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I live in the country and there are not a lot of people living on the streets out here or the bears would get them if they didn't freeze first. But I see them the few times a year I get into the city. It is an interesting dance that I've gotten to watch as an outsider. Too many times money given to "help" them turning into "enabling" of destructive habits like alcoholism or addiction.
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I live in the country and there are not a lot of people living on the streets out here or the bears would get them if they didn't freeze first. But I see them the few times a year I get into the city. It is an interesting dance that I've gotten to watch as an outsider. Too many times money given to "help" them turning into "enabling" of destructive habits like alcoholism or addiction.
So instead of giving them what they ask for, give them what they need. Whether it's a meal, someone to listen to their story . . . to 'hold their 'territory' for them while they take a washroom break.
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beloved, i have lived where i have now for 10 years. one set of neighbors say you know we are getting to know you now and you are not so bad.... the other side pulls me to one side and say you know i been watching how you live and if all had the courage to live like you do we would all be better people.... two very different points of view of me. i ofter both sides help with bring things out of the car, moving plants, getting mail the neighbor stuff. so i would say yes, i do reach out and help. anywhere i am i will hold doors open or reach for something when someone cant get it, help someone find an item in the store if i have time. to me it is about service. just simple i am i guess.
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what do you consider-- helping? if you consider it only giving change-- no, i never give change. where i live there are a lot of people who panhandle for a living or to buy liquor or drugs. i personally don't want my money going to support other people's habits or watch some guy get into his car and drive off with the money i give him when he is an able-bodied person who could probably get employment. hell, i don't even have a car.
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what do you consider-- helping? if you consider it only giving change-- no, i never give change. where i live there are a lot of people who panhandle for a living or to buy liquor or drugs. i personally don't want my money going to support other people's habits or watch some guy get into his car and drive off with the money i give him when he is an able-bodied person who could probably get employment. hell, i don't even have a car.
but where i live also has a good system of shelters, and i often donate to those. in the past, i've donated time, money, and tons of food and toiletries to my local shelters, and (legally) picked up from bakeries at the end of the night to donate the non-sold bread to kitchens around town.
i also box up half my food at restaurants and give it away to people--- (i also order online samples for snacks and give them to people who panhandle). sometimes around the holidays i give out small-amount gift cards i got and am not gonna use. so.... yeah.
not to go on a huge story or anything. but i feel like there are a lot of ways to "help" without giving money.
but i think homelessness and poverty is not the problem, but a symptom of a larger problem. living "rich" makes others poor. we gotta work to change the system. not just here but everywhere. what we buy, where we shop, how much we own, what we waste, who we vote for and so much more... there's a lot of things to think about.
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Yeah- I give to people on the street. Not every time but often enough, and depending on if I have change.
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I donate extensively to the Men's Mission, but I also carry "no cook" food in my car for those rare times that I see someone on a street corner. I also supply a homeless camp nearby when the "leader" comes around and tells me they have extra mouths to feed. He is very, very good at getting teens to go home, and I will do what I can every time for his group.
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I donate extensively to the Men's Mission, but I also carry "no cook" food in my car for those rare times that I see someone on a street corner. I also supply a homeless camp nearby when the "leader" comes around and tells me they have extra mouths to feed. He is very, very good at getting teens to go home, and I will do what I can every time for his group.
"Some think that we should not help those people because we are feeding the problem." If we don't feed the problem, the problem dies. Literally. How humane (end sarcasm font)
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there aren't any people living on the streets here - but I don't deny its a problem elsewhere in the UK.
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