What do you do when homeless folks ask for money?
-
This is what I did when I used to work downtown and encounter them frequently. They usually tell you why they want money... usually food, but sometimes a bus ticket or gas. I always say I don't have or won't give you cash but let's go and I'll buy you what you need. More than half of them would give up and walk away when they realized you wouldn't just give them cash. Never ended buying any gas or a bus ticket, but I did buy quite a few meals and even groceries a couple times. Most were incredibly appreciative.
Part of the reason for those who won't accept anything but cash is purely because they're not actually homeless but instead learned that they can make more begging than they can working a crap fast food job for example. I've even heard of groups of people coordinating their efforts so they can make sure they aren't oversaturating a given part of town or in a some cases pooling the takings at the end of the day to help even out the inevitable variability
-
That was probably me on Reddit. I’ve probably posted it there on a similar post.
Sounds like exactly what a bot would say! Now prove your humanity by clicking all of the traffic lights in this image...err that one doesn't work? Uh...You shall prove your humanity by listening to this audio clip and transcribing...that one too huh? Now you shall...count the Rs is Strawberry? Really? Man this is a really dumb future we've found ourselves in
-
Ignore and donate to a local shelter and/or kitchen. Do not encourage street harassment. I know it sucks and I know a lot of people are hurting. But community aid should not be divided based on who is the loudest, most aggressive, or most "convincingly in need" based on appearance. (If someone is hungry or thirsty by all means hook up the people in need in your community, never hurts to share food and water)
wrote last edited by [email protected]Not to mention professional beggars that are hired from a company (black market) and don't need the money. They are often more effective than the people that really need the money since are more relaxed about it.
-
It's not honest but effective:
Make and maintain eye contact from at least 20 feet away, when you're close enough to be heard: ask them if they have any spare change.
Why be an asshole to a homeless person? What are you, an American?
-
This is becoming more common in my town. I just either feel like an ass saying I dont have cash, or lying, but I also can't be giving out 20's to everyone who asks.
I feel bad for most of them but at the same time I get anxiety walking down the sidewalk and seeing someone up ahead that I know is going to ask me for money. Its not like you can say "oh no, I donate to services that help the needy" because that person isn't necessarily being helped by that. And ignoring completely feels so mean, plus I tried that one time and the person was screaming at me as i walked away that I ignored them.
I also dont want my city to round them up and send them to prison camps, something they are planning and that I know a lot of people would vote for just to "get rid of them" but im not supporting that at all.
Its tough.
I almost never have cash or even change now, so that's what I tell them. I used to give them some money if I had it and wasn't immediately going to use it. One of my old friends used to give them a beer out of a pack he bought if there was a person outside the store or on the corner begging on the drive to wherever he was going.
-
Part of the reason for those who won't accept anything but cash is purely because they're not actually homeless but instead learned that they can make more begging than they can working a crap fast food job for example. I've even heard of groups of people coordinating their efforts so they can make sure they aren't oversaturating a given part of town or in a some cases pooling the takings at the end of the day to help even out the inevitable variability
Certainly there are people that do that or want to use the money for drugs, which is why I always volunteer to buy it for them vs give them money. And I don't carry cash anyway.
If they're genuinely hustling for cash they're unlikely to walk away with you to get food, a bus ticket, whatever because they're wasting time. I've had a few take me up on the offer and then still try to talk me out of cash while walking, but most hustlers just walk away immediately when you call their bluff and offer to buy it for them.
-
This is becoming more common in my town. I just either feel like an ass saying I dont have cash, or lying, but I also can't be giving out 20's to everyone who asks.
I feel bad for most of them but at the same time I get anxiety walking down the sidewalk and seeing someone up ahead that I know is going to ask me for money. Its not like you can say "oh no, I donate to services that help the needy" because that person isn't necessarily being helped by that. And ignoring completely feels so mean, plus I tried that one time and the person was screaming at me as i walked away that I ignored them.
I also dont want my city to round them up and send them to prison camps, something they are planning and that I know a lot of people would vote for just to "get rid of them" but im not supporting that at all.
Its tough.
Depending on how they ask, it's either a short polite "no" or I just ignore them (it's mostly the former, thankfully). I rarely, if ever, have cash on me. And although it sometimes happen, I'm not exactly safe from a single bad month putting me under anyway.
Something I won't do is insult/harass/otherwise make them even more miserable. If I can't help them, I'm sure as hell won't make things worse for them.
