People living rough

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Meh, so what. If that is what get's him through a night on the street then so be it.

And I tend to take that view as well. The alcoholic or drug addict often 'uses' to blank out reality and often that reality is very painful and difficult - their addiction often being the illness at the core of their issues and pain. I'd rather they didn't use my few pennies in that way - but if that is what their desperate need is...and it's often very desperate and painful, then so be it.

 

[CheltenhamHacker]

Meh, so what. If that is what get's him through a night on the street then so be it.

Because spending all available money on drugs, while helping him in the short term is significantly detrimental to any chance of getting off the street in the future.

 

[patricks148]

And I tend to take that view as well. The alcoholic or drug addict often 'uses' to blank out reality and often that reality is very painful and difficult - their addiction often being the illness at the core of their issues and pain. I'd rather they didn't use my few pennies in that way - but if that is what their desperate need is...and it's often very desperate and painful, then so be it.

Ok in that case.. a beggar in the street, sign saying need money for Drugs and one saying need a bed for the night, which would you give money to?

 

[bobmac]

It might have been drug use that cost him his job, his marriage and his house and put him on the streets in the first place, not forgetting lining the pockets of the drug dealers.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

It might have been drug use that cost him his job, his marriage and his house and put him on the streets in the first place, not forgetting lining the pockets of the drug dealers.

I completely understand your point and might feel the same - but we need to understand how a drug addict or alcoholic feels when his body and mind are screaming or he/she is in deep despair.

Besides - I have never seen anyone on the street advertise that they would use my little bit of help for drugs or alcohol - and so I do not know what I would do. I do not attempt to discriminate on factors that I cannot determine.

 

[patricks148]

I completely understand your point and might feel the same - but we need to understand how a drug addict or alcoholic feels when his body and mind are screaming or he/she is in deep despair.

Besides - I have never seen anyone on the street advertise that they would use my little bit of help for drugs or alcohol - and so I do not know what I would do. I do not attempt to discriminate on factors that I cannot determine.

i didn't ask if you's seen that i ask what you would do?

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

i didn't ask if you's seen that i ask what you would do?

I don't know - probably give to both - and ask the alcoholic/drug addict why they needed to buy alcohol/drugs and see if I can help in any additional way. If he said 'can you go and buy me a can of Super Brew please' I'd probably say no.

 

[woody69]

Because spending all available money on drugs, while helping him in the short term is significantly detrimental to any chance of getting off the street in the future.

They make their choice, it is their prerogative. And besides, who are we to say he would automatically spend that money on drink and/or drugs? I've given food and money to beggars before

 

[craigstardis1976]

I have been homeless and was for a period of over a year. It was not drug or alcohol related and without wanting to give out my life story, I was the victim of a very bad crime and no-one would listen to me. finding the one person who would changed my life for me.

Anyway, my point is, if you want to help a homeless person, food, a drink, some socks, and a blanket as well as a toothbrush and toothpaste would have been extremely welcome. You can get all of this for under $10 and maybe include a couple of bucks so they can decide what to do with it. Practical help like that can make all the difference in the world.

Craig

 

[Deleted member 21258]

Behind every homeless person, is a sad story.

 

[stokie_93]

Don't normally get seriously moved by the sight of homeless because of how common it is in big cities. I'll put change in as many as i possibly can if I don't need it and i'll always speak to them rather than just walk past.

This weekend however I was getting some cash out in Edinburgh and there was a lad sat to the side of the cash points (a few meters away) just sat there crying.
This lad was about my age (23) which really hit home. I can't even condone how horrendous it must be to live on a street with nothing to your name and I wouldn't even know where to start to get myself out of that position.

I gave him a bit of change and stood and had a fag with him and a conversation. Chatted about football and Edinburgh and what not.
Always think that just spending a couple of minutes with a homeless person or just having a small chat will make them feel 10x better than copper coins.

 

[TonyN]

Couple of thoughts from me.

1st. Ive dealt with more decomposed bodies than I care to rembember and actually, most of them smell like ****, because thats always what they are lay in!
But yes, decomposing bodies have a very unique smell (the smell of death) but unless you know it, its not something you would recognise.

And 2nd, anyone sleeping rough doesn't have to beg to survive. The homeless can be fed and watered adequately in most towns/ city's, especially the big ones. If they're begging, they're begging for drink or drugs (usually)
If you drop money in their hand, you may aswell drop a rock of crack, or a bottle of cider on their lap. You may feel good about yourself, but actually, your just making things worse.

And begging is an offence, don't encourage it.

 

[craigstardis1976]

Couple of thoughts from me.

1st. Ive dealt with more decomposed bodies than I care to rembember and actually, most of them smell like ****, because thats always what they are lay in!
But yes, decomposing bodies have a very unique smell (the smell of death) but unless you know it, its not something you would recognise.

And 2nd, anyone sleeping rough doesn't have to beg to survive. The homeless can be fed and watered adequately in most towns/ city's, especially the big ones. If they're begging, they're begging for drink or drugs (usually)
If you drop money in their hand, you may aswell drop a rock of crack, or a bottle of cider on their lap. You may feel good about yourself, but actually, your just making things worse.

And begging is an offence, don't encourage it.

Having been there, I feel like I can speak with some authority on this subject.

I never begged when I was homeless and my dog always ate before me. When I had a meal from a soup kitchen, I always shared my food with him. Perhaps because I had my dog, occasionally people would slip me a couple of dollars.

