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I used to work in a convenience store and the homeless would come in with suckers who would buy them a sandwich. Then they would come back trying to sell the sandwiches and buy NyQuil because it is 30% alcohol. The manager said buy it from them so they don't stand outside selling the sandwiches to people on the street in front of the store. Also they would trade back candy bars to other customers or whatever it took to get their high. In Boston in the 1990's the average person made $14.50 an hour begging on the street. On the best corners they could make double that. A few hours is a day or two of getting high.

Unless they EAT the food in front of you, assume you are buying them drugs. My advice is if you don't want to BEFRIEND someone and really help them out, volunteer at a soup kitchen, don't throw money or buy things for people on the street. They just trade them in for drugs.

To give to someone who is truly homeless is a great thing because you may find yourself in that same unfortunate situation one day. How would you want others to treat you? But be careful. I met someone who played homeless and would sit outside of the mall with a hat and a sign. Come to find out this person actually lived better than most. I was astonished at the amount of money this person collected on a weekly basis (they usaully hit up the mall on the weekend, but had other spots as well). After a call to the authorities this particular person no longer frequents the mall but like I said they had other scams as well. They actually averaged a thousand dollars a weekend!

I'm respectful, and usually kind, to homeless people.

If one is torn up pretty bad, I'll buy 'em a burrito, candy bar and water... whatever.

Generally, I'll charge 'em for anything they ask for from me.

A smoke? - Fifty cents... period. No debates, no deals.

A buck? - I tell 'em that I'll give 'em a buck if they do a littler clean up of their general area. If they aren't even willing to make a small attempt at doing something constructive I won't offer assistance. Either they want to work their way off of the streets or they don't. I'll assist those that desire to change their situation.

Tons of addictions on the streets, most cash donations go straight to the fix.

Rent and taxes are due and my employment isn't the most secure thing ever (we live in interesting times). I can't afford a dependent at the moment.

Hitchhiking around the country when I was 18 ended me out in the middle of nowhere with no money countless times.

I always found work, even when the locals couldn't.

Same thing with a couple of bicycle tours. I was fully self supporting on my journeys.

Maybe it's a pride thing, but I most certainly won't beg... 'cept for a job, maybe.

Your good intentions will generally be used for bad ends. Most, not all, of the homeless are homeless in advanced industry nations because they're drug users or mentally impaired. Both types of people have a very hard time using any money given to them in a constructive way. Worst is you may directly be helping them fuel a drug habit. Far better to give the money to a charity that actively works with the homeless than directly give a homeless person cash. Or volunteer to work with a charity. Help them to truly help themselves don't just give into the immediacy of the moment. Pass beyond good intentions and your feeling of doing good to actually making sure you're doing good.

Whenever I see a homeless person, I immediately think of all the other millions and how I'd love to give each one hundred dollars. That may sound corny to some, but it's how I feel. I just get filled with so much sadness. Everything we take for granted they would love to have. Thank you for at least giving something, most would just look the other way.

I'll tell you a true story. Some years back as my wife and I drove into a supermarket parking lot, a scruffy man with a sign that said, "I'll work for food" stood by the roadside looking forlorn. My wife is a very sentimental type and quite naive. She said she wanted to give him a bag of food. I smiled a knowing smile and agreed. As she piled staples into his bag I suggested we throw in a beer for good measure. On the way out we stopped the car by the man and she handed him the bag of goodies. He was very gratified and said, "God bless you!" She smiled the smile of the generous and had a great wave of warmth in her heart.

But, sneaky bastard that I am, I didn't drive home. I drove to a lot across the street that was a little higher than the lot he was working the crowd on and told my wife. "Just watch him for awhile." So we just sat there, watching how he operated. Pretty soon another car stopped and gave him a bag of goodies. As the car drove away he hesitated a minute, then walked carefully toward a white Toyota station wagon...which was about half full of shopping bags loaded with food. He dumped the bag into the back, locked it, and went back to his station. Each time he got another bag of food he dumped it into the back of the car. Nobody asked him to "work for food."

Finally my wife looked at me sheepishly and said, "I get the point." Then we drove home. Later she vowed never to give handouts to beggars again.

Two thirds of the homeless are either mentally disturbed, addicted, or both. What money you give them will be used to continue harming themselves with drugs and alchohol. The other third are temporarily homeless working poor, sometimes with kids. Helping these folks, if you can single them out, is a good act of kindness. But, in general, if you wish to help the poor or homeless, give your money to an agency that provides food, shelter, or other services; never put money into their hands directly.

I cant blame you for wanting to be nice. Thats nice of you.

On the other hand, I look at the world from the broader perspective of all living things, and I figure that the human species needs my help less than pretty much any other species on this planet. So my charity budget goes towards helping endangered species, not humans (which are, in fact, over populating and causing the problems of the other species.)

I think giving to the poor is a great thing. It means you care about how people feel and want to help them. You never know what that person went through and how much they wanted the stuff you give to them.

I'm kind to homeless people because I might soon be sharing a dumpster with the man I befreind.

when you have nothing wouldn't you be pleased if you got something .and you did good .but let me say be careful they are homeless for a reason and you don't know what that is and it might be to late when you find out.please keep your good heart safe,have a nice night