Have you ever given a homeless person on the street money?

[Byrns]

I finally gave my first homeless person money yesterday. I was sitting outside eating a hot dog and coke, and I got up to throw away the last bit of bun and my pop can.

As I was tossing out the stuff a homeless guy, in fairly decent condition for a homeless guy, asks me if he could have my garbage. I thought he wanted the pop can so I handed it to him and tossed the leftover bun. He said "No I wanted the bun!!!", and started digging in the trash for it. I was quite surprised that he was so desperate, so I ended up giving him $5 and told him to get a hot dog for himself. He thanked me nicely, and said he was quite hungry.

I give to charities and shelters to ensure the money gets used for something other than drugs and booze. This was the first time I gave it directly to a homeless person because I beleived the guy was legitmately hungry.

[NG]

Yes.

[guest10586]

Yes, once or twice...afterwards I wasn't sure how it was going to be spent and felt bad for giving it to them. :|

[me!]

yes, but never again.;

[yatko]

BS. A proper(and interesting, worthy of create a posting about it) poll should ask the question:
Have you ever taken any money from a homeless person?

[d_jedi]

I haven't. I'd rather give them food than money, in the case of OP..

[UrbanPoet]

For some reason... I think this is going to burn into a raging debate about how lazy bums are and how the welfare system should be abolished while the ppl on welfare are BBQ'd as food for 3rd world countries.

[ajimondo]

I rather give a homeless person some food than money. I seen 1 to many drunks on the streets.

[89fan]

Last week we gave some guy $5. The next day we saw him shopping in Fortinos...with a buggy full of groceries. I was so pissed! :mad:

He obviously wasn't in need.

[stevethewheel]

I give pocket change pretty freely. Not to every person with thier hand out but if someone catches my eye I'll dig in and give them whatever I come up with....usually that's like 0.50-1.50. I don't give money to folks that are agressive, though I do smile at them as I am turning them down.

I think if I had someone that got right in my face I'd likely tell them off though thankfully that hasn't happened yet.

[CodecX81]

Last week we gave some guy $5. The next day we saw him shopping in Fortinos...with a buggy full of groceries. I was so pissed! :mad:

He obviously wasn't in need.

Well he might've gotten lucky. :)
At least he was buying groceries... not a 60" plasma TV :)

[PrimoTurbo]

I used to give change anytime I had it but one time I went to grab a bite and this homeless guy kept bothering me about giving him money. So I told him I don’t have change and walked in to a pizza pizza, then used my 20 dollar bill to buy a slice of pizza and a drink, quietly finished my pizza but as soon as I walked out that homeless guy rushed up to me again and said something along the lines of him seeing me break a 20 and that I have change. I was really pissed because this guy basically spied on me just so he can ask for change.

I was going to tell him off but didn’t really feel like causing trouble so I give him some change and left. Ever since then I keep my change. Plus I see so many bums drinking on the street, and it’s the same people too. I know it’s tough but if you they really wanted to get off the street they could, there are tons of places that could help them. Some of them actually choose to stay on the street and beg for change so they can get drugs or alcohol.

[UrbanPoet]

Last week we gave some guy $5. The next day we saw him shopping in Fortinos...with a buggy full of groceries. I was so pissed! :mad:

He obviously wasn't in need.

MAybe he was shopping for his family... you never know. He was buying food, not DRUGS or BOOZE! :-0

[d_jedi]

I used to give change anytime I had it but one time I went to grab a bite and this homeless guy kept bothering me about giving him money. So I told him I don’t have change and walked in to a pizza pizza, then used my 20 dollar bill to buy a slice of pizza and a drink, quietly finished my pizza but as soon as I walked out that homeless guy rushed up to me again and said something along the lines of him seeing me break a 20 and that I have change. I was really pissed because this guy basically spied on me just so he can ask for change.
That's one of the reasons why I use Interac :->

[Montecore]

I gave 2 young runaways tokens for the TTC .

