I’ve actually skipped work just to help a homeless guy get his beard trimmed. Bought him pizza too. Kinda hard to get anywhere in life when you look like shit.
Be kind to the homeless, they just need a helping hand here and there.
What would you do?
I’d give him a snack if he was desperate enough to come to my door. Wouldn’t let him inside but might come out to chat with him. Just to be sure they are well enough to carry on. Like, I didn’t have to call for medical assistance or something.
It’s easy to say no when you’ve never been in that situation. I mean I’ve never been so out of it I’d beg a stranger to groom me but I have been completely on my own with nothing and no one.
Any homeless person with good intent would know that cold knocking someone and asking to come inside is a bridge too far. So if they were trying that shit they would most likely be competely toasted or having a serious mental episode. Even more likely they are trying to steal your shit.
I have had a homeless man come up to the door in an icestorm with no shirt on. The guy was soaked in alcohol and I did not feel safe. I did throw him a sweater, coat, and gloves because he could freeze but I was fucking terrified.
Thank you on their behalf for at least trying to help keep them warm during hard freezing times.
In my case, the ‘stranger’ wasn’t exactly a stranger anymore. Even though I had my own place to live with my family, I’d get tired of the home drama and I’d go ride my bicycle out to wherever my feet decided to pedal that night.
There were two particular homeless fellas that I’d sometimes stop and shoot the shit with for a couple hours or so. Sometimes they’d even buy me a beer, just to have a friend to talk to.
I never forgot their generosity. Never. I helped the older fella with a beard trim, some pizza, and a beer in return.
The younger fella had been an album producer in the past, so I found him a fancy green suit about his size. Dunno if he kept it, but last I heard he actually got him a place in the next city over.
Food? OK
Water? OK
The rest? No.
Yeah. I don’t like people in my place.
What would you do?
Sandwich? Nah. We grillin’.
Haha, I actually trimmed dude’s hair and beard on my back porch, then we rode our bicycles and I bought us a pizza and a couple beers.
I can certainly give them food and water, but sorry I’m not trusting enough to let a stranger in my house.
I never said I let him in the house, I trimmed him up on the back porch.
Dude was old and all his belongings were in a single backpack, pretty sure that even if I had let him inside, he wouldn’t have stolen anything.
Like seriously, where’s he even gonna put stuff? Homeless people don’t tend to have much space for extra stuff…
Good for you to help someone, genuinely. It’s a little weird you asked a question and then once people answer you try to debate them.
Some homeless people steal. Not saying as a group they all do, but I don’t know which category this stranger falls in. Once inside my house they know the layout and perhaps see things that would be of interest to come back later to steal. Of more concern is I don’t know the mental health of this individual, and I’m less concerned about theft than my family’s safety.
Had a dude come around in my neighborhood a few times. It was the middle of the summer and it can get above 100 where I live. Gave him pbj and some water because if was all I had at the time. He only asked for food and water. Haven’t seen him in a year now though.
My mind initially skipped the p in pbj and it altered the story significantly
I hope the fella is doing okay these days. Thank you on his/her behalf for helping them in a brief time of need. Even if that’s all you could do, at least it’s something.
People like you help me restore a few points in faith in humanity. 👍
We bring food sometimes to the local homeless guy but he doesn’t seem to want anything else.
This answer for me would really depend on a lot of factors. I don’t want a homeless roommate who won’t leave and can’t work, don’t want a mentally unstable person in the house with my daughters. So random guy probably not. I’d bring him food and a gallon of iced water and say I could not let him in. If it was the guy we know from under the bridge, and husband home, probably would let him shower and give him some of husband’s clothes to wear, sure.
But we HAVE had homeless people stay with us for a time if we knew them, quite a few times. Wandering guys who just didn’t live anywhere. Couch surfing people.
I’ve been ‘homeless’ after my father passed away 10 years ago, after paying 6 years of his land taxes. I’ve lost roughly 95% of everything I’ve ever owned, after paying 6 years of land taxes and bills.
I’ve been through some shit, so I have a kind heart towards others suffering the struggle…
I have lived on the streets too. I just don’t feel like I can possibly help everyone, if that makes sense. And would question the motive of someone I don’t know trying to get into my house.
It’s a very complicated problem. Some people are homeless from simple poverty and can climb out with some help, but we know these guys (it was always guys) who just don’t fit into society and can’t have a regular job or hustle enough to have stuff, but can get by without much, there doesn’t seem to be room in this country (USA) for them anymore. Like they have been illegal -ized.
