a different type of beggar

Well done!

I saw a young lad in the shopping centre, sat on the ground looking very cold and lost. I stopped to talk to him and he was 16 and had just left home because of his dad. I said I would go and get him something hot to eat and drink and then take him to the centre nearby for help for those on the street. When I came back a police officer was telling him to move on and not beg. I told the officer that he was not begging and that I had approached him. The officer then laid into me verbally at which point I asked for his number so I could put in a complaint about the way he was treating me. I am a granny for goodness sake! We eventually went on our way to the centre where the lad received help and advice.

Kazzie please share the petition

I sometimes give money and sometimes food . It breaks my heart to see people on the streets , I can't just walk by . I usually try and have a chat with them if I can .

I am truly very sorry for anyone in genuine need and always used to give to anyone begging on the street. My reasoning was that if they weren’t genuine, then that would be on their conscience, not mine. One of my family now works with homeless and vulnerable people and has changed my mindset. There are many scammers out there, making a very good living out of conning passersby. Think about it - if you’ve money to give, give it to those in need via an organised charity or your local food bank. The more money given to fraudsters, the less there is for the genuinely needy. We have a thriving local group providing hot meals, a food bank and all sorts of help and support to local people in need. They have approached and identified conmen begging here, challenged and reported them - they moved on, but possibly to a town near you.

I don't give as I feel very vulnerable opening my bag in crowded places. Also have an eyesight condition and sometimes have difficulty differentiating certain coins. Been targetted by what looked like a heavy drinker. He got persistent. Ok they're not all like that but it does put you off from giving to others. Some big issue sellers can be rather aggressive too if you won't buy.

Crikey, I am surprised at how judgmental some people are here!
A little compassion and kindness goes a long way, harsh word aren’t really necessary when we dont know circumstances. ?

I live in a small town and the nearest we get to begging is people selling the Big Issue. I'm always shocked when I go to our nearest city and never know what to do for the best. You've encouraged me to do what seems appropriate - buy some food/give money - instead of dithering and worrying about it for the rest of the day. Can't believe the posters who said they were more concerned about the dog than the person.

Romanians travel to all the EU countries, and either work or beg ( sometimes both) and often travel back and forth, it’s obviously worth their while.I have seen them begging in France (Paris) and in London, they go to tourist hot spots.

On other beggars, you need to make your own judgement.
granma47 that was kind of you to give money for the train.

Luckily I don't go to out nearest big city very often as I always give to young homeless. My daughter gets frustrated with me as she says, every time she turns her back I'm emptying my purse into someone's hand.
I know, it's hard to differentiate between genuine homeless and scammers. But I give anyway as I can't take the risk.
I know all these rules about only give them food etc. But I've always been a rule breaker!

quizqueen You know nothing of the girl's circumstances or whether her background has given her the knowledge and skills to look after herself properly and act responsibly.

You say you would have given a tin of food for the dog. Much as I love dogs and am concerned for their welfare, I would be even more concerned about a pregnant young woman trailing about begging.

It is difficult to know whether to give or not. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't and sometimes I'll give a sandwich.

If a person is being hoodwinked and the beggar is really coining in thousands (as is sometimes alleged) and living the life of Riley, it is annoying, but perhaps it's better to give people the benefit of the doubt and believe that they need help.

'Irresponsible to get pregnant'?! What a silly comment! How would you prevent it then, if you don't have a home address, a doctor, money for prophylactics etc.? Not having sex is a great bit of advice, unless that warm intimacy is your only comfort in a time of grief and worry. Or what about if a person used contraception and it hasn't worked? My children are very much loved, but no medication or barrier contraceptive ever worked to stop a pregnancy of mine. I'd have given money or food or whatever was needed for that youngster in such real need. Bless you Fennel.

To give to an individual or not to give can be a dilemma. I hear the argument about drugs, alcohol and tobacco. However, as someone who enjoys a glass of wine whilst sitting in my warm comfortable home I'm not sure why this pleasure should be denied to someone who is living on the streets. I saw some advice to ask if the person would like food, hot drink rather than just supplying it. I guess what I'm saying is we are all human and I was taught to treat others as I would like to be treated. So if I found myself on the streets I would hope that someone would do for me as I do for others. I do also support charities and food banks. My thoughts for what they are worth.

It’s the usual dilemma for us all, are they genuine or not, plus we can’t help every single person on our streets. I will buy a coffee and sandwich but would never give cash as you just will never know if it’s going on drink or drugs or both.

