Should You Give Money to Homeless People?

I have a hard time with this one. I give to shelters, But to give to someone on the street? so many times they have not even tried to find a church or a shelter house, they just want money for the next 32 oz. I don't give to people on the street. But I give to caretakers of people without homes.
And Yes I think if we have the means to give we should!

I never make assumptions on what homeless people do with money I give them. I've been surprised in a good way too many times.

Yeah, of course. I do think it's more beneficial to give to shelters, because homeless people are a very easy target for thieves, but if someone needs help, you should give it. For me, I buy the Big Issue, donate to Shelter, and give money to buskers.

An additional question: I read recently of someone who offered a homeless man most of a taco she didn't want, and was very offended when he refused because he was a vegetarian. Do homeless people have the right to refuse food?

I've been around. XD Had a small operation (which I'm not fully recovered from), and then what with Christmas and everything I haven't really been online much. I did get a new cousin on the 2nd, though!

I give food to homeless people who are asking for money. My husband gave away his coat the other day. Sometimes I give money, but I seldom have it, and I don't think a homeless person would really accept a check. (ha ha) I think homeless people have every right in the world to refuse to eat meat and people should not be offended by this any more than they would be offended by the fact that a person with a home doesn't eat meat. The majority of homeless people are not homeless by choice. There are some that are, but they are the minority. I am just one catastrophe away from being homeless myself, and I would probably offend a lot of well meaning people by refusing to eat gluten or meat. Can't really help what we are. I am so thankful for the home I have that I have no prblem donating to homeless causes. I actuallly thought aout contacting my local food bank to see what i could do about getting gluten free products there, as certainly I am sure there is a need.

I wouldn't give money to a homeless person, but I would give them food or clothing. I would give money to a shelter, food bank, or a project that benefited the homeless

give as the spirit moves you. if you are going to resent it then maybe you should think about why you are doing it. if you have expectations then maybe you shouldn't. if you are giving from the heart then just give. i've also had the experience of people angrily refusing food that i offered instead of cash but i have also experienced people who are actually hungry and happy to be handed whatever food i happen to have on me. it's hard when there are substance abuse issues and in that case, giving cash only to food banks or shelters or whatever, is probably a better idea.

when i was a teenager i knew a girl who lived in an apartment paid for by her parents and she would panhandle all day to get drug money. she also always had a bunch of other kids living with her doing the same. doesn't make the answer any simpler, but things hardly ever are simple. it's not just lack of money that makes people poor, many people are just poor in spirit.

Well, I would have to disagree with you on this one. Have you ever been to a food bank? The one we have here gives out rotten, spoiled food to people, and these aren't even homeless people. These are people with families. I went there once just to see what it was like and all ofo their cheese was moldy. I wouldn't have given it to my dog. I think if someone is a vegetarian and happens to be homeless, it's not rude to tell people so. What if it were part of their religion?

Exactly. Assuming a homeless person should "Be thankful for anything they get" and implying that any personal morals they have regarding food, dress, etc "can't matter" anymore really puts that person into the realm of just being an animal.

I still think if it was a case of survival I would eat the moldy cheese. And I’m not to sure when it came to religion if a person would do it too.. If it meant living or dieing. They would probably justify it. As Birch always calls it.. “Cherry Pick”
It’s hard for me to say I wouldn’t do something because of my religion, because of what I feel about the grace of God.. But that’s another whole subject.. That I won’t go in to..

Mouldy food makes you ill, and homeless people aren't immune to food allergies either. What's the point in eating something when all it'll do is make you vomit?

Hey, another question for you all. Say you're homeless and starving, and a religious group (that you do not believe in or belong to) offers you food and shelter on one condition: you join them. (As an example, if you're a Christian, it's a mosque. If you're a Pagan or a Wiccan, it's a church.) Do you join them, or do you uphold your religious principles?

I have cut off the mouldy part of the cheese and ate it many many times. So did my parents.. Not my most favoirte thing I had to do, but I did..

I'm really not against any religions as long as they don't kill other people.. Even Islam is ok. If that is what they want to believe. But it's the radicals Groups I don't care for. Even Pro-lifers.

MeBlonde: I'm not sure. I probably would, although I'd feel like a liar the whole time. XD