I will leave it at people can, if they have the means and want to. You’re never obligated, even if someone is using aggressive panhandling tactics.

I play pinball, so I’m one of the disappearing folks that often has a little bit of pocket change left over. If I see someone panhandling and I am feeling generous, I’ll share some. If I don’t have any, am still feeling generous, and they’re outside of somewhere serving food, I’ll ask if they want something. Usually people say yes, sometimes they say no. Never buy something with the specific intent to give it to a panhandler without asking them first - it’s rude to presume. If you legit have something extra that you didn’t expect that is fair game to offer - in those circumstances I always add “If you don’t want it, that’s cool” to make it clear I’m not forcing it on them/I won’t think they’re rude for not taking it.

If I’m not feeling generous, I don’t give anything.

Whatever anyone does with anything I gift them is their business. It’s fucking rough out there.

In this world of digital payments, I don’t have cash on me. When I do, I give a little here and there and its usually met with thanks.

I wish there was an easier way give 50p or something digitally by tapping my card against a reader of theirs, but the setup cost and the chance of misuse is high

It’s better to buy them food or give them homeless care packs. There are good lists online of things you can give to homeless folks that will help them a lot, socks are a main staple.

I give all three depending on the scenario. I almost never have cash on me, so I don’t hand out money very often just because of that.

It’s important to show them compassion and care. Homeless people are often treated like trash by most people. Saying a kind word to them and giving them a small gift might be the only instance of kindness they experience for days, possibly weeks.

donate to local nonprofits

Here is the reality:

The person is going to use money, whether it is yours or someone else’s, to buy whatever it is that they feel is the best use of that money.

Disconnect yourself from any ideas of what the money is going to be used for, and just understand that it will be used to reduce their suffering. If that is a satisfactory use of the money that you give them, then give them the money. Consider, at the same time, putting money aside to donate to local causes, some of whom may be helping the homeless.

Above all though, your money is somewhat valuable, but nowhere near as valuable as your time and effort. Volunteering at these same local causes is even more valuable than whatever spare pocket change.

Just don’t turn into a “but they’re going to buy drugs with it!” person

I do. I get the “but they’re just gonna buy drugs!” thing, let’s be honest: I was gonna spend it on that, anyways.

If a 40 is what they need, right now, to numb the pain of existence, in this moment, why not?

A good charity would be able to get the most out of your money. At least you know the chances of your $20 turning into drugs, alcohol, or gambling is minimal that way. Making money takes time and effort, and you owe it to yourself to see it spent wisely.

There’s a lot about direct giving here, but consider donating to local shelters instead. Especially in the winter. The more they have for supporting bus fare in and out of town or food, being sheltered is a good thing. And the local shelter has very little overhead compared to charities.

Would I rather live in a world where sometimes people take advantage of kindness or a world where nobody helps anyone in need? I’ll take the former.

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Yes.

Yes, they might use it for drugs or alcohol, that’s fine, it’s as important as food sometimes.

Non profits and charities are great in theory, but most redirect less than 10% of what they receive towards the homeless look at LA’s projects as the most glaring example, it “takes” 10 million+ per single housing unit for temporary housing. Not due to cost, but simply corruption at every level. From the non profits involved to the government itself.

Giving directly to the homeless skips all that.

Or to put it another way, you can’t fix the problem or treat symptoms by continuing to give money to the cause of the problem. Giving directly at least treats the symptom.

I don’t give money to panhandlers because I don’t like being solicited. (Also why I don’t buy things at my door, or via telemarketing) however I do support the idea of programs distributing funds directly to those in need.

You are sponsoring the RICH and the GOVERMENT to fuck up the miniority part of society.

Dont do it. Let’s government do their job. You already do your share: Your TAX and your community work.

I really can’t see a downside. If they seem to be obviously homeless or they’re actively asking for help, they probably need it. Though it’s extremely unlikely that your meager contribution will be the change that suddenly allows them to magically overcome poverty and become middle class home owners with well paying jobs, that doesn’t really make them need it any less. Whatever they use the money on, it’s going to be what they need in the immediate term, be it drugs or food or anything really and unlike others this is the only way they can really get that money so they do need people to occasionally part with it. You’d only give it to them because you had it spare anyway and it’s not going to make them more homeless than they already were. If the concern is that it’s not addressing the root personal problems that put them individually on the street or the root social problems that put many on the streets, that’s completely true but if you’re serious about doing that you’re going to need more than the couple of bucks in your pocket anyway. That’s going to be concerted massive political will and financial effort and several people’s lifetimes worth of work all at the same time, besides you can always involve yourself in some way in such efforts and hand over spare change. The only times I can really think of where it makes sense not to give directly are: you can’t afford to do it, the physical circumstances of handing it over are dangerous/impractical, you don’t care about homeless people or other people in general or you subscribe to some nasty Malthusian ideas and think yourself somehow benevolent for condemning people to destitution as some kind of “cruel to be kind” doctrine in which case you’re unlikely to have given this a lot of thought anyway and don’t really face much of a dilemma.

Do you think the best way to help homeless people is to give them money directly, or donate it to organizations that help them? Not sure if there’s a right answer.