I'm always concerned that giving a homeless person money could enable them to buy drugs. So while I have no problem buying food for the homeless, I'm always hesitant to give actual money.
However, some things occurred to me:
- Even if if they are on drugs, no one can survive on drugs alone. Even addicts get hungry. Sure, there could be food shelters around and I'm sure most homeless people are aware of them; but they can only help so much, depending on the homeless population. You also don't know if they need medicine or other items.
- Addiction to some drugs can result in severe pain if you go too long without a hit. They could be suffering. So even if they do buy drugs, until they can get some help, drugs are a need.
That's on top of the fact that I don't always know a person's situation. Maybe they're on drugs; maybe times are hard and they have a child they need help with. Who knows.
I drove by a homeless person with a sign near a highway. I should've given him money.
I don't care if they buy drugs tbh but I can't stand these unpleasant dirty people getting in my face and I hate rewarding them.
If they got a trash bag and a shovel and started scooping the filth out of the gutters and picking up litter and such with a sign asking for money I'd happily throw them a $20 and if they want to spend it on drugs I don't mind.
Cobra Kai conversation:
Johnny Lawrence: Just take the sign, hold it up in the air and spin it around, all right? Do that all day and you'll get your money.
Lynn: Well I want meth and a burrito.
Johnny: You can spend it on whatever you want. That's how money works.
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@vivify saidI agree. It is a hard decision to make. I try to carry a small bag with socks, a few granola bars, and maybe $10 for the people standing at intersections.
I'm always concerned that giving a homeless person money could enable them to buy drugs. So while I have no problem buying food for the homeless, I'm always hesitant to give actual money.
However, some things occurred to me:
- Even if if they are on drugs, no one can survive on drugs alone. Even addicts get hungry. Sure, there could be food shelters around and I'm sure ...[text shortened]... o knows.
I drove by a homeless person with a sign near a highway. I should've given him money.
That type of addiction is very hard. I helped a friend around a year ago. One night off the street. Hot shower and good night of sleep. I gave them money that i knew would go to drugs, but I also saw firsthand how it physically affected them when they were coming down. Sad. I don't really have an answer, just thankful you help.
@vivify saidWell, that's what food stamps are for. Can't use them to buy drugs.
I'm always concerned that giving a homeless person money could enable them to buy drugs. So while I have no problem buying food for the homeless, I'm always hesitant to give actual money.
However, some things occurred to me:
- Even if if they are on drugs, no one can survive on drugs alone. Even addicts get hungry. Sure, there could be food shelters around and I'm sure ...[text shortened]... o knows.
I drove by a homeless person with a sign near a highway. I should've given him money.
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- 101098
@boonon saidplease have the b@lls to tell me why you thumbed this down.
I agree. It is a hard decision to make. I try to carry a small bag with socks, a few granola bars, and maybe $10 for the people standing at intersections.
That type of addiction is very hard. I helped a friend around a year ago. One night off the street. Hot shower and good night of sleep. I gave them money that i knew would go to drugs, but I also saw firsthand how it phys ...[text shortened]... ffected them when they were coming down. Sad. I don't really have an answer, just thankful you help.
@moonbus saidYes, exactly.
Zuck could sell his yacht and for the same money finance soup kitchens and shelters for the entire state.
Unfortunately, I'm not quite as rich as Mark Zuckerberg, and this is why I have a long history of working with city officials (all the way back to Greg Stanton) and state legislators to not only build more shelters in downtown Phoenix but to help initiate programs to get the homeless into more permanent housing. You know you're on the right track when you are described by some legislators as 'that bulldog for the homeless'. I'm sure they have other, more private, words though.
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2 edits
@vivify saidIf you 'give' money, this should be unconditional, otherwise you are not fully giving. One day, many years ago I heard someone say this and it has stuck with me ever since.
I'm always concerned that giving a homeless person money could enable them to buy drugs.
Now, whenever I give money to a rough sleeper, I do it in the knowledge that the receiver has full autonomy how he or she spends it, because it is a gift, no more no less.
@AlanTal saidThank you for having the right attitude about this. I see people using this excuse all the time for not giving the most down-and-out of us a hand. There is no reason there should be any hunger in such a rich country as America. But there is still hunger in America precisely because of this stigma. People who are desperately hungry often don't want to ask people for any amount because they say people always think they'll buy drugs when all they want is a burger (plus it's outrageous how expensive a simple burger is any more).
If you 'give' money, this should be unconditional, otherwise you are not fully giving. One day, many years ago I heard someone say this and it has stuck with me ever since.
Now, whenever I give money to a rough sleeper, I do it in the knowledge that the receiver has full autonomy how he or she spends it, because it is a gift, no more no less.
I do like the 'rough sleeper', it's a nice way around the 'homeless person' stigma.
@vivify saidI never give money. I buy sandwiches and coffee to give them, for which they are always very grateful.
I'm always concerned that giving a homeless person money could enable them to buy drugs. So while I have no problem buying food for the homeless, I'm always hesitant to give actual money.
However, some things occurred to me:
- Even if if they are on drugs, no one can survive on drugs alone. Even addicts get hungry. Sure, there could be food shelters around and I'm sure ...[text shortened]... o knows.
I drove by a homeless person with a sign near a highway. I should've given him money.
@Pianoman1 saidAnother thing you could do is hand out those pint size bottles of water. Summertime in Phoenix is a killer.
I never give money. I buy sandwiches and coffee to give them, for which they are always very grateful.
@Suzianne saidAnother thing billionaires could do is pay themselves less and their workers a living wage. A lot of homeless people had jobs once, but they didn’t pay enough to keep roofs over their heads.
And for billionaires, a hundred thousand or two (peanuts for these guys) goes a long way towards making people on the razor's edge a bit more comfortable.