Why Don't You Give Cash to Homeless People?

[Ifreann]

Or they are homeless and just want your money, not you investigating their life to see if they really deserve help.

So just give homeless people money without considering the consequences based on the circumstances?

I'm not telling you what to do with your money, I'm just saying that it's entirely possible that people could really be homeless and need money but not think it's worth the bother of jumping through your hoops to get your help, not when they could just ask someone else.

[Anagonia]

So just give homeless people money without considering the consequences based on the circumstances?

I'm not telling you what to do with your money, I'm just saying that it's entirely possible that people could really be homeless and need money but not think it's worth the bother of jumping through your hoops to get your help, not when they could just ask someone else.

That is indeed what I believed I was - and no offense when I state this - very naïve. There are tells for someone begging legitimately and someone who simply wants your money. They way they hold themselves. Their posture. Their smell. Their level of cleanliness. Their clothing. I have learned my own perceptions based on the individuals who conduct their begging as a business, rather than seeking legitimate help. When you live near a big city, you get the experience of the con artists who live within it.

I do not disregard your perspective, I simply have a different opinion and perspective.

[GruffyRichard and HillbillyBob]

people shouldn't give cash to the homeless because they need to work for their money and not rely on other people's charity for money

if they work hard then they can make a decent amount of money.

so the real problem is jobs. jobs need to be created so these people can work and make money.

then we have less homeless people and a better economy, its a win win

[Ifreann]

I'm not telling you what to do with your money, I'm just saying that it's entirely possible that people could really be homeless and need money but not think it's worth the bother of jumping through your hoops to get your help, not when they could just ask someone else.

That is indeed what I believed I was - and no offense when I state this - very naïve. There are tells for someone begging legitimately and someone who simply wants your money.

Someone who is begging is someone who wants your money. You're repeating yourself.

They way they hold themselves. Their posture. Their smell. Their level of cleanliness. Their clothing. I have learned my own perceptions based on the individuals who conduct their begging as a business, rather than seeking legitimate help. When you live near a big city, you get the experience of the con artists who live within it.

But you haven't really learned anything, because you obviously never get confirmation of your suspicions. How could you possibly, it's not like you identify people begging in a way that you find suspicious and then stalk them around all day so you can prove definitively that they're scam artists. That would be insane. More likely what happens is that someone asks you for money, you assume they're a scam artist, and when they don't play along with your game of making them prove they aren't a scam artist you tell yourself that you must have been right. Maybe your right some of the time, but you obviously don't ever find out.

[Silvedania]

My mom never gives them any because she doesn't know what they are going to do with it and she doesn't want her money going to drugs or something. I think that this is kind of flawed and have convinced her to buy them a meal or two instead of doing nothing.

[Ifreann]

people shouldn't give cash to the homeless because they need to work for their money and not rely on other people's charity for money

if they work hard then they can make a decent amount of money.

so the real problem is jobs. jobs need to be created so these people can work and make money.

then we have less homeless people and a better economy, its a win win

Isn't it strange that we keep making technological advances that allow us to produce far more with far less actual human labour, and yet we never lessen our demands that people work for a living.

[Washington Resistance Army]

When I first started Truck Driving I continued my habit of being generous with my wealth that I attained. I would help folks who were needy, anyone who asked, usually by buying them food or a meal, sometimes even handing out money. What I learned in my six years on the road is that the majority of these people on the side of the road begging, and especially those at Truck Stops, are in fact con artists. They are folks who may have chosen their lifestyle, may even have hit hard times and are actually poor, but they are all "in" on the game. They want your money and they share their money with each other, a headman, or a group for the purposes of drug use or other nefarious means. Often, you'd find these group conning drivers with games of chance simply to steal wallets and personal information. It's all a big game and the majority of these homeless you see around Atlanta are, in fact, "in" on it.

That doesn't detract from my ability to help the poor when requested or when I see someone needs help. What I transitioned from instead of giving out money is instead offering them food and water. Only rarely since a few years ago have I even done cash, and that was to buy a man an overnight stay in a hotel because he looked legitimately in need. When I saw one of the folks I handed money to go directly to a liquor store, that was when I knew that handing that money out was entirely ineffective to support the situation most of these legitimately poor folks are in. They are in a terrible situation, those not "in" on the game as mentioned above, and most are dealing with a crisis of their own. Supporting the bad habit or method that got them there won't support their future, in my opinion. But I will freely, always freely buy them food and water when asked. I don't normally do so on my own will anymore, but when asked I do my best to provide, including to those on the "in" - because some of those folks are being forced to doing that and they have no escape.