I subscribe to a policy of cautious altruism, like a lot of folks already said. I need to keep myself and my family safe so probably not allow in the house, but I’d give food water, the hose, soap, shampoo, clean towel, and a change of clothes if I can. Maybe even some cash if I have it around to spare.
If I have a shed or garage I’d allow them to use it to change clothes privately and offer to wash their clothes if safe. They may have residue of drugs like meth on their clothes that I’m unable handle.
I’ve also got a decent amount of privilege to share.
Be kind, be safe
Also, for anyone reading through this thinking, “I shouldn’t give them money because drugs”
I use drugs to cope with chronic pain so I can get through a workday
I’m skilled labor and make a decent salary
The only things separating me from a homeless person were some “fortunate” family deaths providing enough inheritance to put me through college at a good time and some lucky networking
We should all be more humble and less judgemental of eachother’s choices
“I shouldn’t give them money because drugs”
I have a roof over my head, eat thrice a day, and have a loving family. Yet there are days when I want to drown myself in alcohol or weed. Who am I to judge a homeless person if they choose to do drugs and forget their suffering for a little while?
I always give money, if anything, to the few of them in my neighborhood. Whether it’s food , clothes, drugs or something else - they know what they need better than I know it.
I’m not exactly sure how to interpret all this, except I think you have a decent trustworthy soul, and care about others.
Yeah, I try to every day
Some days are harder than others, I ain’t perfect, I’ve caused probably as much harm as good, but I try my best
I think you need a digital hug 🤗
Be kind, be safe, and love thy fellow person. 👍
I’ve quite a few friends I’ve personally pulled out of homelessness, so I’ve seen how hard it is firsthand, I hope things are better for you
Things actually are better for me these days. Not great, but much better. I’m living in a decent affordable apartment now, rather than the old run down trailer park I came from.
Thank you for your kind words. 👍
I’ve had people occasionally help me along the way, and at my discretion, I’m glad to help others in return when possible. Pass it forward…
as someone who was homeless I’d let them in to take a shower and trim themselves up. If they’re an addict or mentally ill then no, i’d direct them somewehre else. I’ve had way too many bad interactions with both, especially addicts. If it was a homeless person who was sober and mentally sound? yeah i’d provide help because I know that programs and resources don’t exist for them they’re tailored for the addicts and mentally ill. Hell i’d even offer my couch. But addicts know the system and they’re only going to your door to rip you off. and the mentally ill don’t even know they’re homeless so they wouldn’t be knocking and asking for help anyways.
I don’t hold any answers but if you’re reading this comment, I want to know how you take into consideration that if they are asking for money, that money can easily be used for drugs/opioids/other stuff which will hurt them.
i.e., Do you give them money or do you give them food, a bottle of water or stuff like that?
Just don’t judge what they use money for. It’s not your place to police someone’s habits. Addiction is very hard.
A couple years ago some guy at the gas station gave me this long ass spiel about how he wasn’t on drugs (like the whole time it took to fill my tank up he was going on about it) and then asked me for gas money. I was like buddy here’s $20 but if you’re spending this on drugs get some for me too.
Several years ago, my mom started making care for folks out on the street. Some water, a bag of chips, a piece of candy. Little things like that. I started doing the same thing. It’s good to help those down on their luck in small ways. Even to to look at them and say “no, I’m sorry” when they ask for money, rather than to just ignore them. You are acknowledging them as a person. If we wish to make a better society, actions speak louder than words.
I also prefer the term ‘de-housed’ to ‘homeless’. I feel the latter places blame on them rather than the former which places blame on the society which has failed them.
I think homeless is more fitting. at least to me, it’s a more emotional/painful word, which is a good thing. being homeless sounds a lot shittier than being dehoused to me.
That’s an interesting point, provided it motivates people to do something about it, rather than assigning a moral failing to the individual. I.e. they deserve it for their sins. In my mind, dehoused elucidates the lack of a basic human need: shelter. There is a solution, especially in the face of the greed of rent seeking.
I remember a skit by the late George Carlin where he suggested that instead of calling them homeless, that we should call them houseless instead, so yeah I get what you mean there.
Plow the golf courses and cemeteries! Give these folks a place to live!
This is the first time I’m hearing plow cemeteries, and I’m not sure I’m on board with that. People usually spend time there to deal with grief and losing a little bit more of a dead loved one would be incredibly painful for a lot of folks
Fuck golf courses though
It’s a joke from George Carlin. I wouldn’t advocate for plowing old ones (although dead stuff makes fertile soil). Personally, I wouldn’t make new ones, but perhaps a middle ground is to make mausoleums wbere people can be burried vertically.
