The homeless
By mamasan34
@mamasan34 (6518)
United States
May 17, 2007 5:54pm CST
When you see a homeless person holding one of those signs for donations or financial help, do you really think they are homeless? I know back home, that there are scam artists that try to get money from you by taking your money. So, it makes me a little bit hestitant to give to the homeless anymore. How bout you?
8 people like this
8 responses
@bluewings (3857)
•
17 May 07
Yes,I know some people get mad at them because there are con artists trying to cheat us.I too feel unsure about whether they truly are that desperate ,but eventually I do offer what I can because even if they are acting ,I give them the benefit of doubt and try to ask myself 'what if they are for real ?' If not , I don't stand to lose much anyway and I don't really feel cheated.If they are faking it,then they will face the consequences anyway.At one point,I used to ignore them thinking that they don't deserve help , but now I do help.That's just me and I understand why people might choose not to.
@bluewings (3857)
•
19 May 07
Yes, I can understand that incident making you angry.I think that's a very good suggestion.I try to buy them food when I have time.Otherwise,I did offer money at other times.
2 people like this
@mamasan34 (6518)
• United States
19 May 07
It did make me upset, but it hasn't stopped me from giving. I just give in a different way and I am more cautious these days. If they refuse offer of food or drink, I tell them they don't need it as bad as they thought. That's how I feel.
1 person likes this
@bluewings (3857)
•
20 May 07
I think you do the right thing.I have to agree that it's perhaps the closest we can get to helping them.The only other time I try to help financially is when I believe their words when they show medical certificates of their children,partners etc having a mecical problem and needing surgery and such,but yes I do understand that I could be taken for a ride there.
2 people like this
@mamasan34 (6518)
• United States
18 May 07
I agree they can be aggressive. I had a homeless man at an intersection stick his head into my exboyfriends truck to see if we could spare some change and we told him that we didn't have anything, which was true, and he demanded that we give him something. My exboyfriend had to push his head out of the truck and luckily the light turned and we could leave the situation. It was not very pleasant, part of me felt bad because of his desperation and part of me was angry because he stands on the exact same corner every day doing the same thing.
2 people like this
@mamasan34 (6518)
• United States
17 May 07
That is exactly what I am talking about. They did an undercover special about this and it showed a man who held up a sign saying he was homeless and was in desperate need of money. Later in the day it showed him getting into a brand new SUV and driving away. I was so appalled. There are actually people who are unfortunate and have to live on the streets and this man takes advantage of that stigma and profits from it! So, I am very hesitant as well.
2 people like this
@ladysurvivor (4746)
• Malaysia
10 Jul 07
Nowadays there are many syndicates which play scams just to fool people and get their money. I have come across many instances like this, and they involve mostly under aged children. Those children are sometimes kidnapped from another place and forced to beg. The money they collected then are handed over to the big boss. If I want to donate, I will go to their actual house and see for myself whether they really are poor or not.
1 person likes this
@mamasan34 (6518)
• United States
11 Jul 07
That is a shame that these things happen today. I feel awful for kids that have to go through that. I would be careful to go to their house to see if they are actual beggars that could get dangerous!
@hezoid (2144)
•
17 May 07
I never know whether they are or not, so i err on the side of caution and don't give money to any. I don't agree with begging on the street anyway, in fact i don't agree with any kind of soliciting like that, be it charities trying to get money off you, people knocking on your door to sell you stuff etc. Also, i'm in a great position to be donating my money to those people, i have my own mortgage to pay if i don't want to end up homeless myself!
3 people like this
@mamasan34 (6518)
• United States
17 May 07
I do donate to charities, but I try not to donate to people on the street. I don't necessarily donate money, I donate items such as clothing or housewares that they could use in the shelters or my time. I have my own bills to pay as well and I don't have a lot of extra to throw around. I was recently solicited by a young family in the mall parking lot. They ahd their baby with them and they said they needed money for the baby. I told them they should be ashamed of themselves for using their child as a ploy to get money. It made me so mad!
2 people like this
@mamasan34 (6518)
• United States
10 Jul 07
That is true, most often if they are just wanting money they will not take the food or show any appreciation for your efforts. Thanks for commenting!
@apakabar2007 (1693)
• Netherlands
21 Jun 07
Me too....I don't really know what to think about them anymore. Because some of them are true homeless and needed help and some of them just scam. Personally I'm not that good on judging which one is real and which one is not. I just follow my guts. When I have some small changes left in my wallet and I feel like I want to help them then I will. Otherwise I just walk away.
1 person likes this
@mamasan34 (6518)
• United States
7 Jul 07
thanks for commenting. i feel the same way, but nowadays I don't give money to them. I ask if they would like something to eat or if they would like to get something to drink but I don't ever offer money anymore because of the scammers.
@laltu86 (1249)
• India
22 Jun 07
Yes i belive that some of them are real but mostly they are scam artists, but we can never make the difference , can we ?
So I prefer not to donate money rather ask them if they want any food or cloths and do as per the requirment produced , i have made a rule for myself that i wont give any cash to any begger , but i would give it in kind, so if he is a scam artist he would go away because he surely needed cash not any food or clothes.
1 person likes this
@mamasan34 (6518)
• United States
7 Jul 07
That is a good idea. You and I do the same thing. It is very difficult to tell the difference between the real thing or a scammer. I know I have been in situations where it just tears my heart apart that I can't just hand over money and say go get a hot meal and a shower or something, but instead I will take them into the store or restaurant and pay for their meal and ensure that they are taken care of.