-
I almost never have cash or even change now, so that's what I tell them. I used to give them some money if I had it and wasn't immediately going to use it. One of my old friends used to give them a beer out of a pack he bought if there was a person outside the store or on the corner begging on the drive to wherever he was going.
Homeless people over here accept Venmo or similar
-
Homeless people over here accept Venmo or similar
If you have the time, give them food? Idk
-
I once experienced , in my 22. I gave out about 10 dol , then got keeping asked (i was too shy to reject!) so at last i gave out 50 dol, all what i took from school my college.
bad grammar sryBut I can understand what you were saying
Do you want me to rewrite it for you how I would say it?
-
This is becoming more common in my town. I just either feel like an ass saying I dont have cash, or lying, but I also can't be giving out 20's to everyone who asks.
I feel bad for most of them but at the same time I get anxiety walking down the sidewalk and seeing someone up ahead that I know is going to ask me for money. Its not like you can say "oh no, I donate to services that help the needy" because that person isn't necessarily being helped by that. And ignoring completely feels so mean, plus I tried that one time and the person was screaming at me as i walked away that I ignored them.
I also dont want my city to round them up and send them to prison camps, something they are planning and that I know a lot of people would vote for just to "get rid of them" but im not supporting that at all.
Its tough.
I give what I can when I can. It's rare to have actual cash, but if it's close to a restaurant I just ask if they want food or drink and buy them something with my card. Takes 5 minutes and is just a small act of kindness and support from another person. Most people don't even acknowledge they exist, let alone talk to them.
Life under capitalism seriously sucks for all of us (except a few hundred people), if I can maybe help make someone's day a little less shitty I'll try.
I don't mean this in a judgemental way at all, but just remember that they are humans too, just like you or I. Most people do not realize just how insanely lucky they are to be able to do basic things like work and have a house and car and have money and all that many people don't get the same opportunities and are dealt a bad hand in life through no fault of theirs. One big medical bill can make someone homeless in this system. Don't feel bad or awkward about having some resources that others don't have, but you can also slow down and share a little.
Treat other people how you would want to be treated if roles reversed. Simple as that.
Again, I don't mean to make anyone feel bad for not giving. I also don't mean to elevate myself in the least, I'm not any better than you, I'm just trying to help people see the humanity in others regardless of money.
-
This is becoming more common in my town. I just either feel like an ass saying I dont have cash, or lying, but I also can't be giving out 20's to everyone who asks.
I feel bad for most of them but at the same time I get anxiety walking down the sidewalk and seeing someone up ahead that I know is going to ask me for money. Its not like you can say "oh no, I donate to services that help the needy" because that person isn't necessarily being helped by that. And ignoring completely feels so mean, plus I tried that one time and the person was screaming at me as i walked away that I ignored them.
I also dont want my city to round them up and send them to prison camps, something they are planning and that I know a lot of people would vote for just to "get rid of them" but im not supporting that at all.
Its tough.
Peacefully coexisting is the hope imo. Just leave people alone, offer help if you can, otherwise wish them well.
Anyone harassing either has drug or mental issues, not much you can do but limit interactions.
Sound like asylums may be returning, so that will probably be horrible.
-
This is becoming more common in my town. I just either feel like an ass saying I dont have cash, or lying, but I also can't be giving out 20's to everyone who asks.
I feel bad for most of them but at the same time I get anxiety walking down the sidewalk and seeing someone up ahead that I know is going to ask me for money. Its not like you can say "oh no, I donate to services that help the needy" because that person isn't necessarily being helped by that. And ignoring completely feels so mean, plus I tried that one time and the person was screaming at me as i walked away that I ignored them.
I also dont want my city to round them up and send them to prison camps, something they are planning and that I know a lot of people would vote for just to "get rid of them" but im not supporting that at all.
Its tough.
If you don't have the means to help with what they're asking for, a quick "Sorry, can't help today" and going about your business is they way to go. It's not a full on engagement, but it is an acknowledgement.
Back when I was a smoker, if I didn't have means to help with cash but had some smokes to spare and a little time I'd say "No, but if you smoke I can share one with you" and, if they were into it, stop and chat for a cigarette break's length of time. Lots of factors to consider here before doing that, but for the most part people enjoyed the acknowledgement for a few minutes. YMMV.
-
But I can understand what you were saying
Do you want me to rewrite it for you how I would say it?
