Is it wrong to give money to a begger?
I was recently chastized by a friend for giving some money to a homeless person on the street. She said he was clearly a drug addict and would just use my money to get another fix. I was only contributing to the problem. The best thing to do, she said is not give money to beggers and give to rehab clinics instead. Was what I did really wrong?
April 19th, 2010 at 5:13 pm
well some homless people do use the money for drugs i mean that isint the smartest thing for them to do but we try to help them but they use it for other reasons,,
April 19th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
Tell your friend to back off – you can give or not give as you feel like it, it’s your choice.
April 19th, 2010 at 5:49 pm
I think most homeless people are not addicts and you did the right thing
April 19th, 2010 at 6:32 pm
No, but don’t steel like Rogin Hood!
April 19th, 2010 at 7:20 pm
Catch 22 was he really down & out ? Or just wanting $ for booze or drugs?
April 19th, 2010 at 7:46 pm
Some people say it’s wrong because they sometimes buy drugs or alcohol.
April 19th, 2010 at 8:41 pm
give and it will be given back to you. I think you did the right thing.
April 19th, 2010 at 9:30 pm
Hmm… I dont think it is right because…
Story: Once, my mom and I were walking down a street and a homeless person came up to us and told us he had cancer & many other problems. My mom gave him $10 to go buy some food & water. He thanked us and later (10 minutes) we saw him come out of a liqour store.
April 19th, 2010 at 9:35 pm
Most beggars are either lazy guys who won’t work, gamblers who gambled everything, drunks, or drug addicts. you could give them money if you want to but I wouldn’t waste my money giving it to some bum.
April 19th, 2010 at 10:24 pm
I would say no. If a person asks and you have it or can afford it than it is a gift to them. It’s up to them what they do with it.
April 19th, 2010 at 10:46 pm
They need to get a job. They need to stop coming up with stupid excuses for not working. I’m sick of it.
April 19th, 2010 at 11:35 pm
He could have very well been a drug attic, but maybe not there are thousands of homeless in the US. I don’t usually give money but I do offer to buy them something to eat.
April 20th, 2010 at 12:08 am
No, give anytime you feel lead to give. If your heart is in the right place then it is not going to matter what they do with it. Addicts suffer too.
April 20th, 2010 at 12:40 am
It is not up to us to judge another human being. The general rule is that the more you give the more you’ll receive. By giving you’ll be benefit the most as it is very satisfying & rewarding feeling. How can helping a human being in distress can be wrong. Listen to your heart, follow your insticts & know that giving generats income.
Anytime you give remember to say Thank you for the opportunity given to help.
Many beggers have mental chalanges & cannot help if they look like drug addicts – looks may be deceiving.
April 20th, 2010 at 1:02 am
Yes, it is wrong. Offer to pop in and get him a coffee, and/or a burger for him. Watch how quickly he will say no thanks.
April 20th, 2010 at 1:41 am
it wasnt wrong, but you may want to keep that piece of advice in mind. but think about it, was your friend right? i mean, what if its an innocent homeless person? what if SHE was an innocent homeless person? would she like it if somebody made that assumption about her? so think for your self, was it obvious that this person was a drug addict? if not, you didnt do anything wrong, just be careful. even if he WAS you didnt do anything wrong, you cant control what he decides to do with it! still be careful it not your fault but you still dont want to encourage that kind of thing. its great to give to rehab clinics, but how is that going to help the homeless? on the other hand, if he was a drug addict, like i said you werent doing wrong, but you may want to give to homeless shelters instead, or offer him/her something to eat, that way you KNOW what you are giving your money for. you did a good thing and there is nothing you can do about it now. i would just nor worry about it too much and in the future be careful how you give away your money. hope this helps.;)
April 20th, 2010 at 2:30 am
It’s your cash and you should do with it whatever makes you feel good. If you are helping a homeless person either get a meal, a place to sleep or a bottle/drugs it should not matter. The fact of the matter is that you are able and willing to help those less fortunate than you.
