Beggars CAN be choosers!

A beggar outside Beaconsfield M and S was offered a sandwich ( which, obviously, would have been bought at great expense from the store) and the kind offer was refused. Picky much?

I never give anything to beggars. How will they ever make the effort to improve their lot in life if they rely on people in the street subsidizing them all the time.

I hope no one belonging to this poster is ever down on their luck or has poor mental health which makes it difficult or seemingly impossible to "improve their lot in life". I despair of such coldness

Perhaps a pair of warm socks or a woolly hat now that winter's on the way back. Definitely not cash.

" Not all beggars are homeless and not all homeless beg."

Well said.

No but some beggars are homeless and some homeless people beg. Over the years in two city centres I have regularly seen people, early in the morning, still asleep in shop doorways. I have seen them settling down for the night, quite early on. And some of them I've seen begging during the day. All I can think when I see them is that there is probably a very sad back story there. I believe the ones I've generally seen are genuine but I'm not going to judge - how could I or should I? They generally look utterly wretched and ill - I've read about the 'scams' and wouldn't deny they exist but I see plenty who are not in this category

I would never give a homeless person money, it will be probably used for drink or drugs.

And that's the sad part Mary - these bogus beggars are preying on people's good will and it is the genuinely homeless and down-and-out who suffer.

We are only a small, market town. I've never seen the police try to move homeless people on (we usually have 2-3) and local people are accepting and generous. Looking back to Saturday when I started this thread, I don't remember either of these two young men being part of our regulars. Perhaps word has got round that there's easy pickings here.

All I know is that these two with their signs do a disservice to others who live on the streets.

Yes Anya it's the same as people who make fraudulent benefit claims, they then 'spoil' it for others who are genuine and also pronide ammunition for those who want to tar everyone with the same brush. We don't have any beggars in my small market town - as I said the ones I see are in two cities where I occasionally work. I have no doubts as to the genuiness of the ones I see regularly and I find it very sad. The fact that some people take advantage is also very sad in a different way.

Cash may be needed for saving for a deposit, even a room rent now requires a deposit up front how is the homeless person supposed to raise this money? Many have problems claiming benefits or getting work because they have no fixed address so a vicious cycle! Additionally food obviously helps but money is needed to buy toiletries and pay for a hair cut replace shoes or underwear etc

We have a thriving local group supporting homeless and vulnerably housed people in the area, as well as others in need of their food bank, weekly hot lunch and many other support services. It's sad that we need them, but they are very well supported and do a great job. When two beggars turned up on the high street, the group established they weren't genuine and the word quickly went round. They'd gone after a week. Sadly they'll have just taken their scam to another town.

Now that's interesting Maggie

By the way, it's great what is being done in some towns to help. I know several people who support the homeless in a big way in cities like Leeds and London. There's a real social conscience out there.

If you're visiting Glasgow, Edinburgh or Aberdeen, have a look at the sandwich shops run by Social Bite. It's a charity which feeds, trains and employs homeless people, and they make extremely good sandwiches and cakes too. I've tried to put a link to the website but without success, but you can find it on Google.

We were in Birmingham recently and noticed a charity running a soup kitchen in a street near the station in the evenings, and also giving out clothes and shoes. They were not short of customers.

I don' think giving money to beggars solves anything. Their problems are more complex and their needs often greater than a few pounds can solve. So I prefer to donate my winter fuel allowance to charities for the homeless. I hope it does some good, longer term.

Here is a link, Wheniwasyourage social-bite.co.uk/

There's a lot more goes on behind the scenes in homeless shelters than people realise. Ever wondered who changes, washes, dries and remakes the bed daily for example? A whole army of unsung volunteers.

A bit like behind the scenes for all sorts of organisations - both public and voluntary.

Thanks, Elegran. I tried that, but obviously you have the touch and I don't . Have you tried the sandwiches?

No, I've not been into it, but I have heard good things about it.