OK- A couple years back, I started a posting on the old Christianlesbians about this subject, and find I am STILL struggling with it. So, help me out here, folks.....
Homeless folks. Able-bodied men who are constantly asking for money for whatever it is that they are craving, booze, cigarettes, drugs, food, but mostly the first 3. I have been hit up alot lately, and it has irritated me because I am caught between wondering if I should give to EVERYONE who asks, regardless of what they are going to do with it. My mind is thinking, I work very hard for my money, and these guys want to live a life without responsibility. Am I obligated to help them? Will God punish me and take everything from me if I don't help them out?
I read in the Bible, "Warn idlers"...."If a man does not work, he shall not eat" and I am a bit confused. I feel like we, as a society, enable people to continue living without any responsibility. I KNOW there are people who need help. But I also feel like there are some people who want no responsibility whatsoever and feel that society "owes" them something. Like the other day, I gave a guy a dollar, and you would think with a 99 cents store there, if he was so hungry, he would run in and buy some food right away, but of course, he's walking around asking more people. I see him later with a new pouch of tobacco. If these people have the strength to get around hitting others up for money, why can't they work? Are we obligated to take care of all their wants? Am I being a jerk? I hope I am being realistic, but have asked God to reveal HIS realism in this situation.

A few years ago, DewDoc gave some money to a person so that person could provide Thanksgiving dinners to homeless people. I was asked to pick up the money at Western Union and deliver it to this person since the receiving party was partially disabled. Now knowing this person for years professionally, I raise an eye brow at the gift because I knew that it probably wouldn't be spent the way it was promised. I tried to tactfully explain this to DewDoc and she told me that the gift was in the giving and God would bless her for it. It was between God and the receiver about how it was handled. That was a pretty good lesson DewDoc taught me.

I have worked with homeless people for years. As you can guess they are all homeless for different reasons. Some are alcoholic and drug users and are so far gone they don't care most of the time if they are living under the 5th street bridge or in a park. They only care about their next drink or their next fix. They don't care about anything but the money you give them to keep them in their hell. There are some of these people that truly reach out for help and want to go to a detox center. Some fall off the wagon and try again and again. Some actually make it and make a life for themselves.

Then there are ones that have some sort of a mental problem. Some of the meth users I've come across are bi-polar and can't afford prescription medication so they self medicate with meth. Some of the mentally ill won't or can't for some reason or another stay in a state run program and find it easier to survive on their own. Some of these people hate the way they feel on medication so they choose to live without medication and if they or their family don't have the means for a house or an apartment, they live on the street.

Some are truly down and out and need assistance to get back on their feet. I was sent to contact some people living in their car. It was a woman with her two kids that were trying to get away from her abusive husband and father. She was proud and didn't want a hand out but because of the children she relented and she was put up at a Women's Shelter.

I'm sure there are more groups but in each of these groups I mentioned, there are good people stuck in a trap and then there are the criminals in each group. Most of these people don't think like you and I and have a totally different perspective on life.

As to who you should give money to.....hard question.....I have given money to the down and out but to the one's who just want to go buy drugs and/or alcohol, I offer food and/or clothing. You'll find that the ones who want to remain at least for the time being homeless, they will refuse your offer of food and clothing. Just remember these people can go 2-3 times a day to the Salvation Army or a soup kitchen somewhere to eat and get warm clothes.

I think the best plan is to help them without furthering their self induced destruction.

Blyth,
If you want to help, maybe give a small donation to the Salvation Army or a Homeless Shelter. When someone asks, tell them to go there. The other thing, instead of giving money, go into the store, buy something and bring it out to them.

I have heard stories that some of these people make quite a bit of money by begging. I mean $200-300 a day.

My partner's bro may be homeless right now. We really don't know because we don't have contact with him. But we do know that he is a drug addict and that he has probably more money that you do in a trust if he would get his life straightened out. So...you never know the stories behind the person.

Thanks, guys. I know I frequently go to San Francisco, and walking down Market Street is running the gaumet of panhandlers...One time, a guy actually asked me for the food I had in my hand...we were happy to give it to him, but that is rare.
I realize there are people who really need help, and should not be turned away. Like the woman in her car mentioned earlier. Yes, I also think the Salvation Army is one of the best ways to go....a long with being faithful to God, they are above reproach with their handling of money.

I used to work downtown and just about every day on my way to the office I was approached for $ or for cigarettes. I would always ask what the $ was for. Sometimes I'd get an incoherent mumble, like it's none of your business what I spend my $ on lady and sometimes someone would say it was for food and that they were hungry. Then I'd offer to go to the bagel store that was close by and buy them some bagels. Sometimes that was received with gratitude but more often than not it was turned down like it wasn't good enough.

I've been poor and hungry, lost my home and everything in it and had to ask for help and I know it's not easy but whatever I got in return I was very grateful for.

I attended the Salvation Army for years and have seen many lives changed through people getting help there.

There will always be those who use people for what they can get out of them. That's in any walk of life and any style of living, rich or poor.

I think it's finding the balance between being blessed giving to those who are genuinely in need and not being taken advantage of.

Just my 2 cents,
Joan

We have quite a few people here that have the signs "Will work for Food". So far, after making arrangements for them to come to my house to do some odd chores, I have yet to see anyone...but that is ok. I believe God knows your heart when you give to someone who is begging or has needs and you supply a few of them. He will bless you...even if they take the money and use it on drugs, smokes, drink...it is your heart that is seen as doing what Jesus asks us to do: Love your neighbor as you want to be loved.
I will continue to give, it is what Jesus would do. I love Christmas time, and getting a family name from the Salvation Army. I have more fun getting presents for the kids, and I always include a little something for the parent or parents. It is the giving, not the attitude of what am I getting out of this.

It really is the giving.....As far as walking that fine line between giving vs. enabling, I've started using gift certificates for nearby restaurants instead of cash. Then if somebody doesn't want the gift certificate, I know they aren't really that hungry! The Salvation Army idea is a great one, too.

I used to work at The Greyhound bus station. A homeless persons 2nd home. I've given some food and had it refused, and it shocked and upset me. I just try to keep in mind that they choose that life, but what made them hate themselves that much? What would make them choose such a life.Could it happen to me. Could I ever be down that much? I think that we all could. I mean if they can make 2-300 begging on the streets what makes them feel they cant ripping people off at a car lot. like 80% cant work their mentally ill for whatever reason. I tried getting one homeless lady work but my supervisor came by and said no she smells. If a homeless person doesn’t have an address or phone they cant get a job but how can they get a home or phone with out a job. I feel God deals with people. I try to keep in my mind that those that are in need and that are on the streets are in a sense Christ, so that is who I'm giving to. This might sound cynical but I dont think that I necessarily would agree with what a church would do with my money, but I have to remember that’s not who I'm giving it to. I think that it is good to have compassion on those in need because it's good and anything that is truly good is from God, because only He is good. Give to give to God, and let God work on the person you give it to. I figure that I don’t give it to the imperfect man but the perfect God then it's a blessing all the way around.

I don’t think that you will be punished for not knowing how to feel about homeless people any more than any other confusion, His grace is sufficient.