You are wrong when you say you may as well drop a rock of crack or bottle of cider. When this happened, I got dog food for my dog and maybe can of coca-cola or a candy bar for myself. it was always welcome and I did not ever beg or use it for alcohol or drugs.

I deeply resent your implication that money given would be misused in that way. For some it would, for others it would not but to make that sweeping a generalization is not only wrong but is disrespectful to the homeless who do have some dignity and want to get on. I also used the money I was sometimes given to get a pair of socks when mine were soaked because of snow halfway up my shins and inadequate footwear and trousers.

When someone finally listened to me after being turned down by every government authority, stripped of my ID and every asset I had and surviving a winter on the streets in temperatures often below 10-20 degrees below freezing, I made the most of the opportunity and rebuilt my life from ground zero. The Vet was amazed my dog was kept in such good condition while I was down to 120 lbs in weight, (80 lbs less than normal.)

Yet of course, most homeless people are begging for drink and drugs money in your world...

 

[TonyN]

I did say usually, by which I meant not always. (Not everyone is the same) but in my experience, 9 out of 10 do exactly what I said above.

I see it day in, day out. I deal with it day in, day out.

 

[craigstardis1976]

I did say usually, by which I meant not always. (Not everyone is the same) but in my experience, 9 out of 10 do exactly what I said above.

I see it day in, day out. I deal with it day in, day out.

That does not reflect my experience of being homeless. Maybe 60%. Usually the other 30-40% were there because of financial problems (maybe self inflicted, maybe not) previous criminal history or were the victims of crime themselves.

If you were to make such a sweeping generalization against other groups of people, for example: "Middle-Class people usually spend their money on drinks or drugs" perhaps you would see how wrong you are. Certainly other people would be quick to point it out.

 

[TonyN]

That does not reflect my experience of being homeless. Maybe 60%. Usually the other 30-40% were there because of financial problems (maybe self inflicted, maybe not) previous criminal history or were the victims of crime themselves.

If you were to make such a sweeping generalization against other groups of people, for example: "Middle-Class people usually spend their money on drinks or drugs" perhaps you would see how wrong you are. Certainly other people would be quick to point it out.

I get your point. I cant argue it, its your experience. Its a nice storey to read but in my experience you're an exception to the rule. A minority.

Maybe I didn't make myself clear, or maybe we have a different class of homeless where I am,
but i can tell you, and they will tell you themselves, the homeless I interact with, beg steal and borrow to fund habbits! And they dont make a habbit of buying socks like you did.

 

[patricks148]

Having been there, I feel like I can speak with some authority on this subject.

I never begged when I was homeless and my dog always ate before me. When I had a meal from a soup kitchen, I always shared my food with him. Perhaps because I had my dog, occasionally people would slip me a couple of dollars.

You are wrong when you say you may as well drop a rock of crack or bottle of cider. When this happened, I got dog food for my dog and maybe can of coca-cola or a candy bar for myself. it was always welcome and I did not ever beg or use it for alcohol or drugs.

I deeply resent your implication that money given would be misused in that way. For some it would, for others it would not but to make that sweeping a generalization is not only wrong but is disrespectful to the homeless who do have some dignity and want to get on. I also used the money I was sometimes given to get a pair of socks when mine were soaked because of snow halfway up my shins and inadequate footwear and trousers.

When someone finally listened to me after being turned down by every government authority, stripped of my ID and every asset I had and surviving a winter on the streets in temperatures often below 10-20 degrees below freezing, I made the most of the opportunity and rebuilt my life from ground zero. The Vet was amazed my dog was kept in such good condition while I was down to 120 lbs in weight, (80 lbs less than normal.)

Yet of course, most homeless people are begging for drink and drugs money in your world...

i think there may be a clash of location here, Craig are you in the US, if so its prob a whole different world to the UK

 

[Foxholer]

i think there may be a clash of location here, Craig are you in the US, if so its prob a whole different world to the UK

Just a different flavour (accent even) of the same age-old issue!

An excerpt from a 1969 commentary....

Have you seen the old man
In the closed-down market
Kicking up the paper,
with his worn out shoes?
In his eyes you see no pride
Hand held loosely at his side
Yesterday's paper telling yesterday's news

So how can you tell me you're lonely,
And say for you that the sun don't shine?
Let me take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of London
I'll show you something to make you change your mind

Have you seen the old girl
Who walks the streets of London
Dirt in her hair and her clothes in rags?
She's no time for talking,
She just keeps right on walking
Carrying her home in two carrier bags.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streets_of_London_(song)

I have seen too many examples of precisely the above - along with some 'professional beggars' - over the years!

 

[Crazyface]

Me and the misses talk about people being homeless now and again, and we maybe simplify things a bit (a lot), but with the welfare state being readilly available and there being places to stay...oh yes there are...why are people begging for money and have NO WHERE to stay?

This baffles us. Oh and begging for money with an animal...really??????

 

[CheltenhamHacker]

Me and the misses talk about people being homeless now and again, and we maybe simplify things a bit (a lot), but with the welfare state being readilly available and there being places to stay...oh yes there are...why are people begging for money and have NO WHERE to stay?

This baffles us. Oh and begging for money with an animal...really??????

"maybe we simply things a bit"... the biggest understatement of the year.

"you talk about it a bit", have you tried looking into it? Or just going to tell us your uninformed opinion, with significant amounts of unnecessary punctuation?