Giving money versus food to the homeless

I've been thinking today about how people like to give homeless people food so that they know that they can't just go out and buy drugs and alcohol. I think that says more about the person giving than it does about the homeless person. I feel like it says that homeless people can't or shouldn't be trusted to buy what's right for themselves and that only we know what is truly the right thing for them. In all honesty though we rarely know the people we are giving to or their situation and we will never know what they need better than them.

Yes some of the money given may go to the wrong things, on the other hand homeless people will know ways to stretch the money that we likely don't think about. You may have bought them a combo meal for about 7-8 bucks, but that same money could have bought days worth of ramen or some other cheap food that goes to several meals. Plus food is not the only thing needed, some need a blanket or a cheap phone so they can get an employer to hire them, and on and on the list goes.

It almost seems judgemental and petty to only be willing to give food, and it basically shows that you are only willing to feed a man to fish as opposed to helping him buy the fishing pole he needs to feed himself. As always I'm curious as to what you guys think.

MRW I'm homeless and people don't give me money or food.

Eh there was a documentary done on the homeless around here a few years back....they said they money goes to drugs and alcohol. They scrounge food in dumpsters. That is their priority. Ask them when they ask for money if they'd like you to buy a burger for them and see how fast they leave.

@LJS9502_basic: Ahhh sooo true you hit the spot!

When they ask for money and I offer them food/drink they look reluctant but sometimes accept. I don't give them money anymore because I'm in debt and my apartment had been robbed. It's best to donate money to a charity because it's tax deductible and they'll know what to do with the money.

@Serraph105: I think that more goes to drugs than you would like to think. If someone asks me for money, I always say no. I'll tell them that I'll get them a burger or something (depends where I am) and it's usually a "go **** yourself" or similar type of response that I get from them.

@frank_castle:lol

Neither, these people need to start working hard for themselves!

When you look like you hadn't showered in months, it becomes pretty obvious where that money is going.

If they're honest about it and want drugs, I'll be more than happy to assist them with anything, such as clean syringes. Some are straight up and say they just want booze, which I'm ok with if I'm dropping by the drug store for some.

ill give either if I'm in the mood

To the hell with them.

I'll give them any change I have but I usually don't carry cash. I gave a guy some candy I'd just bought once and he seemed really happy to get it. A lot of homeless people have mental health issues that they can't get treatment for and illegal drugs and alcohol are the best they can hope for in the US at least.

@michael_1234576: Mood?! Mood's a thing for cattle, and loveplay!! Not giving money to the homeless!

Some on the train do specifically ask for food. So I may have a spare water bottle or snack bar I can give them if I feel ok doing so.

I'm pretty hesitant to give money. Although I did recently to a guy who had a dog. Actually get ticked off when someone tries a slick remark, or attempts to make me feel guilty for money. Its like they assume because I'm paying for gas, going into McDonalds, or a bank. That money just flows out my pocket. Fortunately there's barely any beggars where I live. So I only deal with them when I head downtown.

Don't know if this happens in the US, but I'm UK you get homeless you approach you and tell you a crazy story to get money from you.

Like there car broke down and they need 50p to use a payphone.

You're making that up. According to some other guy, the homeless get their food from dumpsters.

@Serraph105: Isn't there a saying about beggars and choosers? Why is it petty to give to the homeless now just because it isn't money? The people who just walk by in disgust are doing them huge favours or something? I think this is the wrong thing to focus on.

When I have cash on hand I do give homeless people money. If they want to use that money to buy some booze, who can blame them?

Have you ever had to live under a bridge or dumpster dive for breakfast? I don't worry about how they use the money. I just try to bless them with whatever I have on hand.

And for those of us who are either trolling or saying disparaging remarks about homeless people *cough*@frank_castle@ttlockerroom*cough* remember but by the grace of God there goes you.

Mrs. Deagle, it's Christmas

Now you know what to ask Santa for, don't you?