Had a guy in a Northface jacket and converse beg me for money once. I knew immediately that he probably wasn't homeless.

Yeah I've seen a pretty shocking number of people who clearly aren't homeless or even poor still out panhandling and begging for money, it's ridiculous.

[Latvijas Otra Republika]

My mom never gives them any because she doesn't know what they are going to do with it and she doesn't want her money going to drugs or something. I think that this is kind of flawed and have convinced her to buy them a meal or two instead of doing nothing.

But that's right, especially if they have animals with them, you just buy them groceries or necessities. Them spending money on drugs such as heroin, meth or spice hurts more people than themselves. And also in general, I know that certain property holders used to give and still give out 'grants/leases' or take in a simple bribe for people to squat on their property and pretend to be homeless. That's why you have to look if where a homeless person sits isn't suspicious or too 'touristy'. Also, if someone is very bold or aggressive in asking for money - they are most likely doing it for 'sport' or a quick scam.

All of that considered it isn't bad to drop pocket change or a note, just that directly giving to foodbanks or homeless shelters may sometimes be a better alternative.

[Anagonia]

*snip*

What you're arguing is essentially that because someone is poor, they deserve instant recognition and assistance and should never be disregarded. Let us derive an example of what I perceive your argument to be.

Person A pretends to be poor, confronts person B and asks for money. According to your perspective, person B is morally obligated to help. Person A then goes to buy more alcohol and drugs out of eyesight of person B, while person B gets the sense they helped someone without ever knowing.

You're assuming that every situation is not like this, and I agree. It's not. But the majority of them are. The majority of these people that I have come across are con artists, pure and simple. Unless you have the leg work in the field of experience I do, you do not see the hustle these folks pull just to bring in the cash to fund their operations. They are a legitimate problem in many metro areas, not because of being homeless, but because of what they bring in their wake. Atlanta has been dealing with this for years now and still is.

The point I've been trying to make is that you cannot rightfully confront me on my perspective which was gained on my experience across this country. I have been in and slept in all 48 continental states. I have seen these operations up close and the authorities eventually catch up to them. Hell, it's quite common these operations coincide with human trafficking. You can't legitimately tell me my suspicions and experience are not justified and undeserved.

I spent three years of my young adult life dirt-poor and near homeless, but I didn't beg on the streets. I got a bike and rode around looking for work, anything to do to get money, and I finally got myself on my feet. I've been damn near close to that point several times in my life, including in 2008 and more recently in 2017, but each time I work. Most of the time, this condition of homelessness is a condition of the mind. You're homeless if you give up. Go ask a professional train hopper if they're homeless, they'll tell you "no" straight up usually, because their home is on the road. That's a decision a person made consciously to be in that state. And the people who live in that state and extort others for their own gain, on the grounds it's far easier because of the generosity of others, is the type of person that dominates the begging I see.

You can't tell me that a couple with crutches begging on the curb can't be extorting others. Oh, right, at first if you just pass them your perception sees them as a damaged individual and you want to help. But if you sit somewhere and watch, you'll see that homeless person grab their crutches and walk perfectly to their tent. They chose that condition because it was far easier to gain money that way than it was to work for it, and half the time it's their actual lifestyle because that's how they live and travel. You can't tell me you don't see this or know that, haven't lived near that part of life or been forced into a gang to survive. You can't tell me those things and expect me to look at you suspiciously and believe, in all honestly, how inexperienced your statements truly are.

But they're your statements, ones I even held true for a long time, and I respect that. Go help and get those good feelings at helping, I'm not going to stop you. What I said is from my experience. It's what I lived next to when I struggled, what I saw when I rose from that level, and what I am wary of due to that experience. That's me. Don't try and change me to your perspective, I'm happy you enjoy helping homeless folk, but if you help without actually considering the consequence of that then that's not an opinion that I value personally.

