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What do you do when homeless folks ask for money? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 23 hours ago by bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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This is becoming more common in my town. I just either feel like an ass saying I dont have cash, or lying, but I also can't be giving out 20's to everyone who asks.

I feel bad for most of them but at the same time I get anxiety walking down the sidewalk and seeing someone up ahead that I know is going to ask me for money. Its not like you can say "oh no, I donate to services that help the needy" because that person isn't necessarily being helped by that. And ignoring completely feels so mean, plus I tried that one time and the person was screaming at me as i walked away that I ignored them.

I also dont want my city to round them up and send them to prison camps, something they are planning and that I know a lot of people would vote for just to "get rid of them" but im not supporting that at all.

Its tough.

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[-] Otherbarry@lemmy.frozeninferno.xyz 71 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago)

In the northeastern U.S. I've mostly learned to acknowledge them, don't give anything, and move on with my life.

Not sure if it's bad luck or what, but nearly every time I've tried to be nice and offer them something it always backfires. I'll be passing by with some food and they'll ask me for some, I give them some and then they tell me it wasn't enough and to give them all the food I was carrying. Like WTF?

Another time I actually had some change on me so I gave him some and he said it wasn't enough money and started following me, wanted me to go to an ATM so I can take out more money for him. I was forced to tell him to stop following me or I'd have to call the cops.

I have even more stories like that.. going through those motions repeatedly it feels like the homeless have taught me not to give to the homeless. But hopefully your experiences have better outcomes.

[-] Speculater@lemmy.world 46 points 22 hours ago

I was drunk and in a good mood and a guy asked for $10 to take the bus or something, so I handed him a $20 and said I hope he had a nice evening. Should have been the end of it, right? Nope. "Oh man, if you have $20 more the Lord will bless you and I can get a bus pass and eat. My sister is dying and I need to visit her often and I'm on the streets right now." Stuff like that for like 3 blocks of following me.

Bro... I. Don't. Believe. You. Like, literally, it's probably all bullshit and I knew the first $20 was going to buy booze or drugs. Don't fucking try to shake me down for more.

[-] binarytobis@lemmy.world 7 points 16 hours ago

Dude, same happened to me. One guy threw the box of food he asked me to give him in a bush because he didn’t like Italian. Another told me to go to an atm for him. The last time I gave someone money they had me absolutely convinced that they needed $10 for the bus ride home. Before I even put my wallet away he was saying the same thing to the next guy.

Decided to stop that and donate to charity instead, even though money was tight. After my $20 donation they flooded my mailbox asking for more donations. They even sent me $5 with the message “This $5 could save a life!” So sick of being made into a fool for wanting to help.

If I were convinced a person truly needed help I could provide, I would straight up be willing to give them at least $1000. I simply don’t trust the pleas any more. Have to keep it limited to chance encounters with everyday people.

this post was submitted on 10 Aug 2025

166 points (100.0% liked)

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