Random Survey/Question About Homeless People.

Have you ever given food to a homeless person? If you did, did they take it?

I feel like i want to sometimes, but i also feel like itd be weird if they didnt want it. Plus one of my friends told me that people are told not to because what if the homless person gets sick.. >.>

Also, how do you feel about the whole 'no! they should get jobs' argument? I'm not trying to start a fight here, but this is one of my favorite debates

Do you mean give them your leftover slice of pizza as you pass by, or buy "new" food for them?

I've given food, but only in cases which they've asked for it. Never money, though. I'm not at all implying that being homeless is in any way easy, but there are a lot of resources out there for people in such a situation. The majority of people who don't make use of them don't want to.

There was a guy and his dog always looking for food. He used to sit near BK, in the bushes with this dog. I went inside to get a shake, I ordered 3 hamburgers, plain. I gave 2 to him and told him one was for his dog. He was so thankful, he shook my hand.

I think he really wanted food... not money.

The job argument is interesting because you can't get a job if you don't have an address, and you can't get an address if you don't have a job. If you don't have a job, you can't afford to buy an ID. You can't get an ID if you don't have an address and proof of address. You can't get an address because you don't have a job... you can't get a job because you don't have an address... as you can see it's an incredibly vicious cycle.

For those that are homeless WITH an addiction (because not all are homeless with one), it's even harder because on top of what I just said, you need to afford rehab too. =/

lol... i guess.. leftovers... Not with like bite marks though? Thats what you give to a dog.

I had a guy steal my sandwich once.  I was coming from a local sub place and the guy just grabbed it out of my hand and had taken a bite before I really registered what had just happened.

He then offered it back to me.  I told him he could keep it.

"We're in one of the richest countries in the world,
but the minimum wage is lower than it was thirty five years ago.
There are homeless people everywhere.
This homeless guy asked me for money the other day.
I was about to give it to him and then I thought he was going to use it on drugs or alcohol.
And then I thought, that's what I'm going to use it on.
Why am I judging this poor bastard.
People love to judge homeless guys. Like if you give them money they're just going to waste it.
Well, he lives in a box, what do you want him to do? Save it up and buy a wall unit?
Take a little run to the store for a throw rug and a CD rack? He's homeless.
I walked behind this guy the other day.
A homeless guy asked him for money.
He looks right at the homeless guy and says why don't you go get a job you bum.
People always say that to homeless guys like it is so easy.
This homeless guy was wearing his underwear outside his pants.
Outside his pants. I'm guessing his resume isn't all up to date.
I'm predicting some problems during the interview process.
I'm pretty sure even McDonalds has a "underwear goes inside the pants" policy.
Not that they enforce it really strictly, but technically I'm sure it is on the books."

Lazyboy

"Underwear goes in the pants" policy.  I love that, cpt!

Where I live, a suburban area, the "homeless" don't look that homeless.  Mostly, they have signs saying something along the lines of "Lost Job, Have Kids, Help".  I have my doubts that they truly need help.  For some, bumming might be a job.  But I still don't like driving past them without giving something.  I rarely have cash on hand.

I have thought of offering canned food - something I could keep in my car without spoiling - but I was afraid it might get thrown at me.

I've decided on gift cards to McDonalds.  Easy, portable, and full of calories.

I've only given food and on a few rare instances cigarettes. 

There are a lot of people around here who beg for a living.

Original Post by jewelsmcblah:

There are a lot of people around here who beg for a living.

 Yep.  One of our local papers actually did an article on it.  They interviewed a couple of people who lived in nicer houses than I did.....all from begging and pretty much lying about being homeless.

Obviously, this is not how they all are.  But it's enough that I refuse to give money.  I will, however, give food sometimes.  if they are truly homeless and hungry (like their sign says) then they won't pass up the food.  If they pass up the food, then chances are greater that they are looking for money for booze or drugs.  I feel bad for addicts, but I refuse to contribute to their habits.

I got conned several times when I lived in Durham, NC. It kind of soured me on giving money.

I once was with a friend, who, instead of giving money, went with the guy into a 7-11 and bought him about $20 worth of food. The guy actually seemed pissed that he didn't get money. I've considered doing the same, but I don't think I have the confidence to do it.

I've also considered giving (uneaten/unbitten) leftovers, but somehow I worry that it would be offensive?

I've given food, money, clothes. 

I think being homeless would be terribly frightening and isolating.  Many transient people are in their position because of the declining availability of mental health resources - closures of psychiatric hospitals being a primary cause - and there's nobody around to make sure they take the medications that help prevent the voices in their heads, or to make sure they get a meal in their stomachs or a roof over their heads at night.  I really don't feel like it's my place to put the onus of responsibility for their plight on their shoulders.  Many of the homeless really can't help themselves.

If I've got change in my pocket or an apple in my lunchbag, and someone asks me for it, I tend to hand it over.

back when I was living for a while in the US there was a homeless rastafari who used to live in the park (probably the only homeless guy in the place seeing as it was considered the wealthiest neighborhood in the country); anyhow, when I used to go buy myself a sandwich or something at this place which served high school students called varsity or something, sometimes I would purchase two and on my way back through the park I would offer one to him which he would graciously accept. I used to think to myself.. poor rastafari... also why on earth would anyone ever do that to their hair......

he was a nice rasta.

I've never met a mean rasta.

I have bought food for a homeless person twice. They had a sign up that said something along the lines of, "Need money for food."

The friends I was with said that they would probably use the money for drugs or alcohol. So I offered to treat the homeless person to choose a place (he was in a little outlet mall that had fast food restaurants near it). I took him to McDonald's and he wanted a double bacon cheeseburger with a McFlurry. He said it was the best meal he had in a long time.

If you offer to take a homeless person and buy them some food, they can't sue you for getting sick. Also, if they refuse your offer to buy them food, then you can fairly assume that they only want money for drugs or alcohol. :)

How's a homeless person gonna sue you if they get sick from food you bought them?  Do you give them a photocopy of your driver license or passport when you give them the food, so they can track you down later if they get food poisoning?

I did give food to homeless people or beggars, but no money, cash can procure drugs or tobacco and if they want that they should get a job.

I have and do give food to the homeless, but never money and yes they do always take it.

When I worked in the SF Financial District, I gave money all the time.  I never gave food.  In fact, there was one homeless woman that I talked to and gave money to so many times over the years that we knew each other's names.  When she was really hard up (I always assumed for drugs), she'd ask me for five bucks instead of the usual buck.  And promise to pay me back next week, which both of us knew was ridiculous, but it kept up the dignity of the exchange.  Anyway, she started giving me food - I guess some other do-gooder would give her sandwiches, and she didn't like that kind, so I got them. 

On Thanksgiving and Christmas, I gave $20. 

Now that I'm working in the 'burbs, there aren't any visibile homeless to give money to.

I would give them food before I ever would money. A lot of them tend to be drunks/druggies and I really don't want to be supporting them in that habit. So if it's food, fine at least I know it's something productive.

My fiance was telling me this homeless guy had a bunny and Leona Lewis (the singer) caught sight of him and apparently he told her the bunny was for his next meal and he was asking for 20 dollars...instead she paid him 100 dollars for the bunny so she could save it. (she's a vegetarian.) I guess she named it Melrose since that's the street the guy was on. Ha Ha. My fiance said that was pretty ingenious. :P

One thing that always puzzles me is the homeless people that are on the subway asking for money..I'm thinking how did they pay for their fare to get on the subway then? Wouldn't a meal have been for better use with that money? :P

No.  I give food to the organizations that provide services to the homeless.  I do not interact with the great unwashed.