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

I understand your POV, but there are addicts and cons and they ruin it for everyone else. I like charity and volunteer my time (although less now, my family and I need to work it into our schedule again, we backed off after our child was born). I have given money to people in need, but not panhandlers.

not many homeless here. and even fewer that panhandle.

Two a-holes, one in KC and another in Albuquerque ruined it for all the rest. The one in K.C. Somehow he thought that it was my responsibility to provide for him, and just didn't understand, that because I was broke, I didn't have a spare dollar to give to him, when he started yelling at me for being a cheap bastard, I vowed to never give another penny to that sort of trash. 2nd. a-hole accosted me in a park while I was letting my dogs out for a potty break, he didn't take no for an answer, then kicked my 5lbs toy poodle as she was hopping on his leg, trying to be friendly. That one is just very lucky that my gun and my tire iron were both inconvenient, plus I didn't feel like filling out hours of paper work for blowing a large hole in the middle of his chest or caving in his head, at that moment. (The gun is never inconvenient when I travel now.) I now treat them like stray cats, quit feeding them and they go somewhere else. If they don't pull out the weapon and make them go somewhere else.

I"ve offered to buy food and take them to get gas as those are fave (excuses) in my town. But no I don't directly hand out cash to those that are begging. I will give to charities, etc. Every now and then someone will take me up on my offer, but sadly, most of them admit that they just want it for drugs/alcohol and those that don't refuse to let you go get them whatever they are asking for...so it is just the money they want. It really saddens me how many cons or addicts are out there when real people need the help (addicts need the help but they need more than cash).

I think kindness to others is important,so I give to ones less fortunate then myself.

and by the way, I think it's awsome that someone who has so much does in fact do that. I am not rich by any means, but I have had to pan handle and it is so frikin horrible

From time to time. Actually, that is my job and not the governments, so I'm glad to do it.

I either give them cash or buy them a meal.

I would if I could but I can't afford it.

When I can, I have given jobs and places to live to homeless, 1 a close friend now lives with me.

The last time I gave a homeless person money, I watched them walk straight to the liquor store almost immediatley after. Sure, if I had some food i would give them some, though.

Shame so many other innocent homeless people should pay the price for one.

I try to resist because creating a larger market for begging is not good for anyone.

market for begging?
You think its a career choice :)

A career involves providing a good or service, so of course not.
Animals and Humans alike, tend to pick the lowest hanging fruit first.

Its called being resourceful, living in a city, one does not have many opportunities on the street, there only option is to survive on anything they can get.

Do you have any idea what it is to be homeless?

I was sort of between homes for almost a year once, but stayed with alternating friends/family- not related to the following:
I was hit/run by a Ford Bronco on my motorcycle in 2003. It left me with 7 skull fractures and disabled permenantly from my career, disabled from anything for months. After months of healing, I took work less than half of what I was making before at tasks the Dr's said might kill me. I risked my life, lied to employer health screeners, delt with the pain and struggled my way back, went without health insurance for 9 years. I saved up for training and certifications and am not doing too bad now considering. I never asked anyone for anything and got not charity. Maybe I have more pride and determination than most but my point is;
Where there is a will, there is a way

Unfortunately there are many cons out there. I know at least one publicized case (several years back) where a man quit his job, dressed up like a homeless guy in St. Louis and made more money than his job (his job was low paying but still). I don't think this is the majority by any means, but at least in my town, the people asking for x, y, or z never seem to actually want it when you offer it to them (I have had 1 person take me up on the offer in ~20 people asking for gas/food).

You are still letting few speak for many.

I am letting my experience speak for themselves. 1/20 is pretty horrible odds. I'm all for charities, and I like those better b/c I can also sign up for tutoring to try to help people get the education to better themselves. At least in my city, most of the people who need help aren't panhandling...they are pounding the pavement, going to shelters/soup kitchens, etc. My uncle offered one person who held a sign "looking for a job" (or something like that) a job (this was last winter), the guy turned him down. It was just a way to get money. These are the bad obviously, but like I said the good aren't the ones with the signs...at least not here.

Plenty of corrupt charities out there, so yeah just gonna ignore what you said.

Ah so its better to give someone cash than food, a job, education etc. Right.....that is real sustainable. Did you even read the part about how i like to tutor people that need the help? That is hands on work...much better IMO than just throwing cash at someone. This is also why you research a charity before you give, so you know what is really happening. Honestly, it is more work to tutor, take someone shopping, buy them food, or gas or whatever....and involves actual interaction. Sure, it is partially to ensure you are REALLY helping someone not feeding an addiction or con, but you also get to learn from the as well.

No, I just explained that you contradicted yourself, and so I have no further interest in wasting any more of my time reading your comments.

No offense, but you have written a total of 4 sentences with little explanation. I don't find that contradiction b/c I give to charities that I have thoroughly researched and I tend to have a more hands on experience. You are either reading in to my general statement or assuming the worst about them....much as you claim I did.

Research a person, find out why they are homeless (I do it) and move on.

Yes,I have and will give the homeless some money and buy them someting to eat. No one knows what tomorrow will bring,treat people the way you want to be treated. "Love thy neighbor"! Woody Harrelson,kudos to you,man you "Rock"!

When I have it to spare, I do.

I feel bad no matter how they became homeless. God Bless Woody!

of course!

I have.

The old saying is if you want more of something subsidize it. If you want more beggars on the street keep giving them money.

Thats a crock of crap. We are supposed to help the poor. Its that "line of thinking" is why this world is in hell right now.

Except when there shall be no poor among you; for Hayah shall greatly bless thee in the land which Hayah thy Yah giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it.

agreed.

There will always be "poor" there have always been "poor". Specifically because they know that when they are begging there is a sucker born every minute. I have no problem helping people, but it will not be with cash out of hand, if they are hungry I feed them, if they are cold I give them a blanket, if they are sick I treat them. Handing beggars money does nothing but create more beggars. It serves no purpose to help those who are unwilling to help themselves. You take the easy route and hand them money to feed your selfishness.

Joshua said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

Christ said to sell all you have, and give the money to the poor. He didnt say "give them coupons." He didnt say "give them your possessions." The poor have bills to pay, your "possessions" will not pay their bills.

Joshua was never directed to hand them money and walk away. If they are on the street legitimately they have no bills to pay, so cash does nothing but feed their selfish sins. Christ's direction is meaningless if you disregard his Father's words about sloth.

Most of them are on the street, because they couldnt pay their bills. If they had money they could pay their bills off. Not all of them are "slothful." Just few. If they had money, they could rent a place, get off the street, and get jobs. And yes, Joshua was directed to "help the poor."

"And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of Hayah is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of Hayah.

BS, most of them are there because they are drug addicted pieces of crap.
You honestly can't even be thoughtful if you believe your argument. No land owner in their right mind would rent to them even if they had enough to make rent.

I pray you never end up on the street, but you will. And then who will turn to you to help you?

I will never, it is called personal responsibility, you might want to learn to teach them something about it.