We've all seen them, dirty, bedraggled, sitting in a doorway with a blanket round them and usually a mangy looking dog at the side of them. I encountered one in York recently as we passed he asked quietly if we had any change, I looked down at him and then carried on walking as we walked away he politely wished us a good day. I am never sure whether to give money to beggars, sure I have enough money and I am comfortably off but do they actually use the money to buy food or drugs? Are they as bad off as they seem or are they making a living out of begging and at the end of the day pop round the corner and get in a car to travel back to their comfortable home in the suburbs.

 

I feel guilty at ignoring them and sometimes think "there but for the grace of God go I", that could be me in that doorway if life hadn't been kind to me, I could be homeless, living on the street with no prospect of getting a job and somewhere to live.

 

What do others think, should we give a little change to beggars to help them out or are the majority of them frauds? Are they just using the money to feed their drug habit?

i think theres more genuine beggars tbh, they stand out a mile. the ones who look cold, ill and are pleasant usually give good signs. why not consider donating to an hospice or homeless shelter? the money is always spent wisely and it helps those who cant afford to pay for cheap rooms.

Very good point @liampie.I'm afraid I'm a bit cynical.I don't like being approached or asked to give money.I've lost count of the number of times some stranger has asked me for a cigarette and then turned abusive when I've turned them down.The British Legion Poppy Appeal and The Salvation Army are the only ones I give to.

I have given money to some, i stopped doing so when I started being asked often.

There's still a couple of people I sometimes get Jake or Ellie to give £1.50 or so, that's if we see them and during working at Harts I would often see this guy sleep rough near the apartments. He actually died from pneumonia and the owner of the hotel complained to local authority about it, also due to paramedics the hotel's car park was blocked. Why do people value things over other humans lives?

It's been awhile since I have given, though I do believe the one's who are worth stand out a mile and often the type of people who don't ask.

My grandfather (Granny's father) would often help a man who was locally named as 'hop along' and he hated that, I grew up always seeing him and for about 6 years I hadn't until recently. He's looking better and he always refuses money, however homeless shelters support him and during the day he doesn't offload on anyone but he walks around trying to keep active despite having a very bad leg/ankle injury.

Last time I spoke to him was around New Years Eve back when I was 16 and working at the Strathdon Hotel. I worked really late until the money and received a bonus packet, whilst I was waiting to be picked up by a share taxi. I offered him the bonus I received and he rejected, which shows not all are the same.

Boris the tramp is one who makes my blood boil.

Why do people value things over other humans lives?

i have been brought up to look out for others, its something i find very saddening but its about peoples mind sets really.

Liam me too.  I always give if I possibly can.  I don't care why they're on the street, I don't care what they do with the money.  If I were on the streets I think I'd want a can of special brew or whatever.  Anyone forced to beg has SOME problem, whatever it is.  I'm not sure 'career' beggars actually exist.  How much money can you make doing it?  Not enough to pay for anything more than some of life's necessities I'm sure.  Anyway, it's not up to me to decide who is worthy and who isn't.  If I can give I do.

 

By the way, who's Boris?

There's quite a bit about him online, however he's the type of tramp which gives others a bad name.

It turns out his real names Chris Smith, though it doesn't change much. I won't go into the reason why I dislike tramps like him, it's not due to inaccurate rumours however.

An alarming amount of the British homeless in this country are ex-forces. I give money to charities that help these kind of people, rather than give directly to the people on the streets. 

When you do give to people on the streets, you are never sure what you give them is going to be used for what you had intended it for.

When I was living down in the south of the country I used to give a pound or two every now and again to a bloke that used to sit out McDonalds, I only gave him money because I saw him going in to McD's to buy food with the money I gave him. 

I tend not to give them money directly, but if I see one near a Greggs/McDonalds I'll offer to buy them some a pastie or a burger. I normally do it when I'm in a good mood as well, around Christmas time for example.

