at a concert in Austin at Stubb's Barbeque, where they performed three straight nights to sell-out crowds of over three thousand people.

The song itself, and the band's performance of it are both pretty cool. Just ignore the first bit if you can.

Ann

The person helping needs to have the capacity to be protected from the potential problems. I am not picking up a homeless person and bringing them into my home. I will, however, seek help for them from someone who has the capacity to provide assistance.

If I have a few bucks to spare I have no problem giving it to someone on the street. What do I care what he does with the money? If he says he needs food, I choose to believe he needs food. If I give him money, I don't wonder or worry for days what he did with it. It's money I can spare, and I have never attached any strings to anything I've given or loaned anyone. If you need it, and I have it that I don't need, then I can let you have it and not care what you do with it. If I loan someone money it's always money I know I may not get back, and I have yet to go to a person and ask when they were going to pay me back. What I give I give freely, and whether it's used for food, gas, a roof over their head, or cigarettes, beer, or drugs makes no difference at all. I look at people standing on street corner asking for money and wonder just how hard that would be for me to do. And I gotta tell you, I'd have to be desparate. So yeah, I sometimes give them money, and I always feel just a little bit better. Give it to an organization and they only give part of it to the people that need it, the rest goes to salaries and the cost of doing business. I'd rather cut out the middle man.

E.Don



So glad to see you.

Ann,





Now I am laughing. Russell Crowe AGAIN!

You really like him.

Gotta agree with E. Don. For over 20 years I've given money when solicited by street people. I've given it to people in Nashville, San Francisco, Kansas City, Chicago, Germany, all the cities I've lived or vacationed. In fact, maybe a sign of the times, I was even solicited recently while sitting in Panera Bread. A woman who looked down on her luck was going from table to table asking for money to buy a sandwich. I gave it to her. Couldn't care less if she really bought booze with it. If it makes her feel better, go for it. I think it's really patronizing to refuse because you think it might go to beer or whatever.

I have spent my career assisting people who need help; I have spent my personal time assisting people who need help. I believe the help I provided in an organized way provided a broader benefit than handing out cash to a person on the street. I disagree with panhandling. Sure, this is a horrid economy. But I do not believe a few dollars is really that helpful.

I have put gas in cars and I have purchased meals and bags of groceries.

I don't believe it makes a generous person worse or better because they hand cash to the needy or serve the needy in other ways. My church provides meals and groceries in my community.

What really matters is a concern for those with needs, a desire to help them and follow-through in whatever manner is appropriate to the giver and the recipient.

The original question asked about giving cash to the homeless. No, I don't. I do support programs to meet their needs including the homeless sweeps here in the winter where we prepare and deliver packages in the woods where many live - packages include bug spray, hygiene kits, nutrition bars, water, first aid kits, rain parkas and sleeping blankets with a waterproof side. Physicians and nurses also go on the searches to meet whatever medical needs they might find. If they can be talked into it, dental care, vision care and other health care services are available - all volunteers.

I know what the original question was, and my answer is still the same. Yes, I do. Many people won't change regardless of the organized help they get. A few dollars now and then might actually help a person on a one to one basis.

LC and E.Don AGREE!

Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't.

Once on the bus some kids told me their car had broken down. They didn't know how they were going to pay their bus fare when they got off the bus. I gave them $5.00.

They wondered why?



I said "I hope someone would help my kids if they were in your situation."

I don't like a man worrying an elderly lady about his situation however.



I think she should direct him to an agency and quit worrying about him.

Spending $70.00 a night for lodging is ridiculous, a month it's $2100.00.



My opinion.

It does sound like she is being used.

Just me.

Ann

I had my exposure to beggars in Lebanon. For many, it was their livelihood. It took some adjustment to resist the temptation to give.
I don't know of any homeless nor have I seen any beggars where I now live. Since I'm not faced with the situation, I can't say how I would react. I would most likely try to help. There is no need to beg. There are organizations available to help the needy and they are professionals who know the difference between need and greed.

My impressions are based on living in the country. In the large cities there are homeless and beggars. There are organizations that go into the city, especially in winter, and pick up the homeless and take them to shelters.

Some years ago, shortly after the wall came down between east and west, there were caravans of people from the east that traveled into the countryside and sent their kids door to door begging. If that still occurs, I haven't witnessed it.

Generally speaking, if I saw someone in need, I would try to help.

I looked online and the Salvation army has over 2000 jobs lined up this area.

The homeless need a new approach and handng them a few bucks doesn't cut it.