London council advising not to give money to beggars

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/201...ster-advises-not-to-give-money_n_8020332.html

I wonder how you feel about this. At first I was indignant since I felt this was on intrustion on how I choose to spend my money. I do give money to 'beggars' i.e. those that appear homeless. Whilst I concede that this can be hit and miss with regards to those that are truly homeless and those that pose as such, nevertheless I use my discretion and intuition and so sometimes I refrain from this and sometimes my heart tells me to give. (I favour buying them a hot drink or something to eat primarily and often ask them what they would like).

I then listened to a radio phone in on this subject and now my indignation has softened and I can see better the reason for this advice. A spokesman involved with the homeless did disclose that there have, indeed, been cases where the homeless have used the money to spend on drugs and subsequently they have died in an overdose. I understand that it is not like they were trying to commit suicide but more a case of the strength of street drugs being hit and miss.

I do not wish to 'contribute' to that situation, so I find myself in a bit of a quandary. Can the odd £1 lead to this drug overdose situation or is it a cumulative effect, i.e. if there have been others like me giving the same person enough for this drug scenario to take place?

 

When lived in Scotland there were a few beggars in places like Edinburgh . We used to buy a sandwich or a pastie and a soup or cup of coffee and hand it to them rather than just walk by.
Sad fact is they didn't want that they wanted money. There are people from the EU whose trade is begging. They park their cars walk to the places they know will net them decent coin and ply their trade.. Not nice but its a fact

 

I was homeless about 4 decades ago but it is a whole different scenario now. Notably more Dickensian, rife but - on the plus side - also the access to free food is so much better. There are free food outlets and now Tesco give unsold food to homeless charities!

 

I did give at one point, but not now, as you can't tell who is genuine these days and i don't give to most charities either for the same reason

 

That's interesting...you dispute whether some charities are genuine? Do you mean in terms of whether the money goes to where it should?

I think charities could be better managed, i.e. less persistent/pushy (although, to some extent, I understand their tactics). Having made a donation to Shelter one year, I was put off by their constant mailing asking for donations (this after I told them not to send me anything further). It can be counter-productive and put people off the very thing they are wanting to encourage!

 

I just don't trust many people any more, on the news it just seems that there's lots of people fiddling and up to no good in any company, ie MP's expenses

I worked very hard for my money and i would like it to go to wear it is most needed, i will only give to a charitie if i trust that charitie 100%

 

I once had a friend who tried to con me out of some money, when i was 100% sure what he was up to i shut the door and he couldn't unstand why , i said " your trying to con me" he said "it's better to be con'd by some one you know that some one you don't"

 

How appalling...still, there are a lot of good apples around. I wouldn't be inclined to throw the baby out with the bath water, so to speak.

 

Mrs Scrungee used to always carry a few tea bags with her around Oxford to give the beggars asking for "Something for a cup of tea", you just couldn't believe how ungrateful they were!