An increasing amount of people are being made destitute nowadays. All it can take is a bad day at the office, or disagreements between the employee and their manager, that kind of thing, and you find yourself out of a job. Then everything spirals out of control.

I've had the most rotten of luck these last few months - I could go on and on, but basically I found myself leaving one stable but increasingly worsening job for another seemingly better job, only for the latter to dismiss me after five weeks based on absolute ludicrousness. 

 

I've got a new full-time job lined up, but by the time I begin, it will have been three and a half months between jobs, and this new job THEN won't pay me until the end of March. This is despite having applied to it in December, then having to wait a MONTH for an interview, and ANOTHER month to start. So, FIVE months between paychecks. Almost half a year.

 

I'm lucky because I've been living off some (now depleted) savings and I've got myself a part-time job as well which is due to give me a much-needed injection soon, as well as still living at home, but imagine if I had bills to pay, mouths to feed and a mortgage to deal with. The system has completely and utterly screwed me over.

Basically, I really feel for the homeless, and as soon as I'm back on my feet, I'll definitely begin contributing to a charity or two, because in Tory Britain, it could happen to any of us.

This thread sort of reminds me of the Bob Dylan song

 

"Like A Rolling Stone"

Once upon a time you dressed so fine
You threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you ?
People'd call, say, "Beware doll, you're bound to fall"
You thought they were all kiddin' you
You used to laugh about
Everybody that was hangin' out
Now you don't talk so loud
Now you don't seem so proud
About having to be scrounging for your next meal.

How does it feel
How does it feel
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone ?

You've gone to the finest school all right, Miss Lonely
But you know you only used to get juiced in it
And nobody has ever taught you how to live on the street
And now you find out you're gonna have to get used to it
You said you'd never compromise
With the mystery tramp, but know you realize
He's not selling any alibis
As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes
And say do you want to make a deal?

How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone ?
You never turned around to see the frowns on the jugglers and the clowns
When they all come down and did tricks for you
You never understood that it ain't no good
You shouldn't let other people get your kicks for you
You used to ride on the chrome horse with your diplomat
Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat
Ain't it hard when you discover that
He really wasn't where it's at
After he took from you everything he could steal.

How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone ?

Princess on the steeple and all the pretty people
They're drinkin', thinkin' that they got it made
Exchanging all precious gifts
But you'd better take your diamond ring, you'd better pawn it babe
You used to be so amused
At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used
Go to him now, he calls you, you can't refuse
When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose
You're invisible now, you got no secrets to conceal.

How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone ?

This is a Fantastic Subject Thanks @tonyhateley:

 

I was Homeless for just over 1 year, here in Ottawa, And still managed to listen to Notts, lol. The Majority of Homeless PEOPLE (Not Bums, Rags, Tramps, Scroungers) are actually looking for Food or Drinks. The Stigma is, is that they'll go buy drugs and booze, but you can tell which ones need their fix.

 

So the next time you see one, ask yourself if you have time to buy a Coffee, Bagel, Muffin, Donut, or Perhaps 20p . Then when you walk away, you'll feel like a Million Pounds  

 

So the answer to your Question, I'd say 65% of the time, Yes i do. 

It's interesting to hear from the other side of the coin @Canadian if you don't mind me asking did you ever have to beg for money or food? If so how successful were you. What sort of help do homeless people get over there are there welfare systems out there, homeless shelters etc?

 

I think it is a great idea to give the beggars food or drink.

Here in Cork in Ireland, the numbers of people living on the street has increased substantially over the last few years. Our Government's policy of austerity is the main cause of this. You should see the queues outside the soup kitchen. Men, women and children. People who cannot afford to feed themselves. The social cost of austerity is something that needs to be looked into. Austerity kills.

Some are genuine and some arn't. I generally don't because i'm unsure whether they are or not. Some come out of their houses to beg as they don't have a job and some are genuinely homeless. I'm not against giving small change to them if they are actually homeless and arn't going to spend the money on drugs or alcohol.

