Homeless people outside shops asking for money

[tiger ranks]

On visiting shops on lordship lane outside there seems to be a few homeless people asking for spare change.

do they live in dulwich not being funny towards homeless people its a general concern

[benjaminty]

they do yes

[AcedOut]

Never never never give these people money. If everyone sticks to this principle, they will have to move somewhere else.

I know this seems harsh, but I'd rather give to the charities that deal with homeless people who are better judged to help the right people that I am.

[JenSpen]

There's a guy selling the Big ISsue who I am more than happy to help out.

[MadWorld74]

from past experience the cash you give doesn't go towards food, but drugs and booze.

[Jah Lush]

If I was homeless I'd probably want to spend all my money on drugs and booze too.

[TillieTrotter]

Makes no difference there then Lushy;-)

[Jah Lush]

Damn right! No wonder I'm always skint.:-$

[Asset]

MadWorld74 Wrote:

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> from past experience the cash you give doesn't go

> towards food, but drugs and booze.

Didn't you ever buy any food?

[TillieTrotter]

lol

[Banksy]

Wow this thread is so ED I'm almost ashamed! "Homeless people" is a tricky one - some good, some not so good, same as everyone else put in a v. strange & transient situation. Year after year I find myself giving out fewer and fewer quids and "Good luck mate" pats on the back but salve my conscience with chariddy donations to orgs I know are doing good work. Just cover yourself for both da street with a good local chariddy and a global one for when you turn the telly on.

[Sue]

I know this sounds mean, but it seems odd to me that they only seem to appear on Friday and Saturday nights when people are coming out of the ED pubs, and sit outside Budgens (or sometimes Somerfield) - where are they the rest of the time?

Afraid I tend to agree that it's better to give money to charities helping the homeless rather than to individuals - I've been stung too many times with bad luck stories that in retrospect were obviously false :-$

[*Bob*]

Better get used them .. in increasing numbers.

Along with Foxtons, fights and vom outside pubs on the weekend, loft conversions everywhere, Ocado deliveries and the +Venture bar, they are continuing evidence of SE22's inevitable decline into The New Clapham.

[macroban]

Ocado has been making huge losses for the last eight years and was just about to break even when the recession hit. This service may not survive.

Foxtons sales are running at under 50% of the 2008 business plan. This service may not survice.

I would not be buying shares in London Scaffolding, which had a near monoploy for East Dulwich loft conversions.

[*Bob*]

Macroban.. you've excelled yourself.

Be sure to pop over in December and give our boy the hard facts about Father Christmas.

[Sue]

:))

[JohnL]

I've watched them - they pick their stuff up and go home about midnight :)

If a real recession hits I will have sympathy (as I do remember the early eighties)

Sue Wrote:

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> I know this sounds mean, but it seems odd to me

> that they only seem to appear on Friday and

> Saturday nights when people are coming out of the

> ED pubs, and sit outside Budgens (or sometimes

> Somerfield) - where are they the rest of the

> time?

>

> Afraid I tend to agree that it's better to give

> money to charities helping the homeless rather

> than to individuals - I've been stung too many

> times with bad luck stories that in retrospect

> were obviously false :-$

[HonaloochieB]

Jah Lush Wrote:

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> If I was homeless I'd probably want to spend all

> my money on drugs and booze too.

And this is a humanitarian and understanding point of view.

I always used to take the 'for the sake of feck, there go I' attitude and always donate a pound or whatever shrapnel I had to my name to any rough looking druggy/alchoholy looking gadgy who approached me, this was mainly around where I was kn ocking about, Brixton, Clapham etc. I still do occasionally but I now wonder whether I have the right to do it in other people's neighbourhoods as it certainly encourages people to come and beg and so attract the people who tend to prey on the homeless.

However donating food to a homeless person may salve a conscience inasmuch as you haven't contributed to his decline, physically, but as JL pointed out and I'd go along with, in a situation where a person is sleeping up an alleyway in a blanket of newspapers then a pound or two towards a little Special Brew oblivion/numbness could be the kindest contribution a fellow human being could make. Certainly on a short-term basis.

[Pierre]

Ask anyone who works for a homeless charity (a chum works for Shelter) and they'll recommend you don't give the homeless people money directly. As many people have said, it's more likely to be spent on drugs or alcohol; while that may be the sort of distraction you endorse, the connection between homelessness and mental illness is strong, as is the connection between mental illness and long-term drug or alcohol abuse. Contributions to homeless charities instead will be spent on rehabilitation programmes, shelter, food and health programmes for the homeless.

Just my 2p worth. God bless ya, etc.

: P

[HonaloochieB]

Pierre Wrote:

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> Ask anyone who works for a homeless charity (a

> chum works for Shelter) and they'll recommend you

> don't give the homeless people money directly. As

> many people have said, it's more likely to be

> spent on drugs or alcohol; while that may be the

> sort of distraction you endorse, the connection

> between homelessness and mental illness is strong,

> as is the connection between mental illness and

> long-term drug or alcohol abuse. Contributions to

> homeless charities instead will be spent on

> rehabilitation programmes, shelter, food and

> health programmes for the homeless.

>

> Just my 2p worth. God bless ya, etc.

>

> : P

Pierre

I don't disagree with you in the least. Of course donating money to a registered charity which will of course make a long term difference is the way to go in general. I know that people living on the street are there for many, various reasons, all of which you mentioned above.

But sometimes, just sometimes, when I can't or won't(which is all the time, if I'm truthfull) do anything for that individual a pound toward a can of something that blots out his reality - one which I can't possibly imagine or relate to -has at the very least helped for that short time.

I hope I make some sort of point, and my best wishes to your friend in Shelter.

[Keef]

Of course the charity workers recommend giving your cash to the charities, how else will they get paid? Selfish gits!

[*Bob*]

Keef Wrote:

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> Of course the charity workers recommend giving

> your cash to the charities, how else will they get

> paid? Selfish gits!

Yeah.. They're not a charity, you know.

[SteveT]

When I lived in herne hill a character sat next to the cash point outside LLoyds bank.

I learned that he had his own flat and car and was 'known' to the police.

He had been sitting outside until about midnight every day for weeks and then he disappeared.

I was told he was arrested.

I never gave him anything as I was not a user of that bank, cashpoint, or beggar.

[Jah Lush]

Beggars can't be choosers and if I was out on the street homeless and begging for money the little choice I'd probably able to give myself is...shall I spend this money I've begged on cheap skag or shall I seek oblivion in the old purple tin? Maybe I'm a soft touch but I usually try to give a little of what I can if I think they are genuine enough.

Oh! And SteveT I remember that bloke outside Lloyds in Herne Hill. Apparently he had quite a nice flat just up the road.

[Brendan]

If I feel like giving them something I normally buy some extra food while I?m in the shop and offer them that. It is always appreciated. I?ve offered a tin of beer out of my shopping bags too on the odd occasion. This has also always been appreciated.

Although I definitely have noticed an increase in the last few years, corresponding with LL becoming a destination on Friday nights.