I usually just give them money when I can. While I can understand the mentality of giving them food instead I just don't think that it's entirely practical. With money it's something that they can use when needed. Offering to buy them a burger or something may not be beneficial at that particular moment because they may not need it right at that time and it's not like they have some place where they can store their food at especially perishables. Money gives more security to know that one can purchase food when needed.

My main point is that if you are capable of buying a homeless person a mean that the person you are trying to help would likely be better off if you just gave them the money that you were going to buy a meal with. On the other hand if you can't do this, but you have food and are willing to share it than that's a different story.

I do not mean to say that either is bad, just that the best way to help is to allow them to make choices for themselves.

It's actually a fair point about giving to charities.

Yeah and the homeless are part of a secret society.

These people do not have a home or anywhere stable in which to dwell but they have cooking facilities or fires to cook ramen noodles?

Old saying: People are so poor, all they have is Money.

But anyways, if I have spare cash, I don't mind giving out to those who really need it for mainly food but if it's for drugs or whatever, I'll still pass it on cause well, we all could die tomorrow and if you wanna have fun, then I'll gladly give you some cash.

This right here I also agree. I dealt with homeless folks who just ask me cash for cigarettes which by the way, I'm okay with that. If you got'em, smoke'em.

And yet not all these answers are from Americans.

A little dumpster diving and some ingenuity and yeah, you could find a homeless person with the ability to cook for themselves. Or perhap just a garbage can fire could provide the heat needed as well.

Joke or not, I like to help people as much as I could give.

And it has nothing to do with being an American, I'm Human, I like to help other Humans in the world if I can.

@eliminatorpaige: Always love when someone uses a gif rather than make a point. Kind of demonstrates they can't make one.

I read it. You whined.

You didn't ask any question....you posted a gif. keep trying though.

Are you having difficulties? You made a comment on Americans and I said not everyone who commented was American....which you posted a gif after. That IS the extent. Period.

I'll usually give them money, I don't always have time to go out of my way to get them food. I know it may not go to that but if it'll get them through another day then cool.

Why cant more people be like you..

And by the way, I don't give them money either. I'm not gonna pretend that I'm doing them a favor by not giving them money, I just plain don't want to give them any money.

I've had a homeless person in Atlanta get really angry with me for giving him a bag of fruit.

I will only help a homeless person out if they specifically ask for food, preferably with a sign - and only if I actually have some extra food on me.

We really need a better government system to take care of homeless people - it's gotta be relatively inexpensive compared to a lot of other programs, and dealing with beggars fucking sucks because you never know if they're the crazy type.

I bet most of them are just lazy or have substance abuse problems anyway - probably only a handful with circumstances beyond their control.

they need rehabilitation not your spare change.

I don't care what anyone says, there's major inherent laziness involved with the majority of the homeless.

I don't care if I had to flip burgers for minimum wage 80+ hours a week. If that's what it takes to surround myself with 4 walls, a roof and a bed every night and not have to live on the streets like some gutter rat...then may I take your order please?

When I was down in New Orleans, there was this dude with a sign reading:

"B*&%tch won't suck my D*&^K, need money for a hooker".

I gave him 5 bucks.

I'm 34

And yes, getting a job at the local Mickey D's, Burger King, Taco Bell, Hardees, Wendy's, etc is extremely easy. It doesn't even require a HS diploma/GED or any useful skill. Just show up on time and do your job. That's it. There are millions of 16 year old high school kids who do it every day. It's nothing lavish or highly respectable...but at least it's something.

As I said, I don't give a shit if I had to take two fast food jobs on minimum wage and work 80 hours a week. It beats the hell out of living on the street like some stray dog.

What are the homeless doing all day anyway? Scrounging through dumpsters and begging on the corner? So go ahead and invest that time in standing in front of a grill and actually be able to provide a human existence for yourself, no matter how meager it may be.

@frank_castle: If you were a manager at McDonalds, would you hire the fresh faced 16 year old kid? Or the sketchy looking homeless guy?