Homeless people in January

spudbynight · 13 Jan 2012 at 23:22

SheepBeast said:
Generally I don't give them money, because my family is poor and I myself am in debt. But when I do give out money, I make sure it's not to someone who a) has a dog, b) smokes or c) is an alcoholic. These people need to sort out their priorities.

Sometimes it isn't about money - just treating someone with dignity.

Moothead2 · 13 Jan 2012 at 23:23

If you really feel the need to give to the homeless, don't give cash. Run down to Maccies or KFC and get them a burger or fries, if they're really that desperate, that burger will be gone in an instant. I'm too worried they'll spend the money on drugs or alcohol to give them cash.

cm1179 · 13 Jan 2012 at 23:25

when i was at college me and a friend spoke to a homeless person down by the river. he actually went to the deansway college to do catering but got mixed up with the wrong crowd, went off the rails and got done for armed robbery, went to jail, family disowned him, friends moved on and before he knew it, he was on the streets.

i always remember another bloke (who i assume has died now) would constantly be sniffing glue out of a bag.

kingy666 · 13 Jan 2012 at 23:26

spudbynight said:
Sometimes it isn't about money - just treating someone with dignity.

Every person in the country is entitled to housing, and if they ask for it, will be housed. These people choose to be on the streets so please good people of the OcUK forums next time they ask for a hand out as they are homeless, tell them where to go.

spudbynight · 13 Jan 2012 at 23:27

Moothead2 said:
If you really feel the need to give to the homeless, don't give cash. Run down to Maccies or KFC and get them a burger or fries, if they're really that desperate, that burger will be gone in an instant. I'm too worried they'll spend the money on drugs or alcohol to give them cash.

People should do what they feel comfortable with. I agree though that if you want to help someone then hot food is certainly a great thing to give.

BDEE · 13 Jan 2012 at 23:28

kingy666 said:
Every person in the country is entitled to housing, and if they ask for it, will be housed. These people choose to be on the streets so please good people of the OcUK forums next time they ask for a hand out as they are homeless, tell them where to go.

Unfortunately a lot of homeless people do not know where to go for help, which is how they got into the situation in the first place.

cheets64 · 13 Jan 2012 at 23:28

Is giving them food going to solve it, that means if they do get any money from begging they can spend it one something else, due to them having a burger and brew, its not like they can put it in the bank.

spudbynight · 13 Jan 2012 at 23:30

kingy666 said:
Every person in the country is entitled to housing, and if they ask for it, will be housed. These people choose to be on the streets so please good people of the OcUK forums next time they ask for a hand out as they are homeless, tell them where to go.

Not true. Speaking of Brighton and Hove where I live they will only house those with a connection to the city. There is also a waiting list. Sometimes being on the streets is actually better than the housing available.

Threepwood · 13 Jan 2012 at 23:32

Every person in the country is entitled to housing, and if they ask for it, will be housed. These people choose to be on the streets so please good people of the OcUK forums next time they ask for a hand out as they are homeless, tell them where to go.

Gosh.

Ever wondered WHY some of them choose to be on the streets?

Try reading this to start getting some kind of idea to help with your ignorance.

EDIT: Yes it is about american homelessness, but it might help you get the idea and there are many, many more things not covered in that top 10 list :S

kingy666 · 13 Jan 2012 at 23:33

BDEE said:
Unfortunately a lot of homeless people do not know where to go for help, which is how they got into the situation in the first place.

But they think that they should come to me for help in the form of money so they can buy some crack/smack. They know perfectly well where to go for help (they just don't want that kind of help as they are happy as larry when high) they just make out to be poor helpless innocent people who are down on there luck and just need a few pence for a cup of tea to warm there cold bones. Well, jog on stinky.

kylew · 13 Jan 2012 at 23:34

cheets64 said:
Is giving them food going to solve it, that means if they do get any money from begging they can spend it one something else, due to them having a burger and brew, its not like they can put it in the bank.

Why does it matter? If you're going to be charitable by giving them food, do it and don't base it on a "what if" theory that you've decided to come up with yourself. You could come up with a million and one excuses why you shouldn't be this or that.

BDEE · 13 Jan 2012 at 23:34

kingy666 said:
But they think that they should come to me for help in the form of money so they can buy some crack/smack. They know perfectly well where to go for help (they just don't want that kind of help as they are happy as larry when high) they just make out to be poor helpless innocent people who are down on there luck and just need a few pence for a cup of tea to warm there cold bones. Well, jog on stinky.

Ignorent tbh.

LOAM · 13 Jan 2012 at 23:36

We just got in from our once a month night at the cabin in Nottingham. It's something we love doing, I was on hot food serving tonight so didn't have to go outside. Was nice knowing that the guys that maybe on the street tonight and made it down to us at least got a good hot meal and a drink.

Dr.EM · 13 Jan 2012 at 23:38

I suppose you could always but a cheap but warm hoody/jumper from Primark or something instead of giving money. I have seen them and thought how cold it must be at night, outdoors, with no thick blanket, must be pretty awful tbh.

Skillmister · 13 Jan 2012 at 23:38

I'd rather give food/drink than money. The amount of "homeless" people i've seen smoking etc really puts me off giving money.

mrk · 13 Jan 2012 at 23:38

I saw a homeless guy on the way home from shopping once, we stopped and I took his picture then gave him the £2 change I had in my purse.

He played a guitar and actually had good vocals!

cm1179 · 13 Jan 2012 at 23:42

mrk said:
I saw a homeless guy on the way home from shopping once, we stopped and I took his picture then gave him the £2 change I had in my purse.

He played a guitar and actually had good vocals!

that's james blunt, dude. confirms his career has hit the skids.

Threepwood · 13 Jan 2012 at 23:42

Ignorent tbh.

Aye, he so is, it's unreal.

kingy666 · 13 Jan 2012 at 23:46

BDEE said:
Ignorent tbh.

Oh, I am not ignorant. Why do you think these people choose not to to live in a conventional way like the rest of us. I would say it is because they have some kind of addiction to a substance which will stop them from functioning in a way that is normal to the rest of our population. They know they can get help for this addiction but again, they choose not to as that is the hard option. The easy option for these "barnacles" of society is to hold a hand out and say "please mister, i needs me some food for i am poor and have no home". Would people go to drug dealers and buy these addicts some smack to give them like you would feed bread to the ducks. No they would not but people can't seem to compute that all a smack head wants is smack.

Well, that is how ignorant i am.

Why do other people think these people beg for money.

spudbynight · 13 Jan 2012 at 23:46

Skillmister said:
I'd rather give food/drink than money. The amount of "homeless" people i've seen smoking etc really puts me off giving money.

Why would giving up smoking be any easier if you were homeless? It is an addiction not a choice.