I walked downtown and ate lunch at a fast food restaurant today with a great view of an intersection with lots of foot traffic. Most of the foot traffic appear to be middle class and better socioeconomically .

There was a panhandler outside the restaurant, not near the door. He wasn't pressuring or even saying anything to anyone, just holding a cup. He was clearly poor and quite possibly homeless.

I would venture to guess 300+ people walked within 15 ft of him in 30 minutes. Most avoided him like the plague. One guy approached him , shook hands, and spoke with him in what appeared to be an encouraging manner for maybe a minute. Another walked by and dropped some change in the cup with no verbal exchange at all. The rest did not acknowledge his presence, looked away, and changed their walking path to avoid him as soon as they realized what was going on.

What is the right approach to someone clearly in need? Giving food is nice but not always possible. I understand some of these folks will use money for drugs or alcohol.

I know you don't want to encourage panhandling but then again something tells me that I should help someone whose needs are not being met and are not as financially blessed.

I left the restaurant, asked him what he was collecting for to which he replied "just need some money in my pocket". I gave him a buck and said "God Bless You". He returned the "God Bless You" and I moved on.

Looking for opinions on the right things to do and say as a Christian. IMO, one on one contact probably has more impact on folks than letting charities handle it exclusively.

That's a good question. I think those that look down upon him, avoided him like the plague as you said, are a-holes. I would like to say I would take the time to have an exchange, but I'm not sure I would every time. Depends on the time and place.

Your one statement about Christians, however, was what prompted my reply. I would bet that many of those folks that "avoided him like the plague" consider themselves Christians. I don't like the connotation that simply being a Christian makes one more generous (I know you weren't neccessarily making that assersion). I worked for an ordained minister whom everyone in town believed to be one of the most holy men in town. Reality was that he was simply an a-hole. His Chrisitanity, while sincere in his faith, was a mask for his true self. I have a close friend that waited tables in college and said her worst customers were Christians because many times they would leave slips of paper with scripture as tips.

I certainly don't want to sound like I'm just bashing Chrisitans, because ignorance and arrogance knows no bounds.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you

Two things to add.

One, the guy that stopped and spoke in an encouraging manner to the panhandler had a Christian Tshirt on. I presumed he was speaking to the man about Jesus and God becasue of the Tshirt but don't know that for a fact since I could not hear their exchange. I did not see if he gave him money or not, not that it matters.

Two, I didn't mean to suggest you have to be a Christian to have generosity. I was thinking the same thing you wrote while I was watching. Many of those folks who avoided the panhandler probably are Christians. I have certainly done the same thing in the past. Because I am a Christian struggling with what the best approach is in this situation, I was asking other Christians for their opinion.

Reminds me of Jesus's story of the good Samaritan: while the Holy Pharaisee ignores the helpless victim , it is the "reviled idolator" Samaritan who does the Godly thing.

Interesting question. I had a bad experience one time when we ended up giving a person, who said they need gas money, 20.00. I then saw them not 1 hour later getting their liquor. Ever since then, if in that situation, I try to get them to go with me to the nearest gas station and I will buy them a tank full. If they need immediate gas I take out my gas can and offer to fill it so they can meet me at the gas station. If you have a panhandler who is just sitting ther then if possible buying the guy something to eat is wonderful, or even offering to help out his family if they have one. If not possible, giving a buck is what I do. You are really not going to be able to do much more. My wife worked with homeless people in corpus christi for 3 years. She volunteered at the local mission. She ended up knowing every guy on every corner of the city. She told me which ones to give to and which ones not to. It was unfortunate, but most were just buying drugs. Not just booze. Their were a few, however, that were just using the money to live. There were a couple guys that actually set aside money for their dogs. They would take the dog to the vet for their shots and checkups. Then they would buy food and showers with the rest.

One of the worst problems occured when the state cut funding for the mental health care instituions. We ended up putting out thousands of mentally ill patients into the streets with no ability to take care of themselves. They end up self-medicating with alcohol/drugs. So many of the panhandlers you see are mentally ill people with no way to help themselves. Unfortunately there is no way to know which those are and which ones just want their fix. All in all it is a very sad situation.

This is a tough one. In addition to telling us to love our neighbors and be generous, the Bible also teaches that "if a man doesn't work, he shouldn't eat."

It is tough for us to do what Jesus said to do in Matthew 5:42: Give to him who begs from you, and do not refuse him who would borrow from you.
Easy enough to understand our charge...hard to do.

If they have a sign that said "I need money for beer" I always give them some cash.

if i was homeless, i'd want to be drunk too.

http://www.searchproject.org

Their have been several times in the past where I have made a gesture to help panhandlers.

First case was when I was living in Big Spring. I had noticed a guy hanging around the office,looking in trash cans, and even standing on the corner with his will work for food sign. One day I asked if he would like to earn a little money like he said. He agreed did the job and got paid. Over the next several months I increased what I had him doing, no big jobs but it was food money. I eventually found him an old store room to live in, we got him a cot. I left the area not long after that but I found out later he had finally worked his way up to an appartment and was still doing odd jobs for people. This is a rare story but it can happen.

Another :