Beggars : do you give money to them ?

[BadFish]

People on the streets are certainly struggling in some way. Many have mental health issues. Many have addictions to escape from their shitty lives or backgrounds.

Many are not what you would consider homeless. It's often a bit of a misnomer. They have a place to stay of some sort, such as a hostel. Some even may have been offered accommodation, but can't cope on their own. But a place in a hostel enables you to claim benefits, as you then have an address. Possibly even disability benefit if you have serious problems. You may also get fed at the hostel.

The reality is that if you have a heroin addiction, for example, it costs more than you get on benefits, and Brighton is known to be a place where people are kind and give you money. Even if people buy you food, or a soup kitchen rocks up, you can then spend less of your benefits on food and more on drugs or alcohol. By giving directly to street beggars, you are merely prolonging their situation. You may not consider this to be a problem.

I feel desperately sorry about whatever's happened to get people to this stage (and I've heard some real horror stories), but the best people to give your money to are people like Brighton Housing Trust, who are trying to help people make the changes that will get them off the streets for good.

You maybe be correct here but it is worth noting that if you don't give money to a heroin addict beggar they are not simple going to stop. I would suggest that they are not going to stop their drug use because they haven't been given money. they are simply going to find another way to get the money or the drugs....... or worst case scenario, they are going to be going cold turkey while on the street until they can find money for drugs. your nit of spare change may well be going towards stopping someone getting mugged or burgled. Not giving money is not going to help with someones heroin addiction.

 

[Brownstuff]

When used to frequent casinos in my youth always gave money to tramps beforehand.
Seemed to assist in having a successful evening (sort of karma)
Give money to them still but purely for non selfish reasons
If they ask me for money they need it for a reason whether for their next hit, alcohol, food or whatever.
It is not for me to guess what they will spend it on but I am happy to spare a few quid
Everyones destiny has already been decided so just hope that they eventually find a path for a more fulfilled life
Whilst in India completely different story as too many to give to so impossible situation

 

[BN9 BHA]

i had some foreigner come up to me in Brighton in the summer and ask for money for a bottle of water, see him half an hour later walking up Marine parade heading towards the marina
regards
DR

Cool story Das
Don't really get it though.

 

[BadFish]

Cool story Das
Don't really get it though.

He was going to buy a yacht using Das' 20p

 

[Thunder Bolt]

i had some foreigner come up to me in Brighton in the summer and ask for money for a bottle of water, see him half an hour later walking up Marine parade heading towards the marina
regards
DR

They sell bottled water in Asda in the marina.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

No, never. But I can't explain why. A friend of mine was a volunteer at Centrepoint in the early 80s. The clients were homeless (nobody would go there if they had an alternative). Lots of abused kids. My mate is minted these days, so he and his partner give back by fostering. When I worked in Chelsea there was a bloke who begged near the fire station. One of our students befriended him. One time a tv crew were doing a documentary and one of the team recognised the homeless beggar as an old school mate. The guy had been in the forces nad then lost it (drink, trauma, bad choices). The TV guy set his old mate up in a small flat near world's end. The guy trashed it, and weeks later was a physical and mental wreck, barely able to speak, often lying injured on the King's road. Then he vanished. I really have no idea what to make of it all. Mental health issues not dealt with by the system? Begging on the street seems to me like a choice, regardless of how deluded. I just don't feel inclined to support it, I guess. My ex wife would give her last penny to anyone begging. Maybe that's why she was, and is, always skint.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Everyones destiny has already been decided

By whom? God? I don't agree with this notion. Our destiny is in our own hands, until such times as we cannot or will not act. That said, I find it shameful that there are people with mental health issues living on the streets, and society tolerates it. I saw a guy asleep outside Victoria station at 9 in the morning, recently. Not begging, just nearly dead. Mental health issues are still taboo. Perhaps the last prejudice left, in a society whose memebers (in the main) regards the old 'isms' as wrong. People still somehow suspect it is 'their own fault'.

 

[BadFish]

By whom? God? I don't agree with this notion. Our destiny is in our own hands, until such times as we cannot or will not act. That said, I find it shameful that there are people with mental health issues living on the streets, and society tolerates it. I saw a guy asleep outside Victoria station at 9 in the morning, recently. Not begging, just nearly dead. Mental health issues are still taboo. Perhaps the last prejudice left, in a society whose memebers (in the main) regards the old 'isms' as wrong. People still somehow suspect it is 'their own fault'.

I have obviously misunderstood your previous post but how does this tally with the idea that begging on the street is a choice?

 

[Del Fenner]

One freezing night in Manchester, I was on the way into McDonalds, and a chap sat in the doorway outside, with his cap in front of him, mumbles "spare some change for a coffee, mate?"

I didn't give him any cash, but as I'd actually gone in for a coffee, I got him one, too. When I handed it to him on the way out, he looked at me like I'd shat in his cap!