April 20th, 2010 at 3:13 am
No of course not.
Perhaps next time you could purchase the heroin FOR him and save him the time and trouble of tracking down his dealer.
April 20th, 2010 at 3:43 am
sometimes like if they have coats on and look bad like a drug person then don’t give…but if they look like they really need help then you should give then not a whole lot but some like $4 max
April 20th, 2010 at 4:37 am
no it wasn’t wrong. however, you shouldn’t always do it. why? because it only gives them of a reason to keep doing it.
but its your choice.
April 20th, 2010 at 5:19 am
no it was not wrong but your friend was wrong. when you go to rehab you have to pay for it. now the person who gives them money is making another thief because the rehab is gonna take the money and put it in their pockets. you should give money to bums so i can have money to buy food because i’m a professional bum and have been all my life. al bums are not on drugs.
April 20th, 2010 at 5:42 am
The Bible is very clear on that and the answer is yes. Even if they lie to you about how they plan to use the money that you give them. Another thing that bible states is judge ye not unless ye be judge……………………………….. So if you have some change to spare why not share it…………………….
April 20th, 2010 at 5:42 am
I think that you are a good person and did a good thing. I gave $20.00 to this guy once cuz he was on the corrner with a baby and a wife. I mean they looked homeless. The baby was so cute a little dirty but so cute. After I gave it to them I felt good. I went in to grociery store and even got them some formula for the baby. I came out and they were walking across the street. I tried to catch up to them when I saw them getting into a BRAND NEW chevy tahoe. I was pissed.
That is why I stopped giving money, I fill bad but for some people begging is a job.
April 20th, 2010 at 6:08 am
Once you give anyone anything, it is there choice to do with it as they wish. Your choice of giving should not be based around what the person will do with what was given, it should be based around giving for the sake of giving.
April 20th, 2010 at 6:47 am
I don’t think so . Some of these people really do need that extra help to get along in life .They are really down on their luck.Just think about if you where in that situation. Hopefully some kind people would give you a hand.
April 20th, 2010 at 6:59 am
First, your friend shouldn’t have chastized you for giving to the homeless person because that is a personal choice and you are an adult and free to make your own choices, financial or otherwise.
Secondly, It is not “wrong” to give money to a beggar anymore than it is wrong to give to money to any charitable organization or political party, etc. It’s your disposable income and you can dispose of it any way you want whether it is spending it on yourself or giving it to a homeless person!
Last, but not least, while all homeless people are definitely not drug addicts it is true that we cannot imagine what desperate place these individuals have found their lives in that they would be willing to beg others for money. Whether it is an addiction, poverty due to financial difficulties, mental health issues or family disfunction, it is WHATEVER has brought them to this state of desperation that deserves our compassion and therefore our generosity in whatever form we choose to take.
April 20th, 2010 at 7:05 am
well in my opinion i would do the same thing you did. cause is the fact that you gave the money to the begger himself. he knows what to do (what is best for him). beter than a organization (who knows if they actually use 100% of the money for the homeless), got it babe!
