Have You Ever Helped A Homeless Person?

[ck1]

I asked a guy sitting outside a Tesco store last week if he needed anything, he said a drink, so I sceptically asked him what of, replied Coke, which I was surprised about (would of expected special brew!). I gave him a big bottle of coke, some meat pasties, snickers and a few other bits and he was so grateful. Cost me next to nothing but would of made a huge difference to his weekend. Do you have any similar experiences?

[mushroom25]

I bought a sandwich for a "homeless and hungry" guy outside euston station a few years ago.

he looked at it, sneered at me and said "I'm a f**king vegan you a$$hole".

So. never again.

[VHG]

I was in Edinburgh in a hotel a few years ago. I looked out my room window and across the road was a young guy sitting up against the wall of a bank, with a blanket round him, and his head bowed low, staring at the ground.

He looked homeless, very sad, and rather desperate. People were dropping money into his blanket.

I had my hotel breakfast, and 30 minutes or so later walked out the front door of the hotel.

He was still there, but as I crossed the road he happened to stand up and remove his blanket.

Underneath he was pretty well dressed, with Nike trainers, and under his arm were some student notebooks.

He then got up and (I assume) went off to his college or university where he was a student.

Obviously his "homeless look" was a con and he was just scamming people who walked past, trying to make a few pounds.

But I got quite annoyed that he had been conning all these people who had dropped money into his blanket.

Obviously I am not saying all homeless people are like this, or that anyone begging is conning people, but it does pay to be careful who you give your help to.

This "beggar" below makes about £50,000 a year and lives in a £300,000 council flat

http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/10545755.Putney__beggar__facing_jail_after_Leicester_Square_arrest/

[ck1]

Wow, how interesting, homeless vegans and counterfeit vagrants, everyday is a school day!!!

[grasscarp]

I was stopped in Hammersmith by a quite desperate looking woman who asked if I would buy her a burger. We were outside McDs. I looked in my purse and gave her a couple of quid. She then asked if she could have some more money which really annoyed me, so I said no and walked off.

[pixie373]

Good for you, ck1. I would and have done similar (obviously asked first, as you did). Homelessness really gets to me, it must be unbearable, as it would just be your whole life and so hard to get out of. If i won the lottery, i would love to set up some homeless people on flats, with rehab/ counselling or whatever they needed. Just to have a second chance.

[viv38]

I gave a homeless man with a dog some money once to buy food for himself and his dog and then I watched as he went into a booze store, he didn't know I saw him. When I next saw him in town I nipped into a pet shop and bought some dog food and treats for his dog and as I walked away I saw him feed the dog.

[janbee]

Yes, I gave a homeless man food and hot drinks(hot choc) every day and food for his dog. (I never gave money)When he eventually got a little bedsit from the council, I gave him saucepans, blankets, scarf, clothes and lots of bags of food shopping. I met him just recently and he now has a girlfriend and is now quite settled. He said thank you for all the help I gave him and said that it made a difference to him. Most people just walked by or treated him badly. He is a very polite man. So many homeless people nowadays are ex-armed forces. Disgraceful, the way we treat our soldiers.

[Sqad]

\\\Have You Ever Helped A Homeless Person?\\\

No never.

[pastafreak]

pixie373
Good for you, ck1. I would and have done similar (obviously asked first, as you did). Homelessness really gets to me, it must be unbearable, as it would just be your whole life and so hard to get out of. If i won the lottery, i would love to set up some homeless people on flats, with rehab/ counselling or whatever they needed. Just to have a second chance


There are countless charities-both local and national-that do just that. In order for that to work,the homeless need to want to change. Many actually will choose to sleep rough,others get so far in the rehabilitation process,then fall by the wayside. Its sad to see those who try get knocked back.
If you really mean to help,consider volunteering,or making food contributions to local organisations,find out who those organisations are in your town,and direct those homeless/rough sleepers you see to them.

[pixie373]

I will pasta. I have a friend who does that. I'm just so short of time at the moment, that I'll have to wait until i can fit it in x

[emmie]

i have given money to someone who may have been homeless, it's sometime difficult to tell, however when i found the same man and several others in the area who i had also given a few quid to sprawled out blotto on white lightening, or special brew i had to stop.

[Brinjal]

There is an old beggar fellow that hangs around the supermarket anyway he ended up behind me in the queue one day with a coke and loaf of bread so I just added it to my purchases he was grateful.

[joko]

i gave a bloke a handful of change once - then saw him an hour or so later sprawled out on the floor on some steps... i figured id topped up the amount to buy him a bottle or something

i have given things too - gave my scarf to a guy once as it was freezing, most annoying is when they then think you're a soft touch an follow you and ask for more

[dunnitall]

No I haven't either, how do you know someone is genuinely homeless?

[Eve]

Not money, for similar reasons as above. Sometime food and drink, eg a big pack of digestive biscuits and bottles of clean drinking water for a guy who was obviously homeless and looked in bad shape. I've bought hot drinks before and given the odd cigarette (usually getting a look of disgust/anger when they see they are menthol!).

One guy who was a bit of a local star for handing in a fair bit of money someone had dropped. I was worried as there seemed be some shifty looking people round him, I worried that as he was in the press that he was getting a lot more donations making him more vulnerable. I read he has rheumatism so got him some really comfy special warming socks and a hat and gloves/scarf.

The most random one was a guy I saw staggering around in the city centre, he kept "collapsing" then getting up again and was heading towards a busy tram and bus area so I phoned the non-emergency police number and was following him at a distance while on the phone to them until I had to catch up as he was crossing tram lines then ended up dragging him back from walking in front of a bus! I stayed with him until some police arrived and took him off - known homeless and off his face - but a danger to himself and others in that state.

[pixie373]

I hate it that those people are just ignored, eve. Good for you for helping, but i wish Social Services could butt in sometimes, to people who actually are vulnerable and need their help.

[Gavmacp]

Personally if they asked for special brew that is what I would buy them, which in fact I have done. Who am I to judge!

[silliemillie]

After an office party there was plenty of food over so myself & few workmates took it round to a park we knew homeless people hang out.

A couple of them prodded the sandwiches & moaned they were a bit stale!
LOL! So we just put the tray down and left them to it.

[pixie373]

I agree, gavmac

[fairycakes69]

I buy them Mac D's, out once with 5 year old granddaughter who asked about a young man begging, I explained he had no home, it was winter she asked if she could give him some warm gloves and a hat, we went and got him some , along with food and tea. Never give money.