[Latvijas Otra Republika]

*snip*

What you're arguing is essentially that because someone is poor, they deserve instant recognition and assistance and should never be disregarded. Let us derive an example of what I perceive your argument to be.

Person A pretends to be poor, confronts person B and asks for money. According to your perspective, person B is morally obligated to help. Person A then goes to buy more alcohol and drugs out of eyesight of person B, while person B gets the sense they helped someone without ever knowing.

You're assuming that every situation is not like this, and I agree. It's not. But the majority of them are. The majority of these people that I have come across are con artists, pure and simple. Unless you have the leg work in the field of experience I do, you do not see the hustle these folks pull just to bring in the cash to fund their operations. They are a legitimate problem in many metro areas, not because of being homeless, but because of what they bring in their wake. Atlanta has been dealing with this for years now and still is.

The point I've been trying to make is that you cannot rightfully confront me on my perspective which was gained on my experience across this country. I have been in and slept in all 48 continental states. I have seen these operations up close and the authorities eventually catch up to them. Hell, it's quite common these operations coincide with human trafficking. You can't legitimately tell me my suspicions and experience are not justified and undeserved.

I spent three years of my young adult life dirt-poor and near homeless, but I didn't beg on the streets. I got a bike and rode around looking for work, anything to do to get money, and I finally got myself on my feet. I've been damn near close to that point several times in my life, including in 2008 and more recently in 2017, but each time I work. Most of the time, this condition of homelessness is a condition of the mind. You're homeless if you give up. Go ask a professional train hopper if they're homeless, they'll tell you "no" straight up usually, because their home is on the road. That's a decision a person made consciously to be in that state. And the people who live in that state and extort others for their own gain, on the grounds it's far easier because of the generosity of others, is the type of person that dominates the begging I see.

You can't tell me that a couple with crutches begging on the curb can't be extorting others. Oh, right, at first if you just pass them your perception sees them as a damaged individual and you want to help. But if you sit somewhere and watch, you'll see that homeless person grab their crutches and walk perfectly to their tent. They chose that condition because it was far easier to gain money that way than it was to work for it, and half the time it's their actual lifestyle because that's how they live and travel. You can't tell me you don't see this or know that, haven't lived near that part of life or been forced into a gang to survive. You can't tell me those things and expect me to look at you suspiciously and believe, in all honestly, how inexperienced your statements truly are.

But they're your statements, ones I even held true for a long time, and I respect that. Go help and get those good feelings at helping, I'm not going to stop you. What I said is from my experience. It's what I lived next to when I struggled, what I saw when I rose from that level, and what I am wary of due to that experience. That's me. Don't try and change me to your perspective, I'm happy you enjoy helping homeless folk, but if you help without actually considering the consequence of that then that's not an opinion that I value personally.

Damn brother, if you ever write a book I'd read it. Very tough work and you've got all my respect for it.

[Ifreann]

*snip*

What you're arguing is essentially that because someone is poor, they deserve instant recognition and assistance and should never be disregarded.

I said that I'm not telling you what to do with your money, and you still chose to read my post as me telling you what to do with your money.

[The Republic of Fore]

Because I'm not a charity, I pay taxes that go to fund welfare that's enough.

[Kubra]

When I first started Truck Driving I continued my habit of being generous with my wealth that I attained. I would help folks who were needy, anyone who asked, usually by buying them food or a meal, sometimes even handing out money. What I learned in my six years on the road is that the majority of these people on the side of the road begging, and especially those at Truck Stops, are in fact con artists. They are folks who may have chosen their lifestyle, may even have hit hard times and are actually poor, but they are all "in" on the game. They want your money and they share their money with each other, a headman, or a group for the purposes of drug use or other nefarious means. Often, you'd find these group conning drivers with games of chance simply to steal wallets and personal information. It's all a big game and the majority of these homeless you see around Atlanta are, in fact, "in" on it.

