Homeless people outside shops asking for money

[MadWorld74]

Asset Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> MadWorld74 Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > from past experience the cash you give doesn't

> go towards food, but drugs and booze.

> Didn't you ever buy any food?

Food? What for? Nah. Just the liquid stuff and a couple of pills per hour. I got a dog and that helped pull in more 'donations'.

>

>

[sweetgirl]

i don't believe in charity nowadays, from past experiences!

i was once in mcdonalds, old kent rd. i saw someboby give their drink to a beggar/ homeless guy, & guess what? he threw it straight across the road! i thought what a w**ker, the person didn't have to give it to him!

another time, a guy in tesco, old kent rd asked me if he could have my trolley to return to base & keep the pound. feeling kinda generous that day, i said yes. i then saw him about half hour later walking out of tesco with eight cans of beer! i was not impressed!

for the last five yrs, i have had a direct debit leaving my bank & going straight into a charity account, i don't give money to anyone on the streets no more, i already do my bit for charity!

in this country the government helps to keep people of the streets, many of them choose to stay there! (of course, not in all cases!)

when i get asked if i have a spare cigarette or spare change i always say "i don't carry any spare! sorry."

i would rather buy these homeless people food rather than give them money!

[danrees]

What's wrong with Ocado?

Waitrose food at Ocado is cheaper than Somerfield (and better quality - has anybody tried the bland Somerfield cheese)?

E.g. one of my staples is Tropicana Orange 1.75l. ?3-something at Somerfield but ?2.57 at Ocado.

If you are going to shop regularly at Somerfield you are better off going to Lidl. Same (or better) quality, but half the price.

[Asset]

Indeed - Ocado price match many of their products with (pile it high sell it cheap) Tesco.

[Sue]

Erm, are these last two posts on the wrong thread or have I finally lost it? :))

[TillieTrotter]

I also remember the guy outside the Lloyds Bank in Herne Hill, his name was Steve and he was quite erudite. I often used to stop and chat about whatever book he was reading at the time. Later on his girlfriend used to meet him and off they would go to his council flat. When I found that out I was actually quite put out as I was pretty generous with him as I thought what a rough time a somewhat educated(and there but by the grace of God go I) fella was having.

[SeanMacGabhann]

anyone of us could end up in that situation - all we need is the right bar, the right friends and the right girl....

[ratty]

Killing with Kindness

Don't make it easy.

[NewtoED]

Like everything in life, you will find those geniune people who need help but unfortunately the majority of beggars are there to scam people. Nevertheless, it breaks my heart to see beggars on the streets.

The rule is never to give money, but give them food. If they are really hungry, you will see them do cartwheels for a loaf of bread.

[*Bob*]

NewtoED Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> You will see them

> do cartwheels for a loaf of bread.

That's cruel. You shouldn't give to receive.

[Brendan]

For cartwheels you should at least throw in a can of beans too.

Juggling gets them a can opener.

[Shaila Shah]

Hi all,

Surprised at the ungenerous tone of some of the posts on this thread...Here's what I do quite frequently, especially when I see the woman sitting on the pavement outside somerfield's. I don't give her any money BUT I do have a short chat and get her a sandwich and a nutritional milk drink (her request and it's a drink she clearly likes). That's easy enough to do and nobody need go into endless angst about whether or not to drop a few coins in a needy person's direction and, if so, whether they'll go to the nearest boozer with it or whether instead to send it to a charity - and if you do the latter, it's always worth checking how the money is going to be used! I say that advisedly - I used to work at a top homeless people's charity.

[lozzyloz]

As someone who regularly sits outside Somerfields begging with my dog I'd just like to say thank you for all your donations over the last 6 months (day off today as weather is a bit minging).

However, I would like to request that you stop buying me sandwiches. There's a limit to how many sandwiches (especially the Crayfish and Rocket on granary) one can eat during a 5 hour begging shift. If that's what I wanted I'd go and sit outside Ayres. Besides I always have a good fry up across the road first thing with a copy of The Guardian and pot of Earl Grey. It's your cash I want and lot's of it. And don't worry I'm not going to waste it on drugs and alcohol. It's all going towards my next 6 month winter trip to Goa, hop across to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam before heading back home via Bolivia and Columbia.

Thanks for your understanding.

[ratty]

Interested to know which charity Shaila I was 10 years with St Mungo's

[Jah Lush]

Hmmm...it's said charity begins at home, which isn't much help if you're homeless.

[Shaila Shah]

For Ratty,

A few years with Shelter.