Ah, I see you’re a fan of the late George Carlin as well… 👍
My experience with homeless people on my porch has usually been them stealing from it or shitting on it. So I’d be rather shocked if they just asked for something normal.
I wouldn’t oblige the bath, but I could help them with some food and water.
There is a difference between a homeless person and a thief. It’s a bad stereotype to consider all homeless people as thieves.
In my experiences in life, thieves almost always have a home. I mean, where is a homeless person gonna store your television?
They’re not the same.
It’s true that not everyone fits stereotypes, but be realistic. The vast majority of homeless people are drug addicts, alcoholics, or both. Addicts with no legal source of income are going to steal.
I don’t hate homeless people at all, and I legitimately have sympathy for someone who fell on hard times and is trying to get their life together; I do hate addicts who are willing to take advantage of hard-working people. The venn diagram between homeless and addicts is very close to being a circle.
Want a little plot twist? Everyone is addicted to something or another. Why is caffeine legal, but cocaine illegal? People piss money away at Starbucks while dissing the homeless.
There’s a slight but significant difference between being addicted to Starbucks and crack.
There’s also the fact that instead of buying a $20 cup of coffee, you can get a $2 or so cup of coffee at most any old random gas station, and still have money left to buy 2 or 3 burgers to feed a couple homeless people instead.
I don’t want to buy 2 or 3 burgers to feed homeless people. I mentioned this in another comment, but the group of people who are homeless and the group of people who are addicted to meth, heroin, whatever are largely the same group, maybe with a few outliers. Why the hell would I want to buy lunch for someone who’s going to go out and rob or harass someone for $20 so they can go buy a bag of their drug of choice?
People like myself (and others in this comment section) don’t hate the homeless. We hate drug addicts who shit all over society (sometimes literally) in order to get their next fix.
Here’s an experiment you can try: The next time you see a homeless person begging for money so they can buy some food, refuse to give them money and offer to buy them food instead. They’re probably going to call you a piece of shit and if you’re lucky, they might leave you alone after that, but probably not.
People need to have sympathy for the homeless, but not for addicts. We should have social programs to house the homeless, as long as they can pass a drug test. Food banks, work-placement programs, they should all exist and be taxpayer funded, as long as those using them can pass a drug test.
Yeah, it bothers me when young, naive people on the internet don’t get this. Homelessness is often a lot more than just not having enough money. Often (but not always), it involves deep psychological issues. One of the reasons why the homeless issue is difficult to solve is because you can’t just throw money at them or even just give them a house and expect for everything to be fixed. They need psychological help, and often help with addiction, in addition to the money. I feel for these people, but it is absolutely not the simple issue people like to make it out to be.
Personally, I don’t even answer the door for strangers unless I’m expecting someone.
They steal our patio furniture, and then I see it in the camps down the road. We’ve had to start locking it up with chains. In this case they are both homeless and thieves.
Sadly, sometimes they can be thieves, but that doesn’t seem to be the usual case when I’ve met homeless people.
Then again, maybe it’s because my instincts tell me who to avoid from a quarter mile away. You know, like that dude behind the Burger King dumpster with a face full of tattoos… Yeah, probably best to avoid…
I’d wash his clothes, too.
I actually would have offered that as well, but honestly I was staying at my mother’s house at the time, so using the indoor facilities was kinda out of the question.
But the hair clippers were mine, so I just ran an extension cord out the back door to trim him up, and then we went and I bought us both some pizza.
I did what I could, always thinking like what if I was in their situation?
Nice try, you filthy Hobo!
Can’t hear knocking on the door from the living room and my doorbell is disabled most of the time. So unless people notfify me of their visit there is a good chance I just won’t open the door at all.
Also there is a big construction site in front of my house right now, so I’m wearing noise canceling headphone most of the time. And with those I hardly even hear the doorbell when it’s on.
IMHO: Always help out the working-class people if you can; the homeless and’middle class’ are the working-class.
You don’t have to let them in your home or do too much, but I would offer them a box with food, plenty of water, and a basic care package.
We all need to make time to join in helping our local communities. 1 hour a year is much more helpful than 0 hours a year.
Mantra:
“We should focus our actions, time, and resources on Direct Action, Mutual Aid, and Community Outreach… No War but Class War!”
