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How to Help People Begging on the Streets?
This morning it is raining outside. I’m still thinking about how to respond to people on the streets who are homeless and/or beg for money. I’d like to believe that everyone out there found a dry place to stay overnight. Last night I kept thinking about what I could do. I feel like there’s not much I can do … the situation of poverty and homelessness is a huge social problem. Yet, when I’m walking and run into someone asking for spare change, I am face to face with a fellow human being, not some abstract “social problem.” The very cliche phrase “What would Jesus do?” haunts me.
I started formulating a possible plan — I don’t know if this is realistic nor do I know if it would really be helpful to others or if it is more to assuage my own feelings of helplessness. What if I got together little packages of stuff … some food, some change, etc. … and when I ran into someone, I’d be prepared. I’d say hello and see if the person wanted anything. Such encounters are always highly unpredictable (see Jen‘s comment on my last post “Can You Spare Some Change?“). But, I don’t think unpredictability should stop people from responding (with great care and common sense) to the needs of others. As I write about my “plan” it sounds kind of goofy, but I think, what the heck? Maybe at the least it will open a door for me to get more in touch with the needs of God’s people and find a way to do something in my little corner of the world. We live in hope.
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I know in some cities where it is/has been a problem they discourage handing money directly to the person. For example in Springfield, Illinois I have seen signs posted in businesses/banks around the downtown area to not give money to the person but instead direct them to an agency (It lists the phone numbers & addresses) and for you to donate your money directly to one of those.
I blogged about much the same topic, describing our deacon’s homily yesterday. I too struggle with what to do about people who directly ask me, rather than some agency, for help. By using an agency as a go between (I’ll bet an entmolgicaly study of the word agency will probably come up with something like one who acts for)I preserve my personal safety and have some assurance that the money isn’t going for alcohol or drugs, but I miss the chance to render immediate personal aid to someone who needs it.
Thanks, Aleigh and RAnn … those are good ideas. I think I’ll look up agencies in my neighborhood that work with people on the streets. And, I’ll continue to think and pray about what response I’m called to (“please, nothing too demanding,” I immediately think as I cast my eyes heavenwards, knowing full well that God will do what God wills).
I believe the answer to WWJD lies in showing love not in giving. Love is not always money. Love is not always food. Love is making a connection on a human level with those that many people find less than human. As they say in my world (advertising), “Time is money.” If that is so, give them your time. Stop and talk. Better yet, listen. It’s possible that they are in no less need than the man left for dead by bandits that the Samaritan helped. We are all busy. But if you truly saw Jesus in that person, what could be more important than to stop and talk to Him?
“Where you were you,” you might be asked.
“Oh, well on my way here I stopped and talked to Jesus,” you’d reply. “He didn’t exactly look like I thought he would.”
I point this out because in my life, it’s very easy for me to NOT become involved on a personal level with so many people. I’m too busy. I’m not interested. I’m too important. This is my cross. Thank you for allowing God to speak into my heart this morning. Pray that he’ll remind me (gently as well), to stop and listen.
I totally agree with you … it is so easy to not become involved on a personal level. Handing out food is like one step removed. Yet it too is necessary. This reminds me of the the “faith without works is dead” passage in the Letter of James 2:15-16 … “If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,’ but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?” But it’s all too easy to give food or money and not give love as you noted. I am truly grateful that the Spirit is with us so that I can have hope that the Spirit will guide us to respond well.
I think that the homeless or beggars shouldn´t be helped by the society, but i do think that you should donate your money to special campaigns or foundations that help homeless giving them food and at the same time they help them to take away their addictness to drugs or to alcohol.
they can also work, if they are young, becaus e theere are soime jobs that you don´t need to know anything and you practically get paid for just being there. For example, a bus monitor.
They should be helped but after they help theirselves first.
Please delete this if you feel it is inappropriate -
Cam, There are figures which say that 67% of all people who are below poverty level have at least one full-time job. I know from personal experience that I was working two full-time minimum wage jobs when I became homeless. Granted, there are lots of homeless who are dealing with addictions but it is not as simple as just ‘get a job’. I wish it was…
Blessings!
It’s not inappropriate at all. I agree with you. I think there are many misperceptions about people who are homeless. We need to learn more, and better yet, do something to help. I also think that, as Cam said, we must support the organizations that seek to help people who are homeless and transform the social, economical systems which perpetuate homelessness.
Sr, Julie is right. A great big step would be to ensure that the legal minimum wage is high enough so that someone who works 40 hours a week need not be homeless. I don’t think a minimum wage job should necessarily provide one with a car and all the gadgets of modern life, but it should be enough for at least a small studio apartment, wholesome food, and modest clothes. We should also have some form of medical insurance for all. This is not a political aggenda; this is Catholic social teaching.
Jesus said to look at the lillies and sparrows and not worry about tomorrow because our Father knows what we need. For me, well-educated and not greedy, that’s easy. If I were working two full-time minimum wage jobs and became homeless it would be impossible.
Let’s all say a prayer for the homeless and another for the materialists who need to learn to share.