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IT IS A complex question; whether or not to give money to homeless people or homeless services.
For some people, the argument is that giving to charity ensures that the money is spent on longer-term programmes and avoids it being spent on alcohol or drugs.
For others, that’s not a judgement that can be made by them. If a person wants to spend whatever change they garner from begging on drink, then that’s their business.
But what do the experts think?
For Francis Doherty of the Peter McVerry Trust, the issue is complicated, but the important thing is remember that homeless people are more the latter half of that phrase.
“We would say that the most important thing is to acknowledge people. If your choice is not to give to a person, you should at least acknowledge them when they ask you a question.”
And what of people who prefer to buy food directly for homeless people.
“It is helpful, it’s a good thing to do.
But for some rough sleepers, there is an outreach service, so food might not be the issue. If the person has a difficulty staying in a dorm-type hostel, they may be trying to get a room in a B&B or a single room in a hostel.
Mostly, though, Doherty says, it’s not a black and white issue and however someone chooses to donate to homeless people is appreciated.
“It’s not straightforward and every person is different.
“If people are engaged and engaging with people on the street, that’s the main thing as long as the intention is good.”
Earlier this week, we asked if you give money directly to people you see on the street and believe to be homeless.
The results were interesting. While the largest group of those of you who took part said ‘No’ (47%), a quarter (24%) said ‘Yes’. A significant number (18%) give to charities working with homeless people, while 10% say they prefer to give other items – not cash – to people directly.
It seems that many of you are wary of what you feel might be organised begging, by people who might have support from elsewhere.
There were suggestions too that while there are “chancers”, the best course of action might be to “talk to them and see for yourself what they need, if it’s money fair enough, but maybe a sandwich or a coffee might help them more”.
I think homeless people definitely need help and it’s probably better to give to charities rather than someone begging but it’s hard to walk past sometimes without giving…. that being said – not everyone begging on the street is actually homeless.
Tough one. The long and short of it is, It just isnt a yes or no answer.
Everybody has their own story that are homeless. 2 examples I often see.
1)The guy/girl broken down in a sleeping bag staring blankly ahead, a tear running down their face and not even a cup in their hand. Completely destroyed and lost. Isn’t the same as the homeless person that’s clearly off his/her face on gear, going from person to person outside grogans demanding money.
I can only speak for myself, so telling people what to do with their money isn’t for me to decide. If they don’t ask I’ll slip money, smokes, say hello and ask are they hungry. I don’t do this as much as I use to. I walk by too much now. Once is too much when you think about it.
There has been a huge campaign on the media and throughout the journal this week which is great and essential because this problem is NOT being looked after by government. They have made promises that aren’t coming to fruition. It’s not a priority. We’ll have to dig in and do something ourselves. I cleared out my wardrobe last night. Any suggestions on who to bring it to? Directly or whatever, let me know. Peace out!
Recdntly, myself and hy husband were in Dublin City shopping when we were approached by a poor fella begging desperately. My husband took a note out of his pocket and went back and gave it to the poor man. Within 5 seconds of receiving it, he ran down a little lane way. I knew well what he was up to but my husband gave him the benefit of the doubt, concerned that he might well be hungry. We continued back to our car park and low and behold there was the poor man off buying himself some drugs.That was a lesson learned for us. We now give to the simon community shop directly. No more cash handouts unfortunately.
Drugs are pretty important to a drug addict to be fair
once you give it to him it his to do what he will with it, if we had proper addiction clinics then people wouldn’t have to beg to get their fix
I said this on a previous homeless article about a year ago and I’ll say it again. It grinds my gears when people say; ‘Sure they’ll only spend it on booze or drugs’, I wonder how long it would be before those same people, if they ended up on the streets, would need something to block out the reality of the life they end up living. What’s the difference between a person who is not homeless going home and getting sh*tfaced on wine on a Friday after work and a homeless person doing the same? We all know plenty of Irish people binge-drink be it in the pub or at home, just because you do it in a building doesn’t mean you can judge those who do it on the street so long as they’re not causing disorder. Alcohol is a drug too and a far more damaging one than most.
Some people act like Roman patricians throwing bread to the plebs with a holier than thou attitude. If I give money to a homeless person, which is always my preference over an organised charity, (because I know they’ll get 100% of what I give them), I hope they spend it on something that gets them through the night or day, many of these people are living in 24 hour blocks just trying to get to tomorrow, while most of us are wishing away our week frivolously dying for the weekend to come around so we can get wrecked and be hungover in bed on Saturday. It’s already getting cold now and it’s going to get worse very soon, if it was me I’d be taking the shoulder of whiskey over the warm cup of jasmine tea. Not saying you shouldn’t give to charity though, St.Vincent de Paul and The Simon Community do an incredible job and are the antithesis of charities like Rehab and Concern.
I will always give money. I don’t care what they do with it you can’t give someone a gift then dictate what they can do with it. When I was a child my mam won 3000 on a scratch card when she collect it she took 200 out and walked town given it out randomly to homeless I couldn’t understand this but she told me. If they were my children I would be great full if someone gave to them. Now a mother I totally understand her.
Rather than give them money go buy them something to eat and a cup of tea. It’s up to yourself if you want to talk to them but its good to have a chat because it must feel horrible when people dont even acknowledge your human.
Until I know that at least 70% of my donation will go directly to the homeless person and not to pay a bloated wage I will continue to give the money directly.
As someone who has worked in homeless services for 10 years I can assure you that there are no “bloated wages”.
Is this groundhog day?
It’s been Groundhog Day for quite a few days on here now!
Hey Conor, what are you doing for lunch today?
Would you give money for drugs to your son or daughter? Then why give it to feed someone else’s addiction? We are not actually helping these people but instead encouraging them to stay on the streets.
Another way of looking at it is that if someone needs €x for a bag they are going to get it one way or another.
Is it better to give on the street or have them rob/mug someone?
“If your choice is not to give to a person, you should at least acknowledge them when they ask you a question.”
I always say this to people. Being blanked by literally hundreds of people a day must be one of the most psychologically shattering things imaginable. I mean imagine waking up tomorrow morning in a city, any city will do, and trying to find out the time and everyone you ask either walks quickly away or completely ignores you without even acknowledging your existence. Sounds like a Beckett play or something except it’s actually happening. It’s also incredibly rude to ignore people like that.
There’s a junkie outside my local tube station every day crying his eyes out. I’ve given him money as I understand the crying is part of withdrawal.
It’s not a complex question at all. You either give a donation to the person you would like to help,give to a charity or don’t give anything. Individual choice. Usual journal article trying to spark a debate that doesn’t need to be.
True story. My friends mother once stopped and gave money to a man begging on the street. She asked him was he cold and he replied. ‘Ya I’m freezing I’m just back from lanzarote too so it seems a lot colder’
Is she familiar with sarcasm or dark humour?
No. Too many dodgy beggars and it’s impossible to know who’s in genuine need. Also, money is the last thing some of these unfortunate people need. At best, it will make you fell better but probably won’t help the homeless person at all.
Free drugs for the homeless so should add soľve the problem FFS
Remove “add”
You must work for Facebook, placing adds where they’re not wanted……I’ll get my coat..
No, don’t give them money.
I have been homeless a couple of times due to relationship break downs. I found jobs in Hotels that gave accommodation. Worked my way back into a home again. It aint easy, but neither is being homeless.
Giving them money only compounds their plight. if they have to go out and find work with a place to live, it helps them help themselves.
Saying that, if there are children involved, its a different thing, they need help finding a home for their children. That is what social services are for. Yes, I would give to them, not single folk.
have your say