April 20th, 2010 at 7:43 am
THERE IS ALOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE HOMELESS BECAUSE OF LOST JOBS OR GETTING EVICTED FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO AFORD RENT, PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THAT SITUATION BECAUSE THIER HOSE BURNT DOWN AND THEY HAVE NO ONE OR NOTHING TO FALL BACK ON AND END UP IN THE STREETS CAUSE THEY ARE JUST GOING THROUGH A ROUGH POINT IN THIER LIVES. BUT SOME ARE JUST CRACK HEADS OR JUNKIES TRYIN TO GET HIGH AND ACUALLY HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE, THEY JUST TRY TO SCAM PEOPLE. MOST OF THE TIME YOU CAN TELL WHO’S WHO. BUT IT IS A NICE THING TO DO IF YOU CAN TELL THAT THEY ARE ACUALLY HOMELESS. IT IS GOOD TO HELP OTHERS OUT IF YOU CAN. IF YOU WANT TO HELP THEM BUT DONT FEEL COMFORTABLE GIVING THEM MONEY THAN OFFER TO BUY THEM A COUPLE CHEESE BURGERS OR SOMTHING LIKE THAT. MOST OF THE TIME THE ADDICTS WILL REFUSE THE FOOD AND ASK FOR THE MONEY AGAIN BUT THE PEOPLE THAT ACCUALLY NEED IT TO SURVIVE WILL GLADLY EXEPT THE FOOD. AND YOU WOULD HAVE PROBLY MADE THIER DAY. ITS GOOD TO GIVE IF YOU CAN JUST CUZ ITS NICE, AND WHAT IF THAT WAS YOU SOME DAY.
April 20th, 2010 at 8:01 am
Well, that’s a tough one. I too have struggled with this. Am I just enabling their habit? Undoubtedly. Then again, maybe my money is what will keep them from robbing someone instead, and maybe they really do need a hamburger. Druggies eat too, albeit not as much as the rest of us most likely. I say follow your conscious. I also say do give to programs that help these people.
April 20th, 2010 at 8:13 am
I tend to believe that they will probably use it for booze or drugs. I try to offer food or such. Last year we started this thing through our church to have a bag ready in your car to give to a homeless person when you come across one. We went to wal-mart and got all of those travel size items, like a shaving kit, toothpaste and toothbrush, comb, shampoo and soap, etc. This year we are adding a gift card to either a restaurant or supermarket and a blanket.
Just a thought.
And no, you weren’t wrong……your heart was in the right place. If
he did something bad with it, that’s his fault.
Try my idea so you will put your money to good use and have something ready.
April 20th, 2010 at 8:16 am
It’s not wrong, if it’s in your heart to give then give.
April 20th, 2010 at 8:39 am
well my thought about that is if you was in that spot the person was in and if you need something to eat you would adress the fact that you need a bit of spare change to get something or something to drink or if they need something to eat you can always get them something to eat
April 20th, 2010 at 9:16 am
No. What you do w/ your money is your business. But I have quit giving any money to beggars, after getting asked every time I stopped and got gas for weeks.
April 20th, 2010 at 9:25 am
its your choice, and not your friends business at all, but what she said does have truth to it. i usually drive through near by fast food places and use the money get them a cheap lunch. that way you know that you are not contributing to the problem.
April 20th, 2010 at 9:56 am
“To each his own” Anyways, if it makes you feel good doing it, why not? The fact however, you are contributing to the problem at large. If there were enough people like you out there, we will no longer have a welfare state but instead and begger state. Just kidding. Nobody wants to be a begger if they have a choice.
But if you keep giving money to beggers, soon they will be used to people being so generous and will become aggressive when the giving goes slim.
April 20th, 2010 at 10:20 am
There are groups that deal with this by giving homeless persons coupons good for food at a grocery store in the neighborhood; that way, a person who needs food gets it, and the money can’t be used to feed a habit. As for your friend – she should mind her own business; if nothing else, your heart was in the right place, and in my book, that counts for something!
April 20th, 2010 at 10:43 am
i would rather give them food and spend more money,than give them a dollar for drugs.
April 20th, 2010 at 11:32 am
Your heart was in the right place. Maybe next time you can buy them a sandwich and a hot cup of coffee. But don’t stop being a compassionate person. There is not enough of us left in the world.
April 20th, 2010 at 11:33 am
No, what you did was not wrong. I think your friend should thank GOD that she isn’t on the other side. There is nothing wrong with giving money to people in need. We are not here to judge, we are here to help whoever we can. If that happens again and you are by a food place, stop and buy something to eat to give next time. Maybe then your friend won’t have such a problem with it. GOD bless you.