Ye. Not native i am:]
-
I once experienced , in my 22. I gave out about 10 dol , then got keeping asked (i was too shy to reject!) so at last i gave out 50 dol, all what i took from school my college.
bad grammar sryHere's how Google translates what you said into Simplified Chinese:
我曾经经历过，在我 22 岁的时候。我捐了大约 10 美元，然后一直被问到（我太害羞了，不敢拒绝！）所以最后我捐了 50 美元，全部是我在学校和大学学到的。语法不好，抱歉
-
Here's how Google translates what you said into Simplified Chinese:
我曾经经历过，在我 22 岁的时候。我捐了大约 10 美元，然后一直被问到（我太害羞了，不敢拒绝！）所以最后我捐了 50 美元，全部是我在学校和大学学到的。语法不好，抱歉
是。这是在学校时期经历的。
-
This is becoming more common in my town. I just either feel like an ass saying I dont have cash, or lying, but I also can't be giving out 20's to everyone who asks.
I feel bad for most of them but at the same time I get anxiety walking down the sidewalk and seeing someone up ahead that I know is going to ask me for money. Its not like you can say "oh no, I donate to services that help the needy" because that person isn't necessarily being helped by that. And ignoring completely feels so mean, plus I tried that one time and the person was screaming at me as i walked away that I ignored them.
I also dont want my city to round them up and send them to prison camps, something they are planning and that I know a lot of people would vote for just to "get rid of them" but im not supporting that at all.
Its tough.
Ignore them.
-
This is becoming more common in my town. I just either feel like an ass saying I dont have cash, or lying, but I also can't be giving out 20's to everyone who asks.
I feel bad for most of them but at the same time I get anxiety walking down the sidewalk and seeing someone up ahead that I know is going to ask me for money. Its not like you can say "oh no, I donate to services that help the needy" because that person isn't necessarily being helped by that. And ignoring completely feels so mean, plus I tried that one time and the person was screaming at me as i walked away that I ignored them.
I also dont want my city to round them up and send them to prison camps, something they are planning and that I know a lot of people would vote for just to "get rid of them" but im not supporting that at all.
Its tough.
I try to have food bars and give it to them. Hopefully they eat it and not trade it for drugs or something
-
In the northeastern U.S. I've mostly learned to acknowledge them, don't give anything, and move on with my life.
Not sure if it's bad luck or what, but nearly every time I've tried to be nice and offer them something it always backfires. I'll be passing by with some food and they'll ask me for some, I give them some and then they tell me it wasn't enough and to give them all the food I was carrying. Like WTF?
Another time I actually had some change on me so I gave him some and he said it wasn't enough money and started following me, wanted me to go to an ATM so I can take out more money for him. I was forced to tell him to stop following me or I'd have to call the cops.
I have even more stories like that.. going through those motions repeatedly it feels like the homeless have taught me not to give to the homeless. But hopefully your experiences have better outcomes.
I'm in the northeast, I nod, apologize for having no cash and ignore them past that. I donate to the local food pantry, I know they're gonna buy drugs or alcohol with any money I give them face to face. I dated a girl that was homeless in NYC for a year, she spent every dollar she got on heroin. She knew where to get free food and clothes. She made about 50 to 100 dollars a day panhandling.
-
This is becoming more common in my town. I just either feel like an ass saying I dont have cash, or lying, but I also can't be giving out 20's to everyone who asks.
I feel bad for most of them but at the same time I get anxiety walking down the sidewalk and seeing someone up ahead that I know is going to ask me for money. Its not like you can say "oh no, I donate to services that help the needy" because that person isn't necessarily being helped by that. And ignoring completely feels so mean, plus I tried that one time and the person was screaming at me as i walked away that I ignored them.
I also dont want my city to round them up and send them to prison camps, something they are planning and that I know a lot of people would vote for just to "get rid of them" but im not supporting that at all.
Its tough.
Its not like you can say “oh no, I donate to services that help the needy” because that person isn’t necessarily being helped by that.
I had a friend say exactly that to someone. When I asked them further about it, they said, "he knows where to find a cot." That was more convincing to me before I listened to the "According to Need," Podcast. It looked at homelessness in the Bay Area (where we live) and getting a bed is nearly impossible.
I don't usually give money cause I rarely carry small bills. But sometimes. And I will without fail buy food for anyone who asks.