That doesn't detract from my ability to help the poor when requested or when I see someone needs help. What I transitioned from instead of giving out money is instead offering them food and water. Only rarely since a few years ago have I even done cash, and that was to buy a man an overnight stay in a hotel because he looked legitimately in need. When I saw one of the folks I handed money to go directly to a liquor store, that was when I knew that handing that money out was entirely ineffective to support the situation most of these legitimately poor folks are in. They are in a terrible situation, those not "in" on the game as mentioned above, and most are dealing with a crisis of their own. Supporting the bad habit or method that got them there won't support their future, in my opinion. But I will freely, always freely buy them food and water when asked. I don't normally do so on my own will anymore, but when asked I do my best to provide, including to those on the "in" - because some of those folks are being forced to doing that and they have no escape.

Had a guy in a Northface jacket and converse beg me for money once. I knew immediately that he probably wasn't homeless.

As has been said, folks don't automatically grow scraggly beards the moment shit goes south. It's something that slowly becomes them. Orwell and Dolan did lovely little books on their homeless lives.
Remember that, folks: Orwell was hobo. You know, for a bit.

[The Republic of Fore]

Had a guy in a Northface jacket and converse beg me for money once. I knew immediately that he probably wasn't homeless.

As has been said, folks don't automatically grow scraggly beards the moment shit goes south. It's something that slowly becomes them. Orwell and Dolan did lovely little books on their homeless lives.
Remember that, folks: Orwell was a hobo. You know, for a bit.

As an addition, there are quite a few homeless college students in my area that are rather nicely dressed. Sometimes generous people give nice clothing. Others might have recently run away from an abusive family.

[Saiwania]

Our power went out in work last week and we could only deal in cash.

I'm going to laugh if those who pushed most for electronic only forms of payment to the detriment of anything else, get screwed over by that arrangement. I suspect that physical cash's future is secure because of climate change. If the Earth heats up enough, daily survival will be harder. So the civilization that remains will have to reduce electricity use where thats practical. Unless we really do manage to get to nuclear fusion and can harness the vast amount of energy from it overnight.

The people who dissed cash should have to be cut off from their money for a few days or so, if electronic payment happens to be down or unavailable. They chose the side of government/banks controlling everything financial, so they should have to bear that if things go south.

[SD_Film Artists]

It's a bit strange that when it comes to giving cash to the homeless people are very concerned with what ends that cash will be put towards, but when it comes to everything else we do with our money we tend not to think like that. I bought some Steam games, and I didn't give a moment's thought towards whether that money might be used to buy drugs or booze.

Giving money to the homeless is generally done so they can buy things to suvive with, wholesome things. It's like giving money to a kickstarter campaign and instead of creating the amazing invention that they promiced they instead just bought booze and drugs. When you give money to Steam there's no further expectation than them letting you download a game.

[Saiwania]

Don't give money to those that're homeless. They don't deserve it because they're not earning it from offering their services or selling something like everyone else is doing. But assuming it is being done as an act of charity, it isn't going to help such a person anyways. They'll be a target for both criminals and the police because they're in a more precarious/unstable situation.

What someone like that really needs, is to move to where there are better opportunities for them if they're willing to relocate or to be directed to a shelter where they can get the help they need if they're willing to put in the efforts to turn their economic situation around. Pursuing more education, better skills, or taking any work thats available, whatever it takes.

But for those who quit or won't, they gotta be abandoned to their own devices until they cave in if they're tired of being homeless.

[Enjuku]

I normally give food or supplies instead of cash. Sometimes if I see someone homeless and I have free time, I'll run to the local convenient store and buy them a care package. Like if it's snowy out, I'll get the portable hand warmers. I'll get a decent sized thing of water, some granola or chocolates or chips. A hot coffee does wonders. Good quality snacks and candies can be bartered for money or safety in return. It's harsh if they don't have their own spot yet or worse, they're in the shelter on their own.

Giving just straight money usually won't do anything. What can they get for 2 dollars in a big city? And when the 2 dollars is spent, that's it. Plus, if they're in an unsafe situation, they make themselves a target if they have a bunch of cash on-hand. It's just safer to get them supplies to barter or consume right away.

[Kannap]

If I have cash in my wallet - which isn't often and when I do it's not a lot - and a homeless person asks for money, I gladly give them some. Kinda just courtesy for my fellow man.

[Len Hyet]

-OP snip-

They have every right to spend their money on whatever they choose.
I have every right to decide I'd rather not have my money end up shot into someone else's veins.

[Luziyca]

Because I don't have the cash on me. If I do have cash, I try to give some if they ask, but I haven't given anyone cash since early 2020, given, well... *gestures at COVID*

[Page]

Because I don't have the cash on me. If I do have cash, I try to give some if they ask, but I haven't given anyone cash since early 2020, given, well... *gestures at COVID*

This makes me want to start another thread about the danger of a cashless futures. But I won't, at least not tonight.

I wear a mask whenever I am in an indoor public place but I still pay for everything possible in cash. And honestly if a cashier didn't have hand sanitizer provided to them by their employer, first of all fuck their capitalist exploiter for not shelling out a few bucks for hand sanitizer, but I would gladly pay for it myself if I had to, I truly would. I would rather buy every cashier hand sanitizer whose employer doesn't provide it than stop using cash.

The prospect of a cashless society is terrifying. Every purchase can be tracked and if you think that is conspiracy theory crap, I direct you to credit reports, something we all accept as normal despite the fact we should see credit reports as dystopian as fuck. Seriously, if you pay your full credit card balance every month, you will be punished with bad credit for not going into debt and paying interest to leeches. If you don't believe me, look it up, that is a verifiable fact.

Anyway, to not get too off topic, going cash free discriminates against the homeless. In fact, it also discriminates against working class people with homes who can't afford new phones right away to use payment apps. If there was a payment app truly anonymous that neither the state or corporations could ever get their hands on and if every homeless person was given a free phone, I would gladly transfer them money instead, but that's not going to happen any time soon.

Everyone who is going cashless cause of Covid is helping the rise of totalitarianism. If it's really about health than bathe your cash in alcohol, I'm not even kidding, and wash your hands every time you exchange cash. Better than helping bring about a totalitarian society where you employer tells you that they checked your purchase report and they will fire you if you spend your next paycheck on a new video game instead of a new suit.

[Cannot think of a name]

"Hey, can I get a dollar? I am starving."

"Hey, how about I buy you a meal?"

"I don't want no fuckin meal."

"???"

This is a typical conversation I have with homeless people outside fast food places or gas stations. There are also the "homeless" people at every highway exit ramp that drive a moped home every night. Oh and the "homeless" couple who park their 2018 extended cab in the Walmart parking lot everyday and hold signs at the entrances until they are handed a few hundred dollars for groceries. I guess they shop at whole foods because they promptly leave.

IMO do homeless deserve some small luxuries? Sure. That does not include drugs, alcohol, and tobacco though. Those are likely a large part of why they are homeless. So donate or volunteer at a shelter. I use to work with habitat for humanity (hand up not hand out). Offer food. Don't hand money do the fakes or the addicts. It won't help.

First of all, your story of 'typical conversation' sounds like a thing that never happened. I'm not going to get into a back and forth about this, but the fact that all these 'stories' are chapter and verse just makes them all smell like bullshit.

Second, maybe this is something about money you haven't hit on yet but might hip you to why a fiver is better than a burger you wanted to hand off. Money is potential, ultimately. It's stored potential. Five dollars of potential can be converted at some point into three tacos and a soda. But you may not need those three tacos and a soda right now, but you have been alive long enough to understand your basic biology that eventually you'll need food again...and that might not be a time when some self righteous good Samaritan who want's to buy the food themselves for some overworked moralistic reason will be around to buy you the food of their choosing. So the optimum thing is to get a little spare change or loose bill that you can then spend in a more strategic manner, buying food when hungry and not on the schedule of the judgemental people who feel the need to be in on the specifics of how you're going to get on with your day. Someone who panhandles for a few hours in front of a heavy traffic area has to be able to take that take and get through the rest of the day or days since they can't often hit the same place or rely on the same return each time. And since they don't have a refridgerator and microwave strapped to their back to take all that food that people want to hand them lest the dollar they just passed over gets used from something they don't approve of, handing over food isn't really as advantageous as you would assume.

Finally. there was this whole global crisis that happened where people have lost a lot and people can go from having things to not having things pretty quickly even without a pandemic, so they might hold on to things that make their survival easier like the last new car they bought.

Just some food for thought, there.

[The Emerald Legion]

"Hey, can I get a dollar? I am starving."

