SuzieQ9109

As you might not know, I am from Atlanta, Georgia and sometimes whenever, I drive downtown with my parents, we come across people with cardboard signs asking for money because they have none. I can not help but feel sorry for these people and I want to spare them a few dollars. But every time I want to do this, my parents say no because that person might use the money to buy alcohol. My parents have a point but I still feel bad that I didn't try to do something...What would YOU do?

Housesitter

Where I can I offer to buy them some food.
Some are genuine and grateful.
Others are offended and demand the money. Those in my opinion wanted that money for something other than food.

__________________
Ray
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New Life

If I see them and feel they are genuine, I buy them a sandwich and a cup of coffee. That way, you're doing your bit, without fueling something worse.

I've come to learn that a large majority of the homeless people in the Croydon area are actually Christian though, which is nice :-)

Bridgit

I work in DC and see a lot of homeless people in the street. I always prefer to give them food. Most of them are so thankful for the meal. At one time I gave one of them some groceries for their family. This way you can be sure your money won't be used for cigarettes, drugs or alcohol.

azheis

I think you need to trust your instincts …………..or just ask God
When I give money I do it because I see a need, or because I want to. What that person, church, or ministry does with it, they are accountable for, I gave with a pure heart and I will get blessed back regardless. BTW I never loan money, if I have it to loan I have it to give. By giving with no attachments, I get blessed ….I never expect to see that money again. Many times people I have given money to, have given it back ….of coarse I don’t refuse it, because that would rob them of the opportunity of giving.
I obviously would not make a great banker, but I have learned that loans always seemed to cause contention between both parties.

When it comes to the people with the cardboard signs I do tend to ask God first; this is why.
When I lived in AZ there were many who had the “Will work for food� signs, and several times I would offer them work ………….which they would decline.
So one day I waited until this one person folded up shop. I followed him for a couple of blocks until he got into an almost brand new truck. Ok, I thought, I could still see where he may have financial problems. The following day I waited in the parking lot where he parked and I followed him to ……what I would conservatively call a 250, 000 home in the foothills of the Catalina Mountains {in a 1984 market}…….by now, as you can imagine I am a bit skeptical of his financial depravity; but I was intrigued.
I had a friend, who worked for the newspaper, and I asked him to do some checking for me, which he did, but he actually went much further and exposed several of the sign people.
As it turns out this guy did loose his job over a year ago, and went to the corners with good intentions. But the money was so good he had been doing it almost a year, clearing an average of 350 dollars a day, tax-free. His wife was also employed making 50 plus a year, AND he was collecting unemployment ………….Now I understand why he didn’t want to work for me.
Obviously that is not the case with all ….most likely a small minority, but from that point on ……….I ask God first
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
God Bless
azheis

da_man

My wife and I discuss this a bit. I don't give them money and she thinks we should.
I was listening to a couple of guys who were from England talking. One lived in the US and one still lived in England. The one from ENgland asked the other guy what he liked most about living over here. He said the opportunity. He said you could do so many things it just depends on how hard you want to work at it. Then the other guy asked him what he liked least. He said the people on street corners holding signs. And he said for the same reasons of why he liked it so much. I was listening to these guys talk about this and it made sense.
I agree there are some people that have it rough but there are others who just don't want to put forth the effort. I told my wife we could get some job applications and carry them around in the car and hand them out to people on the street corners.

Boanerges

Listen for that still small voice- God is faithful and will give you a witness in your spirit when He wants you to give-

Abaddon

I try to do what I can in order to help my brothers and sisters

RADICAL FREAK

Ultimately you are not responsible for what they do with the money.....God told you to give....not to give if you feel they will do the right thing.....They will stand before God one day and give an account for their lives.....what they do with the money is up to them, but you were called to give....here's an idea as you give them money witness to the person.....let the spirit of God so shine through you that they begin to cry out to God and repent.....then they will do the right thing with money.

smellycat

wisdom is needed.