Do you give money to people begging on the street? If not, why not? If so, why

I visited your site also-it is truly sad how many homeless children there are in North America. Your post prompted me to search for info on the poverty levels of children in my own country and province (I'm from Canada) and I wasn't even vaguely aware at how high the numbers are. The rate of homelessness, especially among children, is staggering. I wonder what it would take to start such a programme as yours here in Canada, in my city. Would you have any possible sources of info on that? I have recently been discussing doing something like this with my husband-but where to begin...I have started by collecting various supplies/necessities for the local women's shelter, but I bet that tutors and sitters for children at the shelter as well as second-stage housing would be beneficial, as many of the women may not be able to help their children, even if it is only because they are now dealing with their own personal problems such as health, finances, counselling, etc. I am good at rounding up support in the form of donations, but what is most important to the success of any such programme is the volunteers, and so many people today seem unwilling to donate their time. Perhaps recruiting highschool students or people from social groups/organizations such as churches would be more promising than simply asking the general public?

Roz, take the sour pickle out of your mouth.

roz, you or someone you know is going through cancer? I saw it on another thread. Ha, it's not just easy to lose your home star, you can do everything right and lose health too. Sorry roz. My mom lives with half her mind from strokes. She's not a happy woman. Some of the doctors call her..."a case study". Study my butt, she a person.

Hey Roz, same sad eyes, too. The dog is cute.

thats true its difficult to distinguishhope the needy gets to go to bed stomachful

even i try not to give cash...

browneyes I'll bet another source of income for this homeless woman is suing people who stalk her while driving her BMW home. this has a ring of urban legend to it

I wish I could sneak into her house and drop rose petals in her bed. Of course, I would forget to remove the thorns.

ya for there life

Probably true.

Thank you for your response. Your heart is in the right place. You put your finger on what's wrong with letting government handle things "red tape and bs." Your outline works for me. Of course, it's too simple. The bureaucrats would have to complicate it and turn it into something completely unrecognizable before they could accept it. Oh, and it would have to cost the taxpayers a whole lot of money.

Thank you for your response. You have a good heart. Food is a necessity for life. It is good that the churches step up and take care of people in the community. You are right about a very small percentage of the homeless choosing to live poorly and save their money for whatever reason. You read about them in the papers. They die and have thousands of dollars hidden in their mattress or clothes. Sometimes they have family that they have alienated themselves from. Do you think this is the mind of a normal, healthy person?

I'm not sure what goes on in these homeless people's minds. I would hate to think that a relative of mine was living on the street and begging for food. But you do read about them all the time and there are so many stories out there as to why they are there.

Thank you for your response. I never thought about how long they stay on the corner asking for money and how much it adds up to.

hmm but then doeesnt that really tkae away the joy of carefree giving

I would say it it is lesser a pain than give money to make someone dependant on that penny and driive him away from hardwork. I would ofcourse set the old people out of this. Those who can not work or earn due to certain disability should ofcourse be helped. Instead of giving them just soe amount I will prefer sto sponsor that porson at a oldage home.

they are not unemployed they are self-employed begging is their job. if you feed them they will stay alive to breed and make little beggers. let evolution do it's thing by weeding out the weak......and besides living on the streets is like....you know...urban camping. dumpster diving is making your living off the land

A bunch? More than two?

Thank you for your response. CHEESEHEAD06 has the website link for children. Perhaps you could send an email thru mylot mail for the info you desire. I think this a noble cause. I wish you well in this endeavor.

Thank you for your response. You have a good heart. What a wonderful idea! It is always good to help the children in school. After all, they are our future.

Yeah Thanx for that. But its really good to do something of this kind as its assured that the money is being used for the good cause. And a real needy student will always be happy for that kind of help.

Thank you for your response. You are so right. There are there people in need and the ones taking advantage of kind hearts. Sounds like you are a good judge of character.

Yes starbright, I thank you for raising the topic. I have questioned myself all through the night when on one evening I refused a begger. You know, it is really difficult sometimes to say no. But I was sure the person was not a real begger. Some people has used the kindness of others thus in today's world kindness is very rare. I thus decided to offer them little small work which if they refuse then you are sure that the person does not want your help. Tell me, suppose a person is really hungry or wants immediate money and if a good hearted gentleman offers him half a slice of bread, will he in return ask the gentleman "No give me Pizza" !!!! Certainly not. If it is like that then the person is not hungry. I am doing home based job at a half the market rate. Why? because I have to, otherwise I will not get that money also. So if a person is in real need he will take the help offered otherwise he does not need the help. Thanks for replying. It touched me. Bye.

Santa Barbara really is beautiful, but the homeless community is growing here. Everyone wants to be homeless in paradise, I guess.

Thank you for your response. You have a good heart. You are helping beyond the call of duty. You go that extra step to get them the long term help. As for the lady in question...I guess you can't help everybody - certainly not in the same way.

Thank you for your response. You have a good heart. You are setting a wonderful example for the sweet little one in your picture.

Thank you for your response. You have to follow your heart. There are a lot of scam artists on the streets along with the needy. It is hard to know the difference, sometimes.

Thank you for your response. You have a good heart. That is a wonderful saying. I agree. You should not do it for a pat on the back. It comes back to you in so many ways, anyway...when you least expect it.

Thank you for your response. You have a good heart. We sometimes forget the dignity of human beings when we think of the homeless. Thank you for reminding us.