LogFAQs > #909845633

darkknight109 posted...

First off, I'm pretty sure the number of people who are homeless by choice are overwhelmingly in the minority. Second and more to the point, "encourages them to perpetuate their lifestyle"? As opposed to what? "Oh, gee, people aren't giving me money anymore, I guess I'll just stop being poor and homeless now." Sure, that sounds realistic.

You arent helping them by giving them money. Helping them get a beer? Yeah probably. Getting free food isnt exactly that difficult when you're homeless. There are plenty of avenues for that. When you enable their drug addled lifestyle, you're actually more than likely preventing them from ever attempting to not be homeless. These people dont think long term. They're thinking that as long as they get hammered every day it's better than nothing. You stop providing an outlet for that addiction and they have at least some incentive to try to function.

I'm not against buying them a meal or volunteering or donating to charity but just giving them booze money is morally objectionable if you ask me. And I had a friend who would routinely give random homeless people rides (which I told him wasnt smart but he had drug and depression issues himself which made him apathetic) but these people pretty much always had drinking/drug problems.

darkknight109 posted...

I will say this - I've heard plenty of stories of homeless people pulling themselves out of the gutter because someone did something for them. Bought them a meal, taught them a skill, did something for them; I have yet to hear one who said "Well, this one guy refused to give me anything when I asked him, and that really inspired me to get my act together."

I guarantee you that paying for their booze isnt helping them