Do you give to people begging in town ?

Strangely, I have been talking about this to my daughter this morning. We never give money to beggars. If they would like a sandwich or a cup of coffee, that’s fine because they are more likely to be genuine, but if they only want money it’s either for drink or drugs, or to pay the gang that ‘employs’ them.

I have stopped giving directly to people on the streets now and give to designated charities. Our Big Issue seller began harassing me continually every time I walked past even though I had bought a copy earlier in the week. At first it was a reluctance to give me my change if I gave her a £5 note or asking me not to take the magazine which in the end I didn’t. The last straw was when I was in a food store and she asked me for money even though she herself had bought a basketful of groceries. I really felt quite intimidated and now avoid going to my local town to shop unless it’s a Sunday when I know she won’t be there. This never happened with our previous Big Issue seller, a young man with a dog who was lovely. I often used to stop and chat and he didn’t expect you to buy every time you saw him.

No I don't personally but I do volunteer in a local foodbank and have had recipients of the food argue that they only wanted 'well known brands' of food. Not supermarket 'own brands'.
They've then been seen in the town centre selling the food.

I used to but my hairdresser has lived in our town all her life and knows several people who beg regularly in the town centre but have their own homes and cars. So now I give food, the last time I gave a girl outside Aldi some fruit she was really grateful. I haven't seen anybody selling The Big Issue for a long time, I used to buy it regularly.

Not money, no but there's a heartbreakingly young man who I sometimes see begging. He's always clearly drunk or stoned and I buy him a sandwich and a coffee and wait while he eats and drinks. DH thinks I'm soft but my younger son is a recovering alcoholic/cocaine addict (five years clean and sober) and when he came home for a year to detox he told me one night someone once gave him a sandwich when he was at rock bottom and sitting on a park bench crying one evening and it was a turning point for him.

I occasionally give to someone in the street but mainly if it's a woman. I wonder what sort of horrid life they have led for them to be in that position.
I once gave a woman a £1 coin which I had in my pocket, then I walked about 10 yards on and spotted another £1 coin on the ground which I picked up and put in my pocket! Very spooky I thought.

No I offer food /drink/clothing. I pay musicians - music in our streets is something I do want to encourage. And yes [grannyactivist] is right. It is horrifyingly easy to become homeless and the world of temporary accommodation is a cruel nightmare. Years ago I worked in a council housing department - it was heartless then (much worse for men as they usually had no children in tow) but over recent years it has gone back to Dickensian.

I used to give regularly to a young man sitting with his dog in our local small shopping area, outside M&S food. I always asked if he’d like something to eat and he always said he’d rather have cash as he was trying to get enough together for a night in a hostel. I mentioned the local homeless shelter to him but he said he’d had a bad experience there! I found that hard to believe so started checking him out. Turned out he had a flat locally, the dog was borrowed, a friend dropped him off each day and he was quite comfortably off.
I avoided him after that but really wanted to tell him what I knew.
We also have a couple of ladies in full national dress selling the Big Issue outside the supermarket. I don’t buy that anymore either as the price has rocketed.

I always buy the guy outside lidl a sandwich won't give money as could be for drugs don't mind giving food

PS. He sold The Big Issue - didn’t beg.

I'm glad you posted that Maggiemaybe I was just about to point that out and add that Big Issue sellers are not beggars either. They are doing a job selling a magazine which earns them their own money. The magazine is really very interesting.

Generally I don't but once in another town on a very cold evening I gave A fiver to a young lad who reminded me of my own son, he was so grateful and asked me if I was sure - and he wasn't being sarcastic.

I regularly gave to a Bosnian man who had a permanent spot outside Waitrose. He used to tell me about life in his hostel, and was/is (I hope) very popular with local people, always open and very likeable. I haven’t been to town since the beginning of the first lockdown, so I’m hoping that he and his good friends in the hostel have all come through covid unscathed.

I dread to think what his early life in Bosnia might have been like.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

I always buy Big Issue and pay slightly over the cover price. I offer to buy a drink and sandwich of their choice and this has been rarely refused, I always say (truthfully) that I rarely carry cash and pay by card so that negates any questions of cash donations. I give money to a local food bank on direct debit so that they can buy items people dont think to donate and for people with dietary restrictions.

I never give to people who are begging, though years ago I did get a couple of sandwiches for a young couple who looked like schoolchildren.

I never give money, but offer a hot drink or something to eat. I am very aware of drink/drug users, but Northampton has a brilliant 'club' for users who want to give up, they offer cheap food, help with housing (once some level of recovery) and debt problems etc.
One told me that what was worse was that he was a non-person, people's eyes slid over him. He said it was automatically assumed he was on drink/drugs, but he was trying to go straight. I always talk to street people if I have the time, and at least smile and say 'Good morning' or some such.

Things are a little different where I live.

A lot of those on the streets are selling The Big Issue, so I buy it from them.

Others are quite honest about being down and out and are grateful for any help we offer. I give them the price of a cup of coffee, or a meal or some dog food(most of them have dogs) according to what I can afford at the time.

I have also offered to put them in touch with the Salvation Army, or whoever else runs shelters, Christmas dinner etc. in the area.

I have never been abused for doing so. If that did happen, I would remember the person and ignore him or her the next time I went past them.

Food & drink YES money NO
If they are abusive then they get neither

Can I just say that buskers and street artists aren’t beggars. In our nearest city, nearly all of them are very talented, some could be professional. I actually thought they must audition for the job, but I’ve just checked online and anyone is allowed, as long as they stick to a code of conduct, which includes not blocking entrances, staying longer than 90 minutes in one spot, or using amplifiers. They can put a hat or bowl down for donations, but mustn’t pass it round or have signs asking for money. It all works perfectly. A lot of them are students, and I often do give them something as they add to the atmosphere of the city centre.

And now I’m really yearning for a trip over there..... Maybe it’s time to get that brand new bus pass put to use!

You should never ever give to any of them. Are they really ever thin and hungry looking. Once at Christmas my son gave a beggar his turkey and cranberry sandwich which was thrown back at him. Most only want money for drugs.
I have observed a few over the last few years. I’m currently watching one in my home town. She has heaps of dirty bedding all over the street. But I’ve watched her go to a shop and but cartons of juice and handfuls of scratch cards which I can’t afford to do. Then casually walk to a flat around the corner.
Another if frequently begging outside Tesco saying he his cold and hungry yet when I arrive he’s not outside and he has a cup from Costas. Something else I can’t afford to buy. I’ve also seen vans dropping people off to beg. It’s big and organised in my area. I’m not taken in by these scammers and you you shouldn’t be either.

I mainly direct my donations to charitable organisations who help individuals with in our locality. It's difficult not to help others but I'm well aware there are "professional" beggars who are run by gang masters - mainly Eastern European. They don't want food and something hot to drink, they demand cash.

Yes, I often do. Not a lot, just £1 or £2. There are so many I could not afford to give more. They are on every town centre street corner. I don't miss it. They may truly need it.

We have threatening Eastern European beggars around here. I think they are controlled by leaders who drop them off in cars and collect them later in the day. They must be very vulnerable but are also rude and unpleasant. I don’t give to them but get verbally abused just by walking past
I never give money to the drunk, drugged beggars either as I don’t want to feel that I might be responsible for causing their death. They are often very abusive and “ in your face “ . It’s not at all nice but I’m sure that they are really desperate.

I never give anything. There are systems to aid those in dire need. Most begging is not for food it's money for drugs they are after. Some say if you do give money it helps stop theft. To me it's just aiding a habit.