[UrbanPoet]

I remember one time this bum asked me for change...
and i just walked away. B/c the guy was.. Erm... pretty drunk and crazy sounding
and he said 'thats right! turn away you gooks!'

then me and my 9 friends turned around and looked at him. He ran away.
sigh.. drunk ppl

[Montecore]

there are lotsa panhandlers begging in front of the LCBO.

[Jokez Guy]

Ye i give to em if they look desperate, But then i feel bad at the end cause they gonna use the moneys on drugz alcohol and not gonna do good with the money at the end... But who givez i did my job givin a donation to them, its upto em what they gonna do wrong or good

[Byrns]

BS. A proper(and interesting, worthy of create a posting about it) poll should ask the question:
Have you ever taken any money from a homeless person?

Nobody's stopping you. :D

[WiZZLa]

A homeless kid went up to my friend and ask for money for "marijuana" research. He gave him money because he was being honest, among other reasons.

I once gave money to a homeless person, then about 15 minutes later I saw him in a computer store with a Yamaha 4260 on the counter next to him (anyone who had a burner pre-99 knows about that cd-rw) and he was getting money back from the cashier. I was pissed, until I noticed he was only getting change :lol:

[Cruel_Angel]

I give every now and then. Actually the last few times I did, I didn't give much, but boy was their attitude great. A guy asked me for a quarter so he could use the phone, I only had a dollar, I gave it to him, and he was like hold on, let me get change for you.. And he headed for a store, I was like no dude, don't worry about it. I was like, now there is a homeless guy with some decency, then you get those idiots who call you cheep for not giving them change.

[89fan]

MAybe he was shopping for his family... you never know. He was buying food, not DRUGS or BOOZE! :-0

I agree but hey it's Fortinos. I am sorry but poor homeless struggling people do not shop at Fortinos. They would shop at a Discount store such as No Frills or Food Basics, because you can get more food for your $$!

[Keelie]

when i see someone playing guitar on the streets if i have change i'll throw some in the container...
but as for someone asking me for spare change.. nope.

some of those people make good money panhandling on the streets, its like a job to them. and if its food they need, there are plenty of places here that serve lunch and dinner to homeless people. i think a very small percentage of the money they get actually goes towards food. especially since the most of them are asking outside the liquor store!

[15-20_God]

I agree but hey it's Fortinos. I am sorry but poor homeless struggling people do not shop at Fortinos. They would shop at a Discount store such as No Frills or Food Basics, because you can get more food for your $$!

so its wrong for them to panhandle for drugs, alcohol, and to buy food at a supermarket you don't think is appropriate? Some ppl need to get off their pedastal.

[me!]

when i see someone playing guitar on the streets if i have change i'll throw some in the container...
but as for someone asking me for spare change.. nope.

some of those people make good money panhandling on the streets, its like a job to them. and if its food they need, there are plenty of places here that serve lunch and dinner to homeless people. i think a very small percentage of the money they get actually goes towards food. especially since the most of them are asking outside the liquor store!
That's why the last guy to ask me for money for food, I actually took him to the nearest A&W (1/2 block away) and bought him a combo meal, and made sure the cashier gave him the meal.

I was afraid that if I left before the meal was ready, the homeless guy would cancel the order and ask for the money that I paid to buy his meal.

this guy was a real homeless person and did not look as if he was just panhandling for drugs, or alcohol. (but you never know!)

We shook hands and I left him to eat alone. I aslo told him that the staff can't kick him out, because his meal was paid for and he has the right to enjoy it inside a warm environment without being hassled.

Some people really do want money for food.

[Audiogenic]

The average monatery daily intake of a pandhandler close to Ryerson University was at least $50 Canadian (tax free).

Money isn't the best option to give them as it could go towards WD-40 or Aqua Velva, ect.

[CanadaBoy]

It is so annoying when they go up to your car shaking their cup infront of your window.