[ChavWivaLawDegree]

I remember a young black guy about 20 years old who looked a bit spaced out asking me for some money down Walworth Rd but I said as I was going to Bagel King, I'd get him something to eat instead.

He ordered a pattie in coco bread and asked for a Ribena, so I agreed. Then seeing that I must have been in a generous mood, he asked for cake and custard to finish off!

I got talking to him and ascertained that he wasn't on crack but on medication for mental illness and saw him quite a few times after that and fed him.

I remember one time though that he was really rough looking and talking to himself in a really agitated way. He didn't remember me and I've since seen him around Peckham and Dulwich, he sleeps in Peckham Rye park sometimes in the middle of the grass. He doesn't even seem to beg anymore.

It seems sad that someone so young can be so messed up.

[MadWorld74]

Don't get me started on the mental health regulations in this country CWALD. I do alot the for the charity MIND. I also have an Aunt who is in a 'mental health institution' in South Africa, because of the delayed grief of her husbands death that 'put her there'.

I'm an advocate for mental health and I've been there to know.

I hope you see this guy again, and he remembers you as being the kind person who helped him out.

[MadWorld74]

NewtoED Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Like everything in life, you will find those

> geniune people who need help but unfortunately the

> majority of beggars are there to scam people.

> Nevertheless, it breaks my heart to see beggars on

> the streets.

>

> The rule is never to give money, but give them

> food. If they are really hungry, you will see them

> do cartwheels for a loaf of bread.

What kind of Victorian bullshit is this? Cartwheels in the street...?

Everybody now...Umpapha Umpapha...that's ow it gowes..

[muffintop]

While it is unpleasant to read some people's uncharitable views on people who find themselves in the unfortunate position of having to beg, (yes I know there are the career beggers who only pretend so I can understand I'm talking about the genuine ones) I usually buy them a sandwich, bag of chips (especially on a cold night) or whatever I can afford, it is heartening to read about the more charitable people like Chav's story above, and gives you a glimmer of hope for human kindness towards their fellow man. I did draw a line to the eastern block women on the underground who drag their kids/babies along with them, (sometimes even getting them to beg for money) because I did not want to encourage this practise, haven't seen them for ages, buskers etc. I always throw a few coins their way, they have a talent and are trying to use it to make a few bob.

[lorenika]

I'm just wondering... don't these people have a chance to work in any job? I mean, I think some of them prefer staying in the streets asking for money than looking for a job and working as we do. I think all of us work hard to pay our bills... Anyway, I don't want to generalise, as some of you said before, there may be really messed up people who really need help. I just think that begging for money is not the solution..

Do charities help them find any kind of job?

[FrustratedLawyer]

Whilst I do have utmost sympathy for individuals who find themselves homeless, there is more than enough social and charitable support in this country to prevent you ending up in such a predicament and to help you should you fall through regardless. As such people that persist in remaining homeless should be have help enforced upon them. There is no reason why anyone should remain homeless in modern Britain.

For a time there were a few homeless individuals sleeping on the covered overpass at Colechurch House, London Bridge just outside Richer Sounds. One morning I saw the Police 'moving them on'. Since then I haven't seen them sleeping there. So, maybe the it would be an idea for the Police to 'hassle' them on LL?

O.

[macroban]

I remember well the endemic squatting in East Dulwich in the mid-1970s.

As we approach the 2010s there seems to be a substatianl number of void buy-to-lets in East Dulwich.

[MadWorld74]

FrustratedLawyer Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Whilst I do have utmost sympathy for individuals

> who find themselves homeless, there is more than

> enough social and charitable support in this

> country to prevent you ending up in such a

> predicament and to help you should you fall

> through regardless. As such people that persist in

> remaining homeless should be have help enforced

> upon them. There is no reason why anyone should

> remain homeless in modern Britain.

>

> For a time there were a few homeless individuals

> sleeping on the covered overpass at Colechurch

> House, London Bridge just outside Richer Sounds.

> One morning I saw the Police 'moving them on'.

> Since then I haven't seen them sleeping there. So,

> maybe the it would be an idea for the Police to

> 'hassle' them on LL?

>

> O.

And where would they go then, but just into another neighbourhood where no one wants them there either?

'Hassle them' isn't a cure for the problem.

[FrustratedLawyer]

Where will they go?

They will go to seek the help that's available, the help to find a place to live, a place to work ... regrettably the minimum wage is less that what can be made on the street. But I think this point has already been made.

O.