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Law forbids it. If you are concerned that they might spent their money of drugs/alcohol, then you should invite them with you to the store/restaurant and buy th
by malkia 11y ago
Law forbids it. If you are concerned that they might spent their money of drugs/alcohol, then you should invite them with you to the store/restaurant and buy them what they want.
We were with my family at a very cool Greek Restaurant (Papa Cristo's in Los Angeles), and I went outside and saw someone without shoes with hat, that looked he walked quite the distance - not homeless, but more looked like recent immigrant, barely spoke english - so I invited him in, and let him and helped him order what he wanted, then asked him does he has place to stay, and he said that he's walking to his sister. I didn't asked anymore as that was not my point.
The thing is, it's very easy to help someone, and we do it, or at least I, because my central nervous system feels good after that - I'm atheist, don't believe in karma, but I like this feeling. I'm actually being egoist about it. Not sure how we as humans developed it, and recently read some articles that dog might exhibit the same behavior, but definitely I don't see the point of not helping someone, if you can. Humans have been helping each other not only recently (as in thousands of years), but there are fossil records of our ancestor helping their own, where people clearly with disabilities (born, or later broken arm, teeth, etc.) were being helped, as the findings show that they were able to live much longer compared to if they were not helped.
And sometimes I won't help them. There is a guy, that had a very exciting story of him finding a new job and wife, and I always helped him, but then understood it's a lie. I'm a bit of a introvert when comes to such situations, and instead of confronting him, I just decide to avoid. I just don't know how to judge people fallen into such situations.
- dostick 11y agoThat's a myth. You absolutely can donate food and there's no any law forbidding or giving you any legal consequences. Stupid myth that gets tons of food wasted every day. Check out the recent John Oliver piece about it, http://youtu.be/i8xwLWb0lLY http://youtu.be/i8xwLWb0lLY
- morgante 11y ago> Law forbids it. If you're going to cite "the law" I'd ask you to point to a specific law. I did a quick Google search and apparently some smaller municipalities have bans on feeding the homeless, but those bans seem to be targeted primarily at unlicensed soup kitchens and such. I'm not sure how you would even devise a law which makes it possible to forbid giving the homeless your leftovers while not simultaneously making it illegal to share a candy bar with a friend. Until you present some actual evidence of this supposed law, I'll continue to feed the homeless.
- hackuser 11y ago> Law forbids it. I believe some cities do have ordinances against giving food to the homeless. I'd be very surprised if they are enforced. Even if they are, here's a simple solution: How do you know who is homeless? Simply don't ask about their living accomodations.
- jmspring 11y agoYou will quickly learn that many of those panhandling in urban areas will not take you up on the offer for a mean. They want the dollars for their habit. Happens all the time here in Santa Cruz. Offer leftovers, no. Offer to buy food, no. In the discussion around homelessness, there are individuals that are on a self-destructive path involving drugs and until they want to change, they won't. The catalyst will vary, but often requires hitting rock bottom.
- hackuser 11y agoI hear this story a lot but it has never been my experience; I've provided many meals to people who've wanted them (I can't say they were homeless, but it looked that way), and I've been asked for more. Could you provide any data or research to back it up? I'm concerned because so many myths, such as the 'welfare queen', are spread to undermine social welfare programs and, at the same time, cynically denigrate the weakest in our society. (I understand that might not be your intent, and you could simply be reporting what you've seen.)
- groby_b 11y agoOdd. I hear a lot of people claiming this. And yet I've never seen a homeless person in L.A. turn down food. They're so grateful for it, it makes you feel ashamed that it actually didn't matter to you to give that food. I'm curious: Is that personal experience, or are you stating something friends told you?
- jmspring 11y agoIt is something I've personally experienced here in Santa Cruz. Maybe other places, it is different. But, downtown as well as a regular crew along Ocean St as you come into town, happens with regularity.