I am often asked for money for food. If I can spare the time (usually), I offer to buy them a sandwich. The response is mostly:
1) to change their minds
2) to demand (in Pret or Boots) something better than a sandwich
3) or on one occasion, an impeccably dapper and beautifully mannered gentleman who asked me for money for food outside the Brixton Ritzy declined my offer as "I was thinking of KFC actually".

Is begging essentially a consumerist occupation these days?

 

[BBassic]

Sometimes, yes.

 

[herecomesaregular]

Working in a mental health care home we have clients who have regular contact with people who are homeless. All of those people I have had direct contact with have an alcohol, legal high or illegal drug misuse issue. All of them, without exception, have tried to exploit our clients for money to buy said alcohol/drugs or for food so they can then spend the money they do have on said alcohol/drugs or battering/stealing items to then barter for said alcohol/drugs. This is my experience and therefore I no longer give money directly to persons begging on the street. I prefer to donate items to Shelter or donate money to homeless charities. It is imo incredibly naive to think money given to a beggar will go on anything other than drugs/alcohol but I am maybe too cynical and jaded!

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I have obviously misunderstood your previous post but how does this tally with the idea that begging on the street is a choice?

No, I'm sure not. Just a small point, really. I think we have choices, and (excluding those with mental illness) some people make wrong choices. But I'm not blaming people for making bad choices. My brother retired early, recently. But he didn't realise he could draw his pension. WRONG decision. I have sorted him out, now. If he can make a silly mistake like that . . . . . but it was a choice, albeit very misinformed. This does not detract from the main issue that concerns me: that people with mental health issues can 'chose' to do things that are bad for them, and they are, or can be left to rot. Anyway, this is getting a bit esoteric, and I have nothing more to add. All the best.

 

[BadFish]

No, I'm sure not. Just a small point, really. I think we have choices, and (excluding those with mental illness) some people make wrong choices. But I'm not blaming people for making bad choices. My brother retired early, recently. But he didn't realise he could draw his pension. WRONG decision. I have sorted him out, now. If he can make a silly mistake like that . . . . . but it was a choice, albeit very misinformed. This does not detract from the main issue that concerns me: that people with mental health issues can 'chose' to do things that are bad for them, and they are, or can be left to rot. Anyway, this is getting a bit esoteric, and I have nothing more to add. All the best.

Fair enough, that makes sense. Cheers

 

[ofco8]

I was entering Tesco in Palmeira Square and a rough tramp guy walked in before me.

There was a bouncer type on the door and he followed the tramp all around and was really trying to get him to leave the shop.

He was looking at the cheapest packets of biscuits. He really looked as though he didn't have a penny to his name and looked hungry so I bought him a packet of biscuits.

He looked genuinely pleased but whilst I felt good about myself, my cynical side wondered if I had somehow been duped.

 

[OzMike]

I have done and still do on occasion, but prefer to buy the Big Issue as it it is an ok read and is a better way to help.
I've taken them with me to cafes for breakfast before now and have let the odd one stay overnight on the sofa when it was snowing.

 

[gregbrighton]

Piss on them
regards
DR

You have probably pissed on a lot people in your life.

 

[sydney]

I have done and still do on occasion, but prefer to buy the Big Issue as it it is an ok read and is a better way to help.
I've taken them with me to cafes for breakfast before now and have let the odd one stay overnight on the sofa when it was snowing.

snowing....?? in perth....??.......

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Yes, sometimes, not always though. The winters here are ****ing brutal and in the past I have taken a few coins out when I went running to pop in a regular street sleepers cup as I went past. I saw him in the same spot for weeks. The reasons for his situation are, in some respects, irrelevant. The least I could do was give him some cash when it's -10.

 

[scamander]

I walk along Western Road and up to the station each morning and have done for a few years. There is a rotation of folk who are collecting change, unsure if this is organised or coincidental, for example the chap outside Tescos most mornings is now outside Waitrose (near the guy who often has the paintings). This morning I saw a woman wheeling a dog in a pram stopping people for change (I haven't seen her for a while).

I have and occasionally do give change, I have worked with vulnerable adults in the past and agree that many will use the money for drugs/alcohol but it cuts me up, I genuinely feel guilty. Perhaps I should volunteer or something as this will more likely be as helpful.

On the other side of the coin there was one chap I used to see a lot (used to stand in the walkway round the back of the Clocktower, near Millets and the cycle shop). I've since walked past him a number of times and he's no longer begging, actually looks quite smart. I hope he's managed to get himself sorted.

I've noticed a slow increase in the people I encounter, I did hear London was essentially bribing them to move down south though whether this is genuinely true or just cheap headlines I could not say.

 

[Withdean11]

No, but i do sometimes provide dog food for their dog.

Seperate issue that though, the dogs should be taken away from them.