MONEY MORAL DILEMMA: Should you give cash to the drunk homeless man?

swiss721

If you were down on your luck, or a bit tapped, or on the run or anything like that what would you spend any spare change on? Personally I'd get properly twatted on super T. Especially in this weather! I'd get my food from bins/floor and spend anything else on booze and hopefully some skag.

It's not like they're gonna put a fiver in the bank a day to save up for new curtains.

swiss721

Ebenezer_Screwj wrote: »

I wouldn't help out any able-bodied person capable of work, in any shape or form, I already pay more than enough tax into a too all-embracing welfare state.

An understandable frustrated and angry point Mr Scrooge, but don't joke with a hungry man.

What would you rather beggars do? OK some are blatant p*ss takers, but even that is a sad problem and I feel sorry for them still in a pitiful kind of stylee.

So if everyone was as tight as you, some beggars would turn completely desperate and there would be more robberies. And unfortunately it wouldn't be people like you who'd be the victim, it would be the vulnerable elderly as they aren't as bolshy as your good self who no-doubt own's an iron fist.

...and aren't most of the organisations actually helping homeless people charitable organisations? I'm sure the one in Shephards Bush is, and there are many church organisations which try to help in their own way. I bet that doesn't come out of your fat tax. I think it is very hard to claim benefits if you have no address. STICK THAT IN YER PIPE N SMOKE IT GREEDY GUTS!
;-0

busi_issi

first thought is no, but if it makes him feel a little warmer in the bitter cold or helps get him through another day on the streets then YES i would give.

bigsaverCol

NO NO NO
I have shops on a busy tourist seafront street. The beggers get given so much food that they throw away bin loads of chips and pizza every night. They come in to me to exchange their loose change into notes. They make more money than me! Some days I'm tempted to do it myself.
Yes, help the alchoholics with charity donations but never give to these rich pretenders.

McKneff

swiss721 wrote: »

An understandable frustrated and angry point Mr Scrooge, but don't joke with a hungry man.

What would you rather beggars do? OK some are blatant p*ss takers, but even that is a sad problem and I feel sorry for them still in a pitiful kind of stylee.

So if everyone was as tight as you, some beggars would turn completely desperate and there would be more robberies. And unfortunately it wouldn't be people like you who'd be the victim, it would be the vulnerable elderly as they aren't as bolshy as your good self who no-doubt own's an iron fist.

...and aren't most of the organisations actually helping homeless people charitable organisations? I'm sure the one in Shephards Bush is, and there are many church organisations which try to help in their own way. I bet that doesn't come out of your fat tax. I think it is very hard to claim benefits if you have no address. STICK THAT IN YER PIPE N SMOKE IT GREEDY GUTS!
;-0

it isnt his pipe where i want to tell him to stick it.:eek:

Flower_of_Scotland_3

Swiss721

‘So if everyone was as tight as you, some beggars would turn completely desperate and there would be more robberies’
I don’t agree. Most beggars have serious health issues for the most part they are not capable of committing crime.

‘...and aren't most of the organisations actually helping homeless people charitable organisations? ‘
Perhaps this is the problem. These charities are letting the government off the hook.
‘I think it is very hard to claim benefits if you have no address. ‘
Are you sure of this? If so this is something that should be looked into. Why should anyone have to humiliate themselves by begging in the streets when benefits are available?

grade15

I think yes, because in the near future.. there will be a lot more of these homeless drunk loafing the streets.. due to the current economy..pretty soon it will be someone you really know.. if you can help one..then the better..

or you can just print off these vouchers for 2for1 deals and give him the vouchers and the cash..!! or you can buy 1 and give him the other!

this situation is the same with charities that help poorer countries.. all the money donated are either taken up by their government or administration fees..

Countertenor

No - don't give any beggar money. It only encourages them. If you must, buy them a tea or sandwhich/similar. Beggars can't be choosers!

pomcycle

i used to walk past quite a lot of homeless people and beggars on my way in and out of town and sometimes i would buy something on offer in the shop like a bag of twix to go with lunch each day and offer anyone who asked one - some actually turned them down as they only wanted cash!
But the people who really needed the basics of shelter and food were really grateful. Also i used to get luncheon vouchers and i've given them to homeless people before because they can only buy food not alcohol with them.

Flower_of_Scotland_3

http://scotland.shelter.org.uk/getadvice/advice_topics/homelessness/homeless_peoples_rights#2
If the person begging lives in Scotland I would encourage them to claim benefits. Tell them they would probably get around £180 per week, tax free.More than a pensioner!!! They would get top priority on the Housing List and provided with a nice flat and loads of help from charities and other different agencies. Why don't they do it??? Why do they choose to continue begging?
Shelter state the following, see link above:
'If you are homeless you are still entitled to claim benefits. If your benefits are paid directly into your bank or post office account, this will continue. If not, you may be able to collect benefit cheques from your nearest DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) or Jobcentre Plus office. Contact your local office to arrange this.'

I would imagine this would be applicable in the rest of the UK.