Woody Harrelson Gave a Homeless Woman $600: Do You Give Cash to the Homeless?

I have, but I don't generally make a practice of it.
But, unlike Woody, I don't give a fraction of what I could give and then brag about it either.

Every time I see the salvation army people outside the supermarket I donate to them. I know of people that needed help and the salvation army was there first to help them.

Only 9% of what the Salvation Army gets, goes to the needy. I used to work for them and I made $15/hr. If you really want to help, donate to the Red Cross.

I buy them restaurant certificates, not give them cash.
I knew there was a reason i loved woddy H.

I buy them food or a hot meal so they can't take the $$ and buy alcohol and drugs

Only if they're old, handicapped, underage, or have children. If they look like they're in their twenties and don't seem to have a disability then I don't give them money. And I only give at most a dollar.

Mental illness, auto-immune diseases, and muscle/bone disorders are all disabilities and you'd never know someone had one just by looking at them. How ignorant...

well I'm so sorry I don't just drop whatever I'm doing in the middle of the street and give a homeless person a psychological evaluation. Call me ignorant, I don't care, that's your opinion and you barely even know me so whatever

I give to reputable groups who help the homeless.

Some times, but never $600. Is Woody runnng for office?

One when it was pouring rain i came upon two homeless men, one pushing the other in a wheel chair. I stopped the car and handed them my umbrellas, out of the window. They then proceeded to put them into the seat behind the chauffeured man and continued along. I guess they were either going to sell the "new" umbrellas or wanted to look pathetic for more donations! Last time I did that...

I would give help, work, food, and aid. I won't just give someone money though. Money is rarely the solution to any problem.

But I did give one of those Salvation Army Santas $20, well, I think he was from the SA....

I didn't need the $20 anyway.

Whenever I have some I don't need, kudos to this guy for being generous.

Well, sometimes I do, but for one thing, I don't usually carry money around with me, and second, if I gave money to every homeless person I saw while I walked through the first district, I wouldn't have enough money to buy what I wanted to get in the first place. Most of them would probably use it on drugs, anyway. I understand that it isn't very nice not to give money, but I volunteer at a soup kitchen sometimes, give a quarter of my allowance to a women and child home in India and next summer I am going to teach at a school for underprivileged children in South Africa.

or little $2-$3 scratch off lottery tickets....there's a homeless man who always sits at the same intersection on my way home from work and if I have some extra cash or lotto tickets, I always throw them out the window to him..

that was a nice thing to do

Every now and then.

If one wishes to give money, then yes! That is up to them.

Homeless people can get money by getting a job. There are food banks, and churches and give free clothes to the homeless so there is no reason why they can't get a job and get an apartment, unfortunately most of them are drugs users and they've lost everything because of their addiction. Anytime i've helped the homeless i've brought them blankets and clothes.

You are wrong. Those resources don't exist everywhere for everyone. The area I used to live in has only 1 shelter and 1 soup kitchen for a 15 town radius. There are only 10 beds in the shelter, and if you've been drinking, you aren't allowed in the shelter or the soup kitchen. Many of the homeless people have no transportation to get there, and many are alcoholics. Open your eyes.

For the record, addicts and alcoholics have an illness and they need help, not someone looking down their nose at them.

I've worked with some of the homeless here in Orlando as a volunteer. It is sad, but many of them are alcoholics and/or drug users/abusers. We have several free food spots for them here in Orlando, that giving them money is not necessary. I would not want to contribute to a person's alcohol or drug problem.

No. I financially support the Capital Area Food Bank, Salvation Army, Meals on Wheels and Mobile Loaves & Fishes. Additionally, I volunteer to drive two routes weekly for Meals on Wheels. That way I know that my support is going to feed and clothe the needy. I'm afraid that cash gifts all too often go for booze and drugs

no

Why not ?

Because they'll buy booze or drugs and when they die from it, you'll be partly responsible.

They 'll do that without my help , too but still I give it to mothers, kids or old ones not to boozers & we don't have them here .

Yes, because all homeless people do drugs or drink... WRONG! The majority are mentally ill and do NOT use drug or drink.

I have in the past, then a friend pointed out it would be better to buy something for them to eat, that was wise advice.

Sometimes

Old Woody has to much MONEY $$$$$ !

Who decides that? Not you.

Whenever I've seen one. I've only seen someone sitting on the street corner once, in Dublin. There were a lot of people sitting or lying on the street, but she was the only one who didn't have a blanket or coffee. Just a jumper and beanie. My sister and I both gave her some money. I forget how much. But we were young, so nowhere near $600. Probably about 5 Euros.
Other times I give people money is when they busk. Last time I went out with my mum there were two old men busking down by the beach. She gave them about $15, I think.

Sometimes. But I can't say I've ever given someone 600$

Sometimes. Where I use to live I'd see them all the time, same ones, which you learn their motives. I got tired of all these grown alcoholic men approaching me when I had my young daughters with me which I find disrespectful. So the moment they started to speak, I'd stop them & say no.

Years ago though, there was a family of a mom, dad & little girl out by the highway & I took the last of the $ in my pocket to buy them groceries, when I came out they were gone. I've also had an elderly homeless man who was sitting out in a snow storm be honest as anyone & say "I have an addiction" that, I respect & did give him $, which he thanked me profusely for.

No one wishes to be homeless & if life were perfect they wouldn't be in that situation but how many of us are one check away from being in their shoes? Saddens me how many heartless people there are.

Sorry to contradict you, I did know a homeless man once. We had a conversation in front of a coffee shop. He told me that he had a family but they wouldn't speak to him because of his drinking. He said he was happier on the streets, that no situation is perfect (there are concerns living on the streets as opposed to the house and bills), but basically saying that you don't own things, things owned you. He was free of bills, free of upkeep on the home, the fire and flood insurance. The only thing of real value to him were his shoes, which, being homeless, you have to be careful not to have stolen, but they're only cheap shoes. Not like your home burning down or something. I'm sure that case isn't typical, at least, I wouldn't want to be homeless. But the conversation stuck with me.

That's sad, in the sense he has family but is distanced from them because of his drinking. I have seen other cases (on t.v.) where the homeless have family & not just family but family with money & I can never understand why they would let their family member live on the streets like that but I also understand they can't help the person who doesn't want to help themselves. :(

Had to wait to comment... I think I can see both sides. I have two alcoholics in the family. It was a nightmare having them stay. Leaving doors and windows open, bringing strange people over all hours of the night, stealing, getting drunk and hungry sometimes leaving the oven or burner on, trash all over counters to draw bugs and rodents, going from crying to yelling, threatening to throw a TV at you, getting so drunk you're not sure whether to call an ambulance or turn them on their side so if they vomit they won't drown, upsetting the neighbors. That guy seemed pretty lucid (especially for being night time), but I can understand why some families refuse. They ask for a little compromise on the part of that relative and sometimes no compromise is made... Living on the streets might be a nightmare for some, for others, there's few rules and little responsibility. . . . . ???????