Im through giving to the homeless on the streets. I was walking into a dollar store a few weeks back, when I saw this homelesssguy in his mid twenties. He had a sign that said something like any change will do, and that he is hungry. So while in the store I pick him up a big bag of chips and a soft drink. When I get outside I hand them to him and he has the nerve to say oh I dont want that it has to many carbohydrates . ....Really?

Carl Stevenson wrote:

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Last year we came out of Home Depot and a homeless man asked me for money for coffee. I've always been told not to give them money (because it likely just supports their addiction) but to buy them food and something to drink. I told him I'd buy him a coffee, ran over to Tim's and bought him a large coffee (cream and sugar) and a doughnut. Came back, he was gone... I can't drink coffee with cream and sugar so it went to waste.

Today outside the doctor's office a homeless man asks me for coffee money. I told him I'd buy him a coffee and asked if he'd like a doughnut. He said "sure, small coffee, cream and sugar, and a Boston Cream doughnut." Ran to Tim's, came back with the coffee and doughnut. You guessed it, gone............ He showed up outside about 10 minutes later with a pizza and a coke which he said a guy bought for him after I ran to get the coffee, so he didn't need the coffee and doughnut any more. Coffee went to waste once again.

What can I do different? I'm NOT giving these guys cash but I want to help them.

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Go to Tims get a $50 gift card and send it to Johnnee. 

I have no problem buying any stranger a coffee and doughnut, homeless or not but I sure won't give a stranger money (except for car parts!)

Tough problem for sure.

A friend owned a shop in a nice area and suddenly the Church on the corner started feeding the homeless.

Within days the whole area changed, and remains changed, high crime, homeless hanging everywhere.

I often thought designating an old property (EG: Military) out of town for the homeless might be an option.

Feed, shelter, clothe and protect them all together rather than them all roaming around.

We wouldn't have to feel guilty not helping the roamers as they would have a place to go.

Might be a better way for all to combine resources, some might even integrate back into society.

Thinking out loud, hope this isnt a political thought.

Thanks
Randy

StriperSS wrote:

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Carl Stevenson wrote:

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I have no problem buying any stranger a coffee and doughnut, homeless or not but I sure won't give a stranger money (except for car parts!)

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 Good to know that you'll buy me a coffee if I show up! 

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 I know he doesn't drink.....but give up the doughnut..maybe he'll buy you a beer. Or......pick up Doug along the way and you'll have beer for the whole trip and enough MT's to pay for fuel!

Buy the coffee black... so you can always add what you want to it.

Likely better to give some $ to Siloam Mission... less than $4 buys a meal...

ak

on a more serious note here im my small town of mostly retired people we have a lady who sits in front of the grocery store daily with a sign stating she is homeless and looking for money and food,not many people approach her and the ones that do just give her food,its everywhere

So round 3 today. I'm slowly getting wiser.

This is pretty much the conversation that happened as I walked out of Superstore---



Him "Excuse me, could you spare some change?"

Me "I won't give you money but what do you need it for? Are you hungry?"

Him "Yes, I would like to get something to eat."

Me "I'll gladly go get you some food but I'll tell you what happened the last two times I went to get food for someone. When I came back they were gone."

Him "I'd just like spare change."

Me "I'll gladly go get food for you."

Him "No, I feel better if I can buy it myself."


I didn't reply to that, I just walked away. I don't feel bad about not helping when the money was clearly not for food.

I keep planning to go get Tim's cards but then I forget when I'm there. One of these days I will. I like the idea of giving them out because Tim's doesn't sell drugs!

last Sunday a guy was standing out side the Tims and we watched people coming in to buy coffee to go handed him a coffee on the way out. With in a short time the guy walked in an throw 4 full coffees in the garbage

57 Pathfinder wrote:

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 I don't hand out money, I don't buy them food...but mostly I don't talk down to them, or pity them. I'm often driving the garbage truck in some pretty bad areas in the middle of the night. I get hit up a lot, I don't 'give' though.

A lot of interaction I have are homeless digging through the garbage bins looking for bottles and cans (or whatever). I talk to them as I would to anyone in mainstream society. Commonly I let them know I need to dump the bin they're in, but if they need a few more minutes I can go grab a couple of others and come back. I have no 'problems' with them. They know the truck, they know I don't treat them like sub humans...

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 Exactly. Good stuff!

Nope, I guess I'm a bit naive. I actually believe there are some of the homeless out there who are truly in need. I'm a country boy. Are none of these guys begging actually legit?

The last 2 winters I spent quite a bit of time at the Winnipeg library in the archives section. While waiting each morning for the library to open, I encountered many homeless individuals who hang out in the walkway that takes in a lot of downtown Winnipeg. They are allowed in there to stay warm. One day a police officer and a couple of cadets he was training were speaking to a lot of these individuals. I happened to be standing beside one of the men when the officers engaged him in conversation and he stated very clearly he was in his position because of circumstances, not addiction. He pointed out he does not smoke, he does not drink and he does not do drugs. He was very sincere in his presentation. Was I naive to believe him? I hope not, I think he was genuinely in need. But as I say, this is all a bit foreign to me. We don't really see such a thing as someone homeless where I live.