Do you give to people begging in town ?

Loislovesstewie

You don't care if they buy drugs with your donation?

If you give it, you give it - no conditions, no strings. Is anyone policing YOUR spending?

after publicity about beggars its very difficult to know who are genuine and who are not, I do know there are certain groups, mainly Romanian, who are organised beggars, they do have accomodation but , then, there are , I suppose, genuine beggars, I do feel guilty when I just walk past I must admit, as regards buskers,there is talent out there and quite often i will give to them

My advice to anyone wanting to give, is give food or a hot drink.
I saw people begging on the streets of Edinburgh in the morning then in the late afternoon I saw the same ones sharing out their money with others, it looked like a gang. Also one man looked severely physically disabled and sitting in a corner of a shop doorway then later on saw him walking amongst the gang engaging with them nothing wrong with him laughing and joking. An absolute disgrace. So no I do not give money to beggars.

I don't give to them.

Firstly, because I simply don't have any spare money to give - and I'm almost entirely card-based now, so rarely have cash, anyway.

Secondly, a friend of mine did once give to a young woman in the city centre, but every time they were in that same area, she'd come specifically at him, expecting more.

Thirdly, I know that there is ample provision for them, through various council and charity schemes and I believe there are local rules about begging.

If they are buskers, I always throw in money, I give £1.00 to the Big Issue lady, at my local supermarket, but I don't take the magazine, as I think they have to give a percentage back to the suppliers for each one sold. If the beggar has a dog, I give a tray of easy-open dog food. So my basic outlay would be just £1.00 in any of these situations.

I frequently got asked for a small amount of money to put towards a train fare or a meal. One day a lad asked me for £4 forwards a sleeping bag.. I asked him to hold on while I phoned my friend (who runs the local soup kitchen) and I'll get him a sleeping bag from the donations we had in the day before and some toiletries. He was gone faster than a rattle snake!!!
I tend to reply with "I don't carry cash, sorry" to one of the 14 beggars we have in the High Street and the 6 outside other shops locally..

I remember, before Covid, a man who came into the opticians where I waiting to be seen. He was livid as he had just bought a burger and coffee for a man who was sitting outside a shop begging. He got sworn at and the burger and coffee thrown at him.

I buy a big issue from a young lady when I see her and my husband and I always smile and often stop to ask her how she is.

If I see a person playing a musical instrument I do pop something in the instrument case. Often people are playing to raise money for charity which is fine by me. There are some talented 'buskers' around.

Granny activist thank you so much for putting this into context for everyone. I was reading through the thread wondering what had happened to humanity. There will always be fraudsters and cheats but people in despair are as plain as the nose on your face. I don’t think anyone should judge too quickly.

No, I never do. My husband was a local Cllr and took a big interest in getting people off the streets. 2 brothers that beg on a shopping centre locally have been offered, rooms, flats and houses and always turn them down, they prefer to beg, living in tents, sometimes even pitching them in their mother’s garden. They don’t want to get a job either, tho that’s not what they tell people who ask why they don’t get a job? They say they can’t get work because they’ve not got a permanent address, which as I said, is not true, my husband said they prefer to live off charity and free meals supplied by local charities on a nightly basis. They don’t want food either, I’ve seen them take a bite out of a burger someone has bought them then as soon as they’ve walked away it gets thrown. Others are drug addicts who also go to the charities on a nightly basis for food but as soon as they get enough cash for a fix are off to their dealer! I could write a book on some of these people, if you want to give them your money you are better buying a cuppa and a sandwich! I know my husband was also a soft touch for these people, always giving money away we could ill afford, I’ve worked all my life and after my 1st husband walked out leaving me with 2 small children I had to work to keep them. I got nothing from him and don’t see why they can’t do the same to keep themselves. There will be some who are veterans who deserve our charity but the ones I mention here are all probably under 40 and have never worked.

Since lockdown I haven’t carried any cash on me, so if asked will say sorry no cash. I know some local takeaway coffee vans or cafes do let people buy a coffee to be given to a homeless person which is probably the best option if you feel the need to do something. Since a friend years ago bought food and a drink for a homeless person and was told they wanted money instead I’m afraid I won’t make the same mistake.
I do feel sorry for the street dwellers and do wonder how they cope now loose change is not readily available. Hopefully the Homeless Charities are looking after people and making sure they don’t go hungry, so really I feel it’s better to donate to a charity rather than fund drugs or drink.

I never give money but will buy the occasional cup of coffee for them. There is one who has a dog and if I am passing Wilco I pop in and get the dog a few treats.

My sister used to work as a bank cashier, and she said that beggars used to come in several times a day with their takings, and they seemed to get more money than she earned. I don't give anything unless they are playing a musical instrument beautifully.

In my town we had a man looked Romany or something like that. He sat with his begging bowl and some ppl give some don’t. Only it turned out he was getting a taxi from a different town getting changed in park. Then walking into town centre to beg. He wasn’t a beggar or even homeless. Him his cousin and they wife’s were doing in different towns to get money and made thousands from it. I used to give food until I was giving a load of abuse to others so I stopped now I do what most do and walk right past. Most only want money for drugs or drink. If you give them your feeding their habits.

I don’t tend to give them money but always offer to buy them food; most accept gratefully.

No. Too many scammers and drug abusers....would be happy to buy them food....but how many really want that? Most want cash for drugs and booze. It breaks my heart to see young homeless from broken and deprived homes...but they should receive support from the state.....

I think anyone who sits on a wet pavement being rained on must be desperate whether they are in a gang or not. Having said that whenever I go into Glasgow for lunch with a friend I pop into M&S in the station and buy lunch. A sandwich a dessert and a drink. I give it to the first beggar I see. It’s a secret though. You are the first people I’ve told!! It eases my guilty feelings a bit. I know I’m very lucky. To be homeless even if you are a gang member must be absolutely hellish.

I used to work in the city centre and would see a homeless guy quite a lot - people would give him money or buy him food/coffee etc. he had a scruffy little dog with him. he was always a mess but never dirty. Lots of us would give him money a couple of times a week and then one of my colleagues (who lived in Manchester) saw him on the train home, chatting on his mobile, saying "it's been a good day" and that he'd pick up a takeaway on the way home. So, begging was obviously a job for him. None of us ever gave him money again. These days we donate to a local homeless shelter instead.

No...we have an issue in our town, but also plenty of accommodation/ hostels etc for a small town , we are asked not to give to beggars but donate to a cause or give to food banks or the local kitchen where anyone on the streets can get a meal.

Not all Romanians insulted. My Romanian friend is outraged at the bad name these organised begging gangs give to the many hard working Romanians here.

I have offered drinks and sandwiches, but response has been negative and abusive, I donate instead to local homeless charity, and inform them of where I last saw begger, they have outreach team,

No I don’t. I give to homeless charity.
I read somewhere by the council. not to give as you could be giving to buy drugs/drink etc.
Also, some people make a lot of money from begging.

Yes I do to the ones I believe are genuine. I also give dog food for there dogs and cloths, I share clothes between giving to charities and giving to homeless.

Thats' ALL Romanian people duly insulted then..