They deserve your help (Homelessness and street begging)

Member Name: Tara

Product:	Homelessness and street begging
Date:	26/11/00 (37 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: see below

Disadvantages: see below

When I was younger I was always told not to give money to homeless people.

The first reason for this was that they could spend the money you give them on drugs and/or alcohol, and we are just encouraging them and feeding their habit by giving them our loose change.

The second reason was that some of the beggars were supposedly faking it, and made an absolute fortune out of gullible souls like me.

And finally, the last reason was that I could be putting myself in danger. By giving money I was making myself vulnerable to mugging, rape and murder.

It is ignorant, stupid, selfish remarks like this, which has lead to so many people spending their whole life on the streets.

So, let me take each of these points in turn, firstly, the idea that the homeless could be faking it. Well, I’m sure it happens, but it’s not exactly likely, is it? And it could just be that I have too much faith in the human race, but I wouldn’t think that many people are actually mean enough to use the generosity of the general public to cheat us out of our money in such a cruel way.

Then there’s the putting-yourself-in-danger theory. Again, I totally disagree. This is like saying all homeless people are drug addicts, prevents and criminals. It is unfair to stereotype any person in this way. And if you honestly believe that if you give money to somebody begging, they’ll try to mug you, you’re just ignorant.

Lastly, the idea that your money is wasted on homeless people because they will only spend it on things that aren’t good for them. This is probably true in regard to many people on the streets. But on the other hand, there are also a great many good people out there who aren’t on drugs or dependant on alcohol and who desperately need your money and deserve it, to buy a simple meal.

Of course, it is your own decision as to whether or not you give money to the homeless, but for
me; there is only one option. My home is one of the most important things to me, and I cannot imagine what it must be like not to have one. I can’t even guess what it must be like to live without a proper bed, shampoo and a properly cooked meal. For the people out there who manage to live without these luxuries, I have the utmost respect for.

But I also feel immensely sorry for them. If I didn’t give them my spare change I would feel so thoughtless and selfish I don’t think I could bare it.

I am not a naïve person. I know there are bad people out there, people who maybe don’t deserve my kindness, or people my money would be wasted on, but the percentage is small. And I refuse to believe that everybody is like that. Even the alcoholics and druggies deserve some little bit of happiness in their lives. Maybe I’m providing that happiness and if you’ve given money before, you know how fulfilling that can be, knowing you’ve done something so simple to help someone less well off than I am.

In my opinion, we should do everything in our power to help the homeless, if that mean's buying the Big Issue, giving money to individuals and to charities.

Summary: