How much money do you give to the homeless?

[snapcat]

I have to say that I'm shocked at some of the replies here. I think a lot more of us are one missed paycheck away from losing everythinig than one would imagine. Unexpected expenses can be the death knell to some people, especially at the holiday season.

Here's a video made by some students at Rollins College that I found moving. It's well worth watching.

 

[james1200]

I've been homeless.

For most of my life I was fairly generous, though I'd take a person to a diner rather than give money, or to Goodwill if clothes were needed. Then I went through it myself, and learned a lot.
Yes, many homeless are mentally ill. I knew two who were on the street because they lost everything they owned -- business, home, car -- because of being arrested and forced to get an attorney, then after being found innocent still had to deal with many thousands of dollars in legal costs; out of work beccause of time spent sitting in jail, they couldn't pay bills if they were going to pay the attorney... and it all went downhill due to our "justice" system. I knew one who had a $35,000 boat he had up and down the river, who had $100,000 in the bank; he had some strange disorder that left him unable to cope with all the straight lines of building and streets. Another I met had around $200,000 in the bank, and was homeless because he said he just got plain tired of doing house chores. A "bag lady" I spent some time with had lost her apartment when the building was sold, and thanks to lacking all sorts of required paperwork couldn't get another. Others are drug users who have lost everything by doing drugs.

So, being homeless, I learned to be doubtful when asked for money, because it's hard to tell the ones who need help from those who don't.

Then I got robbed of over $800 of gear by homeless people. Now I don't give a thing. I figure that given the amounts I've given in the past, I've rarely given more than $50 a year to the homeless, so in 16 years I'll have recovered the money homeless people cost me, and maybe I'll start giving again.

And meanwhile I'm still recovering from my own homeless spell. I tried not to use it, but sometimes there are things that just have to be had, and I used my VISA -- it's still got a balance in the mid four-figures. Also meanwhile, I bum housing from people -- so though I'm not technically "homeless", I have no home.

my dear libertarian, did you not recently say in the politics section that you've beneifted generously from the bush tax cuts, that they allowed you to buy everything from a truck to luxury items? i didn't know homeless people were being uplifted by bush's tax cuts...you wouldn't be making things up like a good right-winger to excuse you irrational hatred for the poor that you display over in current events now, would you????

 

[greyboy07]

NickCole,

Thanks for your post. You hit the nail on the head. The most prevalent risk factor leading to homelessness is lack of social support systems; estrangement from family and friends. The affirmation you give people when you meet them, even if it lasts for only a minute or two, is more powerful than a couple bucks.

 

[thewiz]

It has been interesting reading some of the replies in this thread. While I have given of my time, my talents, and my treasure, I do it through groups that I know will not only support the person but ensure that they receive ancillary care. I do not want to give money to people on the street, as I noted, because all too often I see them going to the liquor store.

When I lived on the other side of the building, I would watch them come back, pour the liquor into milk jugs and other similar containers to hide what they were doing. I will not support their addictions: I have no problem helping them survive.

From working in law enforcement for 10 years, I cannot begin to describe how the vicious cycle many of these people worked. They would beg for funds or receive welfare benefits, hit the liquor stores or drug shops, we'd get called to fights and end up arresting them by the end of the night. It would not end; it would just continue. Without intervention, many of these people will never see an end to their torment. To me, denying cooperation to that cycle is not cruel; it is the best thing for them.

It is unfortunate some of the institutions that helped people closed but it reflected years of abuse dolled out to the least fortunate. However, in some cases, it was the only stability these people would and will ever know; I'm not sure if I feel it was cruel or could have been better fixed.

 

[Kulindahr]

my dear libertarian, did you not recently say in the politics section that you've beneifted generously from the bush tax cuts, that they allowed you to buy everything from a truck to luxury items? i didn't know homeless people were being uplifted by bush's tax cuts...you wouldn't be making things up like a good right-winger to excuse you irrational hatred for the poor that you display over in current events now, would you????

"Luxury items"?
I never said any such thing; you and Alfie are misreading things again.
Unless you consider being able to pay for my prescriptions most of the time to be "luxury".

As for that last... only someone with a very twisted view of things could possibly make that last statement.

 

[Corkles]

I give the homeless whatever money I have left after buying my 7 dollar latte.

I'm kidding of course....

I donate clothing and food to the Salvation Army.