Should you give money to the homeless?

[anonymous]

Speaking anonymously... if I were homeless and could provide for my basic needs of, well, food and warmth and shit, I would probably spend the excess on booze or weed, too. Saving up pocket change isn't going to buy you a house, but it might buy you things that make you a little tiny bit happier about your fucked-up predicament. If you REALLY want to help, give them a job, or help them find one, but unloading the change from your pockets or throwing a few bucks to them could not possibly be more harm than good to those in real, serious need.

[DanaC]

Originally Posted by anonymous

Speaking anonymously... if I were homeless and could provide for my basic needs of, well, food and warmth and shit, I would probably spend the excess on booze or weed, too. Saving up pocket change isn't going to buy you a house, but it might buy you things that make you a little tiny bit happier about your fucked-up predicament. If you REALLY want to help, give them a job, or help them find one, but unloading the change from your pockets or throwing a few bucks to them could not possibly be more harm than good to those in real, serious need.

I think that about sums up my view really.

[Bullitt]

I pay my federal, state, and local taxes, plus give to Habitat for Humanity every year. So I don't give shit to the person standing on the freeway exit corner. I make $12/hr, so they're lucky I can make it work to afford giving to Habitat every year in the first place. Between those 4, my pockets are drained enough.