[LeatherTrumpet]

The so-called professional beggars who have access to accommodation, are said to see begging for cash as a "lucrative way of making money"

Professional beggars who aren't homeless are targeting high street shoppers to obtain cash for alcohol and drugs, a new report reveals.

Of 16 active beggars known to agencies in North East Lincolnshire, the "vast majority" have access to accommodation, the document claims.

And in most cases, the money they receive from kind-hearted passersby will be used to fund a drug - or possibly alcohol - addiction, it adds

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...arent-11647901



http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/ne...beggars-940879

Of course its the fact that misguided do-gooders give money to beggars that causes them to exist in the first place.

DO you help pro beggars buy alcohol and drugs?

[Tom4784]

It's best to give the homeless food and drink if you're going to give them anything, better to put money towards supporting charities and accommodations for the homeless.

I do think stories like this are irresponsible though, sure, there's scammers out there but stories like this will also make it harder on people who are genuinely begging because they have nothing.

[LeatherTrumpet]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

It's best to give the homeless food and drink if you're going to give them anything, better to put money towards supporting charities and accommodations for the homeless.

I do think stories like this are irresponsible though, sure, there's scammers out there but stories like this will also make it harder on people who are genuinely begging because they have nothing.

Yes but the pro beggars make it far worse

thus if we just never gave money to beggars it would dissappear and real homeless would get the help they need

and no one is telling me they have a scooby doo who is real and who isnt when they dish out a quid

[bitontheslide]

i'm quite prepared to buy a homeless person a cup of tea or a meal, but i will buy it personally, no way i am just giving money to someone on the street. I should add, any time i have offered i've been told to piss off

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

i'm quite prepared to buy a homeless person a cup of tea or a meal, but i will buy it personally, no way i am just giving money to someone on the street

For argument sake, why shouldn't a genuinely homeless person be allowed to spend their money on drugs or alcohol? If they're living on the streets, why shouldn't they get to live on Cloud Nine?

[bitontheslide]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

For argument sake, why shouldn't a genuinely homeless person be allowed to spend their money on drugs or alcohol? If they're living on the streets, why shouldn't they get to live on Cloud Nine?

they can if they want, but i wont contribute to them

[Jamie89]

Yeah someone who lives in the same block of flats as my uncle does this and it is quite common, but there are also a LOT of genuine homeless people. More work should be done to stop the scammers, it's incredibly harmful to homeless people

[Jamie89]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

For argument sake, why shouldn't a genuinely homeless person be allowed to spend their money on drugs or alcohol? If they're living on the streets, why shouldn't they get to live on Cloud Nine?

I wouldn't begrudge them it tbh. Not saying it's right but realistically I know if I was living on the streets I'd probably want to be somewhere else mentally too.

[Jamie89]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

It's best to give the homeless food and drink if you're going to give them anything, better to put money towards supporting charities and accommodations for the homeless.

I do think stories like this are irresponsible though, sure, there's scammers out there but stories like this will also make it harder on people who are genuinely begging because they have nothing.

Some of them that I've noticed since moving to London ask for money so they can pay for a hostel to sleep in (not sure if it's a london thing and to do with the number of shelters or if it's just because there's so many more homeless people here but I've found it to be a far more frequent thing here), so I think it's probably more helpful to give those ones money... obviously it's impossible to know if they're genuine though.

[Kizzy]

Many are homeless and addicted, would people rather they beg...or steal?

If the alternative to theft was 7 hrs begging in freezing temperatures which is preferable?

[DemolitionRed]

Its a damned if you do and damned if you don't dilemma.

Genuine homeless people are less likely to ask for money. The majority of them don't bother people. If I spot someone who looks genuinely homeless I've been known to approach them and ask if they are homeless. If they are then I ask if they are hungry and go and buy them a McDonalds meal or a kebab but I generally don't give small change to people who ask me for it.

I always pay for a big issue at least once a week but I don't take the magazine. What a horrible demeaning job that has to be.

[LeatherTrumpet]

Originally Posted by DemolitionRed

Its a damned if you do and damned if you don't dilemma.

