Do you help the homeless?

[Carver]

Say if you are walking round town or whatever and you are about to walk by a homeless person whether they be male or female. Do you ever think to help, give or acknowledge them in some way?

Or do you donate to a charity like Shelter to help em?

 

[DH84]

Why would I? Just get a job like the rest of us.

 

[Carver]

Why would I? Just get a job like the rest of us.

But they do not have an address and some may have mental health problems or have injuries that stop them from working.

 

[AnkleBiter]

No, because a lot of people that appear homeless on the streets aren't actually homeless... and are pretty fucking rancid people. Best way to help the genuine ones is to give to Shelter.

 

[Leo]

Many years ago there was a guy in town flogging the Big Issue mag. I gave him a quid and presumed he was going to hand me a copy but he said the one he was holding was only for display and he thanked me for my donation...WTF? I wasn't getting into an altercation for the sake of a pound but I don't think he was too happy being called a dirty thieving c*nt! Haven't given anything since until last week when I dropped some cash into a guy's cup. Why ? Just a spur of the moment thing & thought to myself...hey, perhaps that act of generosity may help in my bets coming up this weekend....Did it fuck!

 

[Carver]

No, because a lot of people that appear homeless on the streets aren't actually homeless... and are pretty fucking rancid people. Best way to help the genuine ones is to give to Shelter.

How do you know they are not really homeless?

Please don't say you saw a story somewhere where one individual was pretending to be living on the streets just to con people out of some change, so that then means most of them are like that. In case you have not noticed there is an actual increase in homeless people in the UK over the last couple of years many of them young as well.

 

[Leo]

So what started as & what could have been a decent thread about helping the homeless as in do the forum members give/do anything is turning into a gripe about the fucking government ? Wrong forum....try the political shit.

 

[Carver]

So what started as & what could have been a decent thread about helping the homeless as in do the forum members give/do anything is turning into a gripe about the fucking government ? Wrong forum....try the political shit.

What are you talking about? No one has mentioned anything political in this thread.

 

[Leo]

What are you talking about? No one has mentioned anything political in this thread.

you know fine well what I'm on about....now what was it you edited out? And please don't insult my intelligence and say it was fuck all.

 

[Carver]

you know fine well what I'm on about....now what was it you edited out? And please don't insult my intelligence and say it was fuck all.

I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about Leo.

Now back on topic, would you even consider to have a conversation with a homeless person you pass by? They are bound to be lonely, so it's not just money that they need.

 

[Leo]

I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about Leo.

Now back on topic, would you even consider to have a conversation with a homeless person you pass by? They are bound to be lonely, so it's not just money that they need.

You know fine well what I'm on about mate. What did you edit out ? Unfortunately I didn't 'quote' your post....never thought that I would need to, never thought anyone would do that to squirm out of answering a post. I'll answer when you show a bit of honesty and answer what I asked. Surely not that hard for you eh?


'Last edited: 29 minutes ago'.......from your post at 2.34pm today in response to Anklebiter.

 

[GTFCfish]

We were walking the dogs on Cleethorpes promenade last week and there was a homeless guy sat there so we bought him a sausage and chips and he seemed genuinely delighted with it.

I know some of them are not as they seem but the happiness in this guys face just at getting some basic food was quite heart warming to be honest.

 

[mistermagic]

I don't give to the homeless because I believe it doesn't really help them. They need much more than 1€ to get by through life and so do I. However, when a lost soul like this Liberian migrant asked me a couple of months back where the association for migrants welcome is I was happy to give him 1€ so he could take the metro and tell him at which stop to get off at.

 

[SALTIRE]

Old dear gives them money and a few quid extra for The Big Issue when we're out shopping. Some of them hang around Marks and Spencers, good luck getting money out of these tory c***.

 

[T.A]

I donate to Shelter every month, you will see at least a couple of homeless people around Bury everyday and its much worse in the city. If i see someone near where I'm going to buy my lunch or food in general I will get them something too. I would never give them any money no matter how small

 

[Indian Dan]

There was a fella sleeping in a field near me. I asked him if there was anything I could do to help. He told me to piss off.

A fair number of homeless have a drug habit and even if they are offered shelter they would rather stay on the streets than have to abide by the ‘no drugs’ policy of homeless shelters.

Some people you can’t help and some don’t want it anyway.

 

[Benji]

Homelessness is a symptom of bigger problems within the individuals and wider society. It's true that many people end up homeless because of drub habits, but homeless people are also liable to fall into a drug habit due to being homeless. I have just now been reading about how dealers have recently adapted their sales methods to target the homeless early in the morning, and collect payment later in the day. It can be very difficult to get out of a cycle like this.

It's true that some people are not ready for help in the current moment, but it is unsavoury to suggest that this absolves everyone of a responsibility to help someone who can be and does want the help. I am not in a position to be able to help anyone financially to a meaningful degree, but I believe it is important to keep in mind that homeless people are still people and deserve the compassion and respect that everyone except Piers Morgan deserves.

 

[Blitzballer]

I've gotten to know a local homeless dude in my area and buying him a greggs steak bake and a warm drink puts a massive smile on his face. He should be in a hostel within the next couple of weeks fingers crossed. always give to those in need, however, there are some folk in the area who pose as homeless in order to get money for their alcohol / crack addictions some of which are convincing at first glance

 

[Carver]

Does anyone know if Shelter are a good charity to donate money to? Can they be trusted?