"Hey, how about I buy you a meal?"

"I don't want no fuckin meal."

"???"

This is a typical conversation I have with homeless people outside fast food places or gas stations. There are also the "homeless" people at every highway exit ramp that drive a moped home every night. Oh and the "homeless" couple who park their 2018 extended cab in the Walmart parking lot everyday and hold signs at the entrances until they are handed a few hundred dollars for groceries. I guess they shop at whole foods because they promptly leave.

IMO do homeless deserve some small luxuries? Sure. That does not include drugs, alcohol, and tobacco though. Those are likely a large part of why they are homeless. So donate or volunteer at a shelter. I use to work with habitat for humanity (hand up not hand out). Offer food. Don't hand money do the fakes or the addicts. It won't help.

First of all, your story of 'typical conversation' sounds like a thing that never happened. I'm not going to get into a back and forth about this, but the fact that all these 'stories' are chapter and verse just makes them all smell like bullshit.

Second, maybe this is something about money you haven't hit on yet but might hip you to why a fiver is better than a burger you wanted to hand off. Money is potential, ultimately. It's stored potential. Five dollars of potential can be converted at some point into three tacos and a soda. But you may not need those three tacos and a soda right now, but you have been alive long enough to understand your basic biology that eventually you'll need food again...and that might not be a time when some self righteous good Samaritan who want's to buy the food themselves for some overworked moralistic reason will be around to buy you the food of their choosing. So the optimum thing is to get a little spare change or loose bill that you can then spend in a more strategic manner, buying food when hungry and not on the schedule of the judgemental people who feel the need to be in on the specifics of how you're going to get on with your day. Someone who panhandles for a few hours in front of a heavy traffic area has to be able to take that take and get through the rest of the day or days since they can't often hit the same place or rely on the same return each time. And since they don't have a refridgerator and microwave strapped to their back to take all that food that people want to hand them lest the dollar they just passed over gets used from something they don't approve of, handing over food isn't really as advantageous as you would assume.

Finally. there was this whole global crisis that happened where people have lost a lot and people can go from having things to not having things pretty quickly even without a pandemic, so they might hold on to things that make their survival easier like the last new car they bought.

Just some food for thought, there.

Alternatively, they're asking you for a favor. You're entirely within your rights to attach conditions to that favor, and pretending it's some overworked moralism to distrust strangers when it's literally the most basic social more every child is taught from birth is kind of ridiculous.

[Cannot think of a name]

First of all, your story of 'typical conversation' sounds like a thing that never happened. I'm not going to get into a back and forth about this, but the fact that all these 'stories' are chapter and verse just makes them all smell like bullshit.

Second, maybe this is something about money you haven't hit on yet but might hip you to why a fiver is better than a burger you wanted to hand off. Money is potential, ultimately. It's stored potential. Five dollars of potential can be converted at some point into three tacos and a soda. But you may not need those three tacos and a soda right now, but you have been alive long enough to understand your basic biology that eventually you'll need food again...and that might not be a time when some self righteous good Samaritan who want's to buy the food themselves for some overworked moralistic reason will be around to buy you the food of their choosing. So the optimum thing is to get a little spare change or loose bill that you can then spend in a more strategic manner, buying food when hungry and not on the schedule of the judgemental people who feel the need to be in on the specifics of how you're going to get on with your day. Someone who panhandles for a few hours in front of a heavy traffic area has to be able to take that take and get through the rest of the day or days since they can't often hit the same place or rely on the same return each time. And since they don't have a refridgerator and microwave strapped to their back to take all that food that people want to hand them lest the dollar they just passed over gets used from something they don't approve of, handing over food isn't really as advantageous as you would assume.

Finally. there was this whole global crisis that happened where people have lost a lot and people can go from having things to not having things pretty quickly even without a pandemic, so they might hold on to things that make their survival easier like the last new car they bought.

Just some food for thought, there.

Alternatively, they're asking you for a favor. You're entirely within your rights to attach conditions to that favor, and pretending it's some overworked moralism to distrust strangers when it's literally the most basic social more every child is taught from birth is kind of ridiculous.

If you're worried the 'cagey' homeless person is going to outsmart you, maybe you need to wear padding.