We used to see Romaniens here (France) but not recently.
I once spoke to a Romanien lady, she was trying to collect outside Carrefours, and she said they weren't allowed to work in France. Where do you sleep? In a car.

Oh dear, we have a huge problem in Sweden with Romaniens sitting outside literally every shop, yes its awful, it is an organised thing, someone collects them in the evenings and takes over their money, they sit outside muffled up, sitting on anything to keep warm all winter, even when it gets to minus 10 to 20 degrees, their own Country doesnt help them and we are told not to give, as this encourages them, some Countries ban this kind of thing. Here these people are even speaking Swedish to get chatting with people and then they get even more money, it is a really big problem here, and nobody knows what to do about it, if they get sent back home, there is no knowing what might happen, neither Governments see to do anything about the problem, its been going on for years.

You could ask your local Mairie for a list of chartieis that would help ...Emmaeus for instance, and if you see the girl again, suggest she goes to the Mairie and make an rdv with the Assistante Sociale who should be able to help. There is, as you probably know, access to the CAF system for those without means ...AND homeless shelters ...and in rented property here in France between Nov. 1st and the end of February you cannot be turned out by the landlord for non payment of rent ...that is the law ....have a looked on Amelie.fr which lists options available from CAF ...just in case you do see her again ! Very kind of you to want to help ! There is also Secours Catholique which is a charity

The general advice is only to support charities and donate food to food banks

I like the idea of buying forward - that is you go into a McDonald's or Cafe Nero/Costa and pay for a cup of coffee/hot drink and, if you want, a meal. Post it notes are put on the counter and if you are homeless and in need of a meal you can take one and get the drink/meal free. It is a USA idea and seems, from what my friends tell me, to work quite well over there. There is no cash alternative so you know it is going on food. Another idea I have seen is to put small bags together with toiletries and, for younger women, some sanitary items such as tampons etc. Another friend makes one of these up a month and hands it out to any homeless female she sees, they have always been very gratefully received (and as she says, her DGC buy loads of toiletries that she never really gets around to using herself so they go to a good cause) I imagine you could make a similar bag to hand out to men but include a razor/shaving foam or soap instead.

Fennel Do you really know she was pregnant? She opened up her coat for you ? and you assumed by her appearance! she was.? She may have used padding? these beggars know all the tricks of their trade Why not have bought tins of dog food with ring pulls.?Surely she would have had to cook the oats so needed the facilities to do so.? I am not entirely heartless, my sympathy was for the dog, not the alleged mother to be.

Totally irresponsible to get pregnant when your life is not stable enough that you cannot afford to feed yourself and, if the life of a pet has been taken on too, then it doubly irresponsible. As an animal lover, I might have bought a tin of dog food but would never give money. Why was the 'boyfriend' there shopping with her? He should have been at work providing for his family instead!!

At one time if a young unmarried girl became pregnant, she was banished by her family (because of the 'shame') Or had to have a shotgun wedding.
I wonder if this still goes on now in some cultures or religions?

We were behind a young girl at the post office who was asking the directions and how far it was to a town a very long walk away. We saw her outside looking very tired and upset. When we asked if we could help with the bus fare to that town she said it wasn't where she wanted to be but someone had told her it would get her near the motorway where she could maybe thumb a lift. When asked where she was trying to get to it was Liverpool from the Fylde coast. She had been to the train station to find out how much it would cost on the train and found she had nowhere near enough money. We have no idea how she came to be in Blackpool but gave her the money for the train. She was very grateful and said she wouldn't be able to repay us but she really did look genuinely lost and she did catch that train.

As you are in France you could see whether there are any of the order of nuns called Les Petites Seours (sorry can't find the combined French eo) de Jésus, or Filles de la Charité near you. Both are used to helping those in need.

The Catholic charity called Caritas probably does help unmarried mothers. Any parish priest ought to be able to direct you to suitable help for both the homeless and a young pregnant woman.

On Saturday last I met my friend as usual for coffee in our small shopping centre and was sitting next to 2 men who where chatting about one of them being homeless and unable to find help for a permenent studio or flat,he looked very cold and down and out and my heart went out to him as O slowly realised he was a former pupil at my senior school yrs ago.
My friend and I intervened into the conversation with suggestions for him which he refused to be interested in and he also refused the offer of a meal and hot drink so wher would you go from there as I was not going to give him money as he obviously had a drink problem and I was not funding alcohol at any cost.I gave him a list of supported housing projects in the area and hope he went to see them after the week-end