I want to give them money but since my childhood my parents pretty much told me that they are all either faking it or are too lazy to go to work for money. I mean, I guess they can go to work but not everyone gets accepted to work as easy as it sounds like.
I didn’t either until i was walking around Chicago and a big dude started asking for money. I couldn’t help as i didn’t have cash and the guy i was with made a comment that upset the beggar. Then the beggar pulls out a wad of $20s and started flexing about how he didn’t need our money anyways. After that, I’ve had a really hard time wanting to hand out money.
Yeah, but I see enough people around that don’t act like that, they don’t even have the energy to sit up and beg people for money. I leave snacks and money that I can spare for them.
Even some with $800 in twenties, how far will that get them in downtown Chicago? A month of smokes? A month of rent in a dingy basement in the suburbs?
I know around the world there are scam artists that hang about especially in touristy areas I’ve encountered quite a few, but they are a small number compared to the number of homeless people in genuine need. I had no more change for a guy in LA, so instead I gave the man a small piece of a pie I was eating, and he was so grateful for it.
I’d still be happy to give my money away 10 times if it genuinely helps 9 people and once it falls to a scammer.