I was very nearly homeless before I got this house.  I won't go into details but the Tories absolutely screwed me and I lost my own home.  Believe me, it can happen to anyone.  It's ok saying 'well I don't know if they're worthy or not' but I honestly believe that isn't my call to make.  I'd sooner have given someone a quid who spent it on dope or whatever, than NOT give to someone who was genuinely starving.  Appearances can be deceptive remember.

 

It's interesting to hear from the other side of the coin @Canadian if you don't mind me asking did you ever have to beg for money or food? If so how successful were you. What sort of help do homeless people get over there are there welfare systems out there, homeless shelters etc?

 

I think it is a great idea to give the beggars food or drink.

 

 

 

No i didn't, I was on the streets for about 3 months and then went into a shelter. Not sure which one was worse.

 

Any how, I stayed at the Salvation Army Downtown Ottawa, and we were feed Quite well, Mornings would always be Cereal and every day it would Change to an Egg, Pancake, Muffin, one day a week we'd all be happy with Bacon or Sausage lol. 

 

Lunch was a Prepared sandwich Couple of biscuits, an apple and a Banana

 

I never stayed for dinner after the 1st one     , But yes we were also given a Real Dinner, and sometime a dessert. 

 

All of this just because i lost my job and got kicked out of my apt within a 4 week period. 

 

The people in the shelter were interesting, Understatement. They had their Mental issues and of course Drug dependency. So I Kept myself to myself and if they caught my eye i'd just give a nod of the head and just say "Hey". That's all they need sometimes, Just a "Hey" and a Smile makes a world of difference. Also just to add There is Tons & Tons of programs available to the Homeless, but what's that saying about a Horse and Drinking. All the Social Workers can do is Be Prepared and of course there is Police Presence 24/7 . 

 

That was 4 years ago (Bleddy Hell, Time Flies) 

 

COYP 

It must have been an awful time for you, I can only imagine the worry you must have gone through, after this thread I won't be ignoring the next beggar.

Thank God you managed to survive eh?

Tammy has just sent me a link on facebook that I thought those interested in this thread might like to read or sign.  These 3 guys took food from a waste bin behind an Iceland.  Iceland do not want them prosecuting, but the CPS says it's 'in the public interest'.  Absolute beggars belief.  (No pun intended!)  Have a read of this...

 

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/drop-the-charges-against-the-iceland-three?bucket&source=facebook-share-button&time=1391000623

Tammy has just sent me a link on facebook that I thought those interested in this thread might like to read or sign.  These 3 guys took food from a waste bin behind an Iceland.  Iceland do not want them prosecuting, but the CPS says it's 'in the public interest'.  Absolute beggars belief.  (No pun intended!)  Have a read of this...

 

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/drop-the-charges-against-the-iceland-three?bucket&source=facebook-share-button&time=1391000623

It reminds me of a poor girl who stole food from Co-Op, she got sentenced and was heavily pregnant. She stole minimal amount of food, she could have been ordered to work it off and given support - Cruelly she had a miscarriage whilst locked up and she was ordered to clean the cell up, without receiving medical attention.

http://metro.co.uk/2013/12/12/prisoners-miscarriage-hell-woman-forced-to-clean-up-foetus-from-cell-floor-4228980/

That's outrageous. I've just penned this in response (I like to channel my anger and outrage by writing articles lol)
http://debatehome.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/are-we-really-living-in-society-where.html

Good article Joe.  I'm glad common sense has prevailed but still totally bemused that it went this far!

I thought I would resurrect this thread.

 

After reading the comments on here I decided next time that I saw a beggar I would give them some spare change. Then I've heard on the news today that a beggar has been arrested on the streets of Nottingham and he had £800 in cash on him which had been collected over three days.

 

I wish I could earn that in three days, perhaps I ought to start begging, I've got an old sleeping bag and a blanket to put round my shoulders, just need to grow a bit of stubble, practice my pathetic look and how to shiver and I'm sorted.

No Practice needed then