One morning about six months ago a homeless guy stopped me on the street, and for whatever reason I didn't dismiss him but actually stopped and talked. I've met him twice since, he's now on benefits of some kind and staying in a homeless shelter (which isn't free - no, I don't understand the system). However he has barely enough money left over to feed himself, and that's when things are going smoothly. He hasn't been able to get a job (probably isn't very employable, I don't know how hard he's tried). He says he doesn't do drugs or alcohol, and though I can't tell if this is true I've never seen him drunk or incoherent. So my question: - does anybody here have any experience with the homeless, or with homelessness themselves? - what can I do to help him?

My feeling is that the most reliable way to help the genuinely poor is by giving them food. You know they need it to live, it can greatly increase their quality of life, and it can't be spent on drugs/booze.

If you wanted to make a more significant sacrifice, you could give clothes (to wear for interviews) and help them find work but then you're putting yourself at risk i.e if they steal from a friend you recommend them to.

My personal preference is to give the goods to a known excellent shelter, or to give to a charity that is volunteer based or otherwise is known and trusted to give every penny toward the poor.


We have local shelters and excellent hospital (Primary Children's Medical Center) that we do a lot for, and over the long term have donated many tens of thousands of dollars. I would much rather see my donations go to these organizations that I implicitly trust to use it well, rather than to individuals that I do not completely trust to put to good use.

Also when donating cash, I have my employer match the cash donation to the organizations. They won't match donations to an individual.

I will also volunteer my help.


When I decide to give directly to the individual -- which only happens once or twice per year -- I will give used goods (usually used clothes and toys for kids) and canned food (usually from our food storage that is near the expiration date). These are items they can immediately use and cannot sell.

If you really want to help him, give him food and help him find the nearest biolife plasma donation center.

I'm not homeless but I like having extra money. You make about $55 a week for two donations that takes about a hour each, this should at least give him the ability to feed himself and does not require any skills.

If he is truly not doing drugs and has no STDs this should help him a great deal.

I have had close ties with two social workers in my life and both were convinced that many (if not the majority of) homeless people are perfectly happy being homeless. Giving them food might not be so bad, but is not really all that different from giving them money. After all, if they were gonna spend the $5 in their pocket on food, but you give them food instead, they now can spend that $5 on whatever it is they want.

We were in a food court inside a mall the other day. Guy who was clearly homeless was milling around. I had ordered too much, so walked over and handed him my uneaten sandwich. "No, thanks." That was in line with what one of the social workers told me. "They enjoy the freedoms that a homeless life gives them. No rules. They have plenty of options for food. If they can't scrap together money by panhandling, there's always free food. They know exactly where to go. "That place serves good free chicken on Thursdays, and free pasta on Fridays. I'm more into the free pizza that other place serves." That particular social worker almost seemed to envy them. She had lived among them for a few months when she was younger, just to get a feel for their life style.

Quote: Original post by Silvermyst
I have had close ties with two social workers in my life and both were convinced that many (if not the majority of) homeless people are perfectly happy being homeless. Giving them food might not be so bad, but is not really all that different from giving them money. After all, if they were gonna spend the $5 in their pocket on food, but you give them food instead, they now can spend that $5 on whatever it is they want.

We were in a food court inside a mall the other day. Guy who was clearly homeless was milling around. I had ordered too much, so walked over and handed him my uneaten sandwich. "No, thanks." That was in line with what one of the social workers told me. "They enjoy the freedoms that a homeless life gives them. No rules. They have plenty of options for food. If they can't scrap together money by panhandling, there's always free food. They know exactly where to go. "That place serves good free chicken on Thursdays, and free pasta on Fridays. I'm more into the free pizza that other place serves." That particular social worker almost seemed to envy them. She had lived among them for a few months when she was younger, just to get a feel for their life style.

Errr, yeah sure maybe most of them prefer not to work hard but it's not entirely true that they like being homeless...

I've got some experience with the homeless, but it's not relevant to your story.

Here are two things to try. The next time you see the guy, ask him if he needs help and if so ask him what you can do to help him. The other thing to do would be to contact a social worker at the homeless shelter and ask that person what you can do to help.

...

[Edited by - Awoken on September 15, 2009 7:12:33 PM]

I really wonder what Ayn Rand would say...

Quote: Original post by CodaKiller
If you really want to help him, give him food and help him find the nearest biolife plasma donation center.

I'm not homeless but I like having extra money. You make about $55 a week for two donations that takes about a hour each, this should at least give him the ability to feed himself and does not require any skills.

I'm not aware of anywhere he can get money for this in the UK.

Quote: Original post by LessBread
The next time you see the guy, ask him if he needs help and if so ask him what you can do to help him. The other thing to do would be to contact a social worker at the homeless shelter and ask that person what you can do to help.

He'll just ask for money - I don't think has a longer term plan than this. He did say he'd like to have a job, but I don't know what to suggest other taking him to a job center. What kind of work should he be looking for?

Asking staff at the shelter is a good idea.