I’m going to do something today that I haven’t done in a while.
I want to ask *you* a direct question.
You see a person on the street asking for help – asking for money or food.
What do you do?
There are more than a couple sides to this debate – and to get more information I called one of my best childhood friends who works every single day with the homeless on the streets of L.A.
He gave me his answer – which was a bit different than mine. I won’t provide you either (yet) – as I want to know your uninfluenced opinions on this.
When we get to L.A. in a couple months – Josh (my friend) has offered to take us into the streets with him, so we can see a peek behind the scenes of what goes on.
Let me start you off with this:
- Does it matter if they are male or female?
- Does it matter young or old… healthy-looking or scraggly and weak?
- What if they ask for food outside a restaurant or fast food chain?
- What if they asked for a cup of coffee as you walked into Starbucks (yesterday)?
- What if you are overseas – in a third world country – instead of your home city?
- What if they have a kid with them – does that change the equation?
I’d really appreciate hearing your perspective – the issue has really been weighing on my own heart. I’ll report back more once I hit the streets of L.A. myself (and use the discussion below in that post).
So here it is again (comment below)…
You see a person on the street asking for help – asking for money or food.
What do you do?
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I will never ever give anything to the homeless, ever.
I live and work in Las Vegas. As a general rule, they have severe substance abuse problems and have chosen their addiction over a decent life. I will not give money for them to drink, do drugs, or smoke. I work hard and pay my own way and do the tough thing of getting up in the morning everyday and going to work. I don’t ask anyone to foot my bills.
I used to think I was kind, and would buy a burger or whatever. Until a close relative stayed with us while he was “trying” to find a job – all we heard were a pack of lies and scams, and he spent his day lounging on our couch, eating our food, stealing meds from our medicine cabinet, raiding our kids piggy bank (seriously) and facebooking with friends while we were at work everyday. After we kicked him out, we saw him picked up on TV – Las Vegas Jail – for being passed out on the Strip. No thank you.
I give to charities for children, but these people need substance treatment and it won’t matter until they want it.
I’m selective, but I do often give money to people who ask for it. I won’t give money to young healthy looking adults, especially those with a dog in tow.
I had a dear brother, who developed schizophrenia in his late teens, and would become paranoid for some reason or another about his living situation, and go live on the streets for days or weeks…not because he wanted to, but because he was relentlessly driven by anxiety and delusions. This is a devastating mental illness, that no one would wish on their worst enemy. Many, if not most of those people you see on the streets are suffering from serious mental illness. There have been some quite angry comments posted above these homeless people begging for money. This attitude really saddens me. I can tell you what my brother lived with (before he died in an accident at 37 ), was a real horror. When I see someone begging, I remind myself of my brother, and how I wish strangers would have helped him without judgement.
you’re a sweet heart – and compassionate as well.
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