Hegel-oh's Wrote:
Whenever in the situation to help a homeless person that asks for money to get some food, I try and tell them that I will take them to a place and buy them food rather than give them money because that way they won't take my 5 bucks and buy a couple 40's or use it for some other item that is not a basic need. Some have denied my offer. Others have taken it graciously. Some have tried to argue with me to just give them money and then eventually let me buy them food. That's one way I try to discern which type of "homeless" I am dealing with.
I do this too. If they're truly down on their luck, they'll welcome anything because anything helps. If they're just looking for money for drugs or alcohol, you'll know - they don't want food. The times I've offered food, the guys have always been very happy to receive it.
The one that still tears my heart out when I think about him is the guy who was mute or deaf, and he sat outside a nearby music store. It was obvious this guy was more than simply down on his luck. He had the saddest eyes, and as you approached, if you made eye contact, he would raise his eyebrows and then look down at this rolled up cloth, which he would unroll to reveal a bunch of rocks, each tied with a little bow of wire. I felt really bad not giving him money - I didn't have a penny on me, just a bunch of CDs for trade. I would have happily bought a rock from him, and bought him lunch.