 

[Leo]

I've gotten to know a local homeless dude in my area and buying him a greggs steak bake and a warm drink puts a massive smile on his face. He should be in a hostel within the next couple of weeks fingers crossed. always give to those in need, however, there are some folk in the area who pose as homeless in order to get money for their alcohol / crack addictions some of which are convincing at first glance

Serious question mate.....how are/were you able to tell the difference ? Even by talking to various people, I've no doubt the con artists will have a pretty convincing spiel.

 

[mowgli]

I know of 3 beggars in my home town of Wells who claim they're homeless when all of them are living in flats, one of them lives next door to my mate so couldn't deny it. I no longer donate to big charities as far too much of our donations go to the high earners at the top and not those who we think the money goes to,i now only donateto small animal charities after checking how they spend donations and if i'm happy with what i find i'll donate.

 

[Habbinalan]

https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/cuctrust/sponsoredsleepoutattheabbeystadium

 

[AFCB_Mark]

I'll take a bag of food tins or whatever along to the foodbank collection that the football club holds regularly during a season, obviously that covers a wider range of people. Relating to the homeless specifically, the local authority know there is a genuine homeless issue in Bournemouth (and Poole, and Southampton), and there also those who just pose as homeless. And they usually know who is which, as I see council staff wonder around the town centre around 7.30 in the morning checking on those who have slept in shop doorways, which I guess has the dual purpose of making sure the rough sleepers are alright and ensuring shop staff can open up their business for the day.

The area has a large number of drug and alcohol rehab centres (link) and half way houses, to which people from across the south get referred. Whilst this sounds admirable, there is unfortunately a local drug industry that sinisterly prays on these people. Where there are addicts, so there will be drug dealers, I guess.

Unfortunately it results in a feeling among the population here that 'druggies come to Bournemouth for the sunshine' and helping them is a drain on our council tax wen they should be getting help from the council 'wherever they came from'.

I can't necessarily tell who is homeless and who is posing as I walk through town, so I'll try to look a bloke in the eye and tell him to take care / look after himself - he's human after all, I figure it's better than just ignoring him. But no as a rule I wouldn't give any money. Sometimes people will actually approach you and try stopping you to ask for money, which definitely isn't a tactic to 'reward'. Rarely but occasionally they can be a bit aggressive with it but that's rare.

There are the charities St Mungos and the Salvation Army who provide services for those who seek help. Also my council tax will be going up 6% shortly, and the council says that some of this will add to it's ability to support the homeless and/or begging. And IF it genuinely does some good (we'll see) then I'm not complaining about it.

 

[T.A]

I see more and more stories about homeless people committing crimes so they can go to jail for a while to keep out of the cold.

 

[Renegade]

I know of 3 beggars in my home town of Wells who claim they're homeless when all of them are living in flats, one of them lives next door to my mate so couldn't deny it. I no longer donate to big charities as far too much of our donations go to the high earners at the top and not those who we think the money goes to,i now only donateto small animal charities after checking how they spend donations and if i'm happy with what i find i'll donate.

https://www.thelifeyoucansave.org/
https://www.givewell.org/

A list of great charities for which close to 100% of your donations go to those that need it. Give Well evaluates the efficiency and effect of top charities and as more are vetted, the more transparent their operations become and the more you should be able to trust in genuine 'big' charities. If you don't trust the likes of Oxfam or well known multi-national charities with a large bureaucratic management structure, these are worth considering.

I used to give to a local homeless charity, but I now direct my (monetary) charity to the ones linked above. It hurts to walk past homeless people, as humans cannot detach from our empathetic nature, but in the grand scheme of things you are better off giving the money to the people that know how to help them best (or to people that are actually in far worse dire straights if you can look beyond the local).

<politics>Not voting for the tories would also help.</politics>

 

[Leo]

Fucking pish attempt....a very pish attempt! Pathetic tbh......

 

[The Paranoid Pineapple]

I mean, it's not though, is it? It's hardly an issue that can be divorced from the political context in which it takes place and the numbers (which have risen dramatically in every year since Labour left office) rather tell their own story https://www.theguardian.com/society...bers-in-england-rise-for-seventh-year-running

Contributing factors - be they failed policies on housing, greatly depleted council budgets, a stripping back of mental health and drug/alcohol intervention services - are not exactly difficult to perceive. But if you want to believe the dramatic increase in homelessness is sheer coincidence and has nothing to do with the austerity-driven politics ruthlessly pursued by recent Conservative governments then I suppose that's up to you.

 

[Ernesto]

Get a job you bozos.

 

[Renegade]

Fucking pish attempt....a very pish attempt! Pathetic tbh......

Wasn't even fishing. It's pretty common knowledge that the conservatives have been bad for the homeless. If you legitimately care about the issue, or profess to care, you have to factor it into your vote. Not pathetic at all, pathetic is divorcing a massive social issue from the politics that are meant to be used as a means to resolve social issues yet often instead exacerbate these issues. Simply to appear non partisan. Ultimately it will take more than charity to improve the homeless situation in any country.

 

[KevinMcallister]

Leeds is notorious for having a lot of fake homeless, the genuine homeless I feel for, the ones begging for drug and drink money I don't