Genuine homeless people are less likely to ask for money. The majority of them don't bother people. If I spot someone who looks genuinely homeless I've been known to approach them and ask if they are homeless. If they are then I ask if they are hungry and go and buy them a McDonalds meal or a kebab but I generally don't give small change to people who ask me for it.

I always pay for a big issue at least once a week but I don't take the magazine. What a horrible demeaning job that has to be.

the whole point is you cant tell who is genuine

unless you have some sort of magic power?

and are you saying people selling the local newspaper have a demeaning job?

heaven knows what you must make of binmen

[DemolitionRed]

Originally Posted by Jamie89

Some of them that I've noticed since moving to London ask for money so they can pay for a hostel to sleep in (not sure if it's a london thing and to do with the number of shelters or if it's just because there's so many more homeless people here but I've found it to be a far more frequent thing here), so I think it's probably more helpful to give those ones money... obviously it's impossible to know if they're genuine though.

Someone who uses a hostel usually needs to prove that they are in receipt of benefits and when they are in receipt of benefits they can claim housing benefit once they have found a hosel. They don't even need to pay up front; so long as they can prove they are entitled and as long as there's room, they get in.

Night shelters are free but usually want a referral.

I would be very wary about anyone asking for money for a hostel.

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

For argument sake, why shouldn't a genuinely homeless person be allowed to spend their money on drugs or alcohol? If they're living on the streets, why shouldn't they get to live on Cloud Nine?

Because if they're genuinely homeless it's likely their addiction put them there.

Would you really willingly fund someone's addiction?

[thesheriff443]

It always amazes me how people jump to defend the so called homeless, but where are the families and friends of these people?

Give them food and drink, but don't give them money.

[thesheriff443]

There are people who are not homeless and don't have an addiction, these people do it for the cash.

[DemolitionRed]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

the whole point is you cant tell who is genuine

unless you have some sort of magic power?

and are you saying people selling the local newspaper have a demeaning job?

heaven knows what you must make of binmen

People can only sell Big Issue if they can prove that they are homeless, sleeping rough. In temporary accommodation. In danger of losing a home, unemployed and facing financial crisis.
Selling big issues says you are one of these ^ things. Its a label that you've hit hard times.

I believe bin men are on good salaries. I don't see their job any different to any other blue collar worker. You clearly do.

I've spent quite a lot of time volunteering with a homeless shelter and I recognize quite a few old timers in my district. There's a woman up the road from us who wears all her clothes (I mean her entire wardrobe) at the same time because if she leaves them anywhere they get removed. She never begs. She never so much as looks you in the eye. She uses a shelter through the winter months but she prefers to be outdoors during the summer. When I look at people like her I know she's been ****ed by the system. She clearly has some sort of mental illness, though I doubt she's ever been diagnosed. There's a massive amount of mental illness amongst homeless people.

[DemolitionRed]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

Because if they're genuinely homeless it's likely their addiction put them there.

Would you really willingly fund someone's addiction?

Mental illness often leads to addiction.

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by DemolitionRed

Mental illness often leads to addiction.

Obviously.

That doesn't change what I said.

[DemolitionRed]

It always amazes me how people jump to defend the so called homeless, but where are the families and friends of these people?

Give them food and drink, but don't give them money.

I always say, I'm so lucky to have a family. Someone to fall back on if I hit hard times. There's a good amount of homeless people who don't have a family... imagine what that would be like. Kids often come out of the care system with nobody to turn to but their social worker and eventually, that social worker won't be around for them anymore. They hit hard times and all they have are a few friends who may offer a temporary sofa for a couple of weeks.

Originally Posted by thesheriff443

There are people who are not homeless and don't have an addiction, these people do it for the cash.

I agree with this. There are some very good scams going on. Professional beggars can make a lot of money if they find the right pitch.

[DemolitionRed]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

Obviously.

That doesn't change what I said.

No but we can't say its their fault either.

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by DemolitionRed

No but we can't say its their fault either.

I never once suggested it was their fault. Don't twist my words.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

I never once suggested it was their fault. Don't twist my words.

As I said what's the alternative to begging for those addicted... Theft?

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

As I said what's the alternative to begging for those addicted... Theft?

I don't know. I don't have any control over that. I do, however, have control over not funding a drug habit.

[arista]

Yes a Worldwide problem now