Quote:
Originally Posted by Vicky.
I do not, but if I have a spare bit of money on me I ask them if they would like a hot drink or a sandwich and will buy it for them. As giving cash, IMO, is likely to just go towards funding a bottle of cider or a score of drugs...I know not all homeless are addicts but quite a lot are.
Just reading a thread on DS about this and apparently some reckon giving them food/drink is patronising...I never thought of it like that before and I reckon if I was in that situation I would much prefer someone to offer me food/drink rather than just walk past...but apparently this is dehumanising them and making out you are better than them rather than trying to help  |
Is this a response from the objective of a homeless person/persons posting on there via their laptop/ipad or just from some members who
think it is patronising in their opinion. I am sure anyone who is living rough and is hungry and is desperate would be grateful for such an offer. You are doing the right thing in my opinion.
It's a shame that we feel this way about giving money to people, but there are plenty of genuine cases. As with everything in life, the minority spoil it for the majority, but I don't doubt if I were living under a bridge or in a shop doorway, I would want to get off my head too and block everything out if I could. It must be quite scary.
I was reminded of a story reading this thread. Many years back, a group of us were going into a club, and there was a woman and her dog perched on the pavement outside asking for some change. We all gave all the silver and copper we had, and duly entered the venue leaving her very grateful. On leaving, we had ordered a taxi, and waited for it outside, and waited, and waited, only for it not to turn up. Not having mobile phones on us at the time, we needed to use the public phone, but had no change. What to do? Someone asked the girl we had previously given our change to for 10p to use the phone. She was only too obliging but it was so embarrassing, but she was only too glad to help. I am sure there is a moral in there somewhere...