Hellobee Boards Topic: Do you give money to homeless people on the street?

Hellobee Boards Topic: Do you give money to homeless people on the street? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 27 May 2026 11:28:26 +0000 littlebug on "Do you give money to homeless people on the street?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-money-to-homeless-people-on-the-street#post-156354 Fri, 11 May 2012 21:18:20 +0000 littlebug 156354@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No. Most of the homeless people I meet at my job don't need money - they have more expensive electronics and stuff than I do. If I notice someone on the street who looks truly desperate, I will offer food, and they have always graciously accepted. But I never give money. daniellemybelle on "Do you give money to homeless people on the street?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-money-to-homeless-people-on-the-street#post-156347 Fri, 11 May 2012 21:07:44 +0000 daniellemybelle 156347@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I have a few times, but I don't usually. Interestingly, I give food - sometimes leftovers and homemade - to homeless on my way to and from work all the time. I have never had it turned down and they are usually very nice and grateful. cyneswith on "Do you give money to homeless people on the street?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-money-to-homeless-people-on-the-street#post-156302 Fri, 11 May 2012 20:06:15 +0000 cyneswith 156302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No, but I offer to buy food. The offer has yet to be turned down. In England, I'd often pick up an extra Coke or coffee (depending on weather) to hand off to one of them. MsMini on "Do you give money to homeless people on the street?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-money-to-homeless-people-on-the-street#post-156290 Fri, 11 May 2012 19:47:59 +0000 MsMini 156290@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Not anymore. I used to, but then a good family friend who is a cop saw me doing it and read me the riot act, and he made a lot of good points about why you shouldn't. Now I will offer to buy them a coffee or sandwich, but I haven't been taken up on my offer even once. mrs.earrings on "Do you give money to homeless people on the street?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-money-to-homeless-people-on-the-street#post-156271 Fri, 11 May 2012 18:59:03 +0000 mrs.earrings 156271@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Sometimes. DH always does though...he can't walk past a homeless person without finding some change. We don't have many homeless people here though, but their numbers are growing. Breaks my heart. My dad always used to take homeless people to subway or another fast food place if they asked him for money, because then he could be sure that they were getting something that would benefit them, rather than funding drugs/alcohol. heffalump on "Do you give money to homeless people on the street?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-money-to-homeless-people-on-the-street#post-156078 Fri, 11 May 2012 15:07:37 +0000 heffalump 156078@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No. I'm not really in the place to be giving other people my money right now. We don't have any extra money. yoursilverlining on "Do you give money to homeless people on the street?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-money-to-homeless-people-on-the-street#post-155969 Fri, 11 May 2012 13:44:53 +0000 yoursilverlining 155969@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I sometimes do, but not often – in part because I hardly ever carry any cash at all on me. The other day outside Dunkin’ Donuts a woman asked me for a dollar for coffee. I was headed in there anyway, so I just bought her a coffee and sandwich and she was practically ecstatic. I wouldn't expect anyone to just happily accept whatever food I handed them though - if you don't trust that money given would be spent "well", why should anyone blindly trust you that food given is safe to eat? When I give money, I don’t care how it’s spent. If I was homeless, I’d want to drink too. LuLu Mom on "Do you give money to homeless people on the street?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-money-to-homeless-people-on-the-street#post-155922 Fri, 11 May 2012 13:11:33 +0000 LuLu Mom 155922@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Nope, I used to volunteer at the homeless shelter and those who beg for money are those who are "career homeless" and dont't want to ever change their situation (that is what hte shelter told me.) I would rather give to the families that need it than those who make a "living" doing it. DillonLion on "Do you give money to homeless people on the street?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-money-to-homeless-people-on-the-street#post-155917 Fri, 11 May 2012 13:08:07 +0000 DillonLion 155917@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No I don't. I don't know if that money is going to help or instead to buy alcohol or drugs. I'd rather donate to a charity where I know my money is going towards actually helping people (hopefully! I know some charities have slight issues with this). Modern Daisy on "Do you give money to homeless people on the street?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-money-to-homeless-people-on-the-street#post-155908 Fri, 11 May 2012 12:57:16 +0000 Modern Daisy 155908@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Absolutely not. I know it won't be used to buy food or anything good so it's pointless. And even if it was, there are so many of them in NYC that I would be broke if I started handing out cash. I do give a dollar or two to subway performers though if they're really good. I love the mariachi bands and sometimes there's a singer who's American Idol material. Jumpingjacks on "Do you give money to homeless people on the street?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-money-to-homeless-people-on-the-street#post-155896 Fri, 11 May 2012 12:46:58 +0000 Jumpingjacks 155896@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Another thought: With all the food banks etc out there, maybe they don't need food and need the money for bus fare or for clothes to wear to a job interview or something else? I just think we (a generalized we) make a lot of assumptions about homeless people sometimes and forget that they are real people. Jumpingjacks on "Do you give money to homeless people on the street?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-money-to-homeless-people-on-the-street#post-155889 Fri, 11 May 2012 12:42:07 +0000 Jumpingjacks 155889@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I don't hand out cash. But I don't give food either. Frankly, I myself would be grossed out if a stranger in the street handed me food they had made themselves. I wouldn't eat it. So, why would someone else want to, just because they are homeless? If you want to give something, have you thought of giving them gift cards to Safeway or another grocery store? I have done this (gave to a homeless person outside a grocery store) and I think it is a respectful way to give someone food/money without choosing it for them (they have their own tastes just like everyone else) and ensuring they spend it on food. Mrs. Bee on "Do you give money to homeless people on the street?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-money-to-homeless-people-on-the-street#post-155885 Fri, 11 May 2012 12:39:26 +0000 Mrs. Bee 155885@https://boards.hellobee.com/ yes i do regularly. i greatly reduced after moving to ny because mr. bee is against it. but some people like a pregnant mom, how can i not?! mediagirl on "Do you give money to homeless people on the street?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-money-to-homeless-people-on-the-street#post-155882 Fri, 11 May 2012 12:37:53 +0000 mediagirl 155882@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I'll give money to a charitable organization but NEVER to someone on the street. I have bought groceries for people, though. There was a homeless husband and wife begging one day and I asked if they would appreciate food instead of money (their sign said so). They said yes so, I went into Walmart, bought four bags of food that wouldn't perish if not refrigerated and gave it to them. They were so grateful. MamaMoose on "Do you give money to homeless people on the street?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-money-to-homeless-people-on-the-street#post-155881 Fri, 11 May 2012 12:37:14 +0000 MamaMoose 155881@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I give indirectly through organizations that help the homeless. Also, here in Nashville we have a paper called "The Contributer" which is written by homeless people and donations cover the printing fees and then the papers are given to homeless people to sell for $1 so I'll buy one of those every now and then. mrs. bird on "Do you give money to homeless people on the street?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-money-to-homeless-people-on-the-street#post-155878 Fri, 11 May 2012 12:34:42 +0000 mrs. bird 155878@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Nope. DH & I frequently volunteer at a foodbank & make donations to groups that assist homeless, but I don't give cash directly. I do give cash sometime to street performers, who may or may not be homeless, but I think that's different. chopsuey on "Do you give money to homeless people on the street?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-money-to-homeless-people-on-the-street#post-155874 Fri, 11 May 2012 12:32:05 +0000 chopsuey 155874@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Wow. I would stop giving food and money if I experienced that! We don't see too many homeless people where we live and I don't carry cash. Shimmer on "Do you give money to homeless people on the street?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-money-to-homeless-people-on-the-street#post-155869 Fri, 11 May 2012 12:29:40 +0000 Shimmer 155869@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No, we don't. We would rather feed them, but have had similar experiences to PP where they just yell for money instead. BSB on "Do you give money to homeless people on the street?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-money-to-homeless-people-on-the-street#post-155816 Fri, 11 May 2012 12:09:52 +0000 BSB 155816@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No, not usually. If I know I have just a dollar handy, I might give it away. It doesn't happen often. I do prefer to give people food over money. mrsjyw on "Do you give money to homeless people on the street?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-money-to-homeless-people-on-the-street#post-155814 Fri, 11 May 2012 12:09:42 +0000 mrsjyw 155814@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I used to, but not anymore. Had a similar experience, where ppl became angry if we offered food (new/fresh). hilsy85 on "Do you give money to homeless people on the street?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-money-to-homeless-people-on-the-street#post-155811 Fri, 11 May 2012 12:08:59 +0000 hilsy85 155811@https://boards.hellobee.com/ nope...never. I will occasionally give money to performers on trains if they are really amazing (like this group of kids that does flips and acrobatics on a moving train!). mrbee on "Do you give money to homeless people on the street?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-money-to-homeless-people-on-the-street#post-155808 Fri, 11 May 2012 12:07:37 +0000 mrbee 155808@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Never Sweet T on "Do you give money to homeless people on the street?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-money-to-homeless-people-on-the-street#post-155773 Fri, 11 May 2012 11:49:56 +0000 Sweet T 155773@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Not usually. I don't want that money going to drugs or alcohol. I've only given money once and it was last year right before Christmas. The guy was holding a sign that said "If you only knew." Seriously, it ripped my heart out. I hope he wasn't faking it but I guess I'm not the one to judge him either way. I gave him what cash I had and wished him a Merry Christmas. Mrs.Someone on "Do you give money to homeless people on the street?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-money-to-homeless-people-on-the-street#post-155768 Fri, 11 May 2012 11:47:09 +0000 Mrs.Someone 155768@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Someone told me once that every dollar you give keeps them on the street that much longer. So while I feel bad walking by and saying "sorry, no" I always hope they will go get help. I am very involved in a non-profit that serves homeless/struggling families though. As for food, I once handed a bag of bagels to a guy while stopped at a stop light. He seemed thankful. And another time a younger guy asked me for my leftovers outside a restaurant, so I was happy to hand it over. sorrycharlie on "Do you give money to homeless people on the street?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-money-to-homeless-people-on-the-street#post-155764 Fri, 11 May 2012 11:45:26 +0000 sorrycharlie 155764@https://boards.hellobee.com/ no..similar experience..i don't want to fund a drug or alcohol habit. more than happy to give food, though! Andrea on "Do you give money to homeless people on the street?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-money-to-homeless-people-on-the-street#post-155762 Fri, 11 May 2012 11:44:42 +0000 Andrea 155762@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No, I offer to go buy them food as well and they refuse so I just walk away. Mrsbells on "Do you give money to homeless people on the street?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-money-to-homeless-people-on-the-street#post-155759 Fri, 11 May 2012 11:43:24 +0000 Mrsbells 155759@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No. Sometimes I give food, but they usually dont appreciate food MsLipGloss on "Do you give money to homeless people on the street?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-money-to-homeless-people-on-the-street#post-155758 Fri, 11 May 2012 11:41:43 +0000 MsLipGloss 155758@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Not directly, no. Just through volunteering and donations to charities. Rubies on "Do you give money to homeless people on the street?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-money-to-homeless-people-on-the-street#post-155753 Fri, 11 May 2012 11:39:08 +0000 Rubies 155753@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I used to be very generous with giving away my money to homeless people. I would just open my wallet, pull out whatever bill I had, and give it to them ($5, $10, sometimes $20). But a few years ago, the hubs and I (and other friends) used to make brown bag lunches every weekend and walk around downtown Toronto handing them out, talking to the homeless, and try to learn their stories. I was very naively disappointed when most of these people refused these lunches and asked for money instead. I used to ask what they wanted the money for and they'd name random things and I would just tell them that I'd buy those things for them. Often they became angry and just yelled at me for money. Anyway, since I stopped giving homeless people anything. I still feel guilty, though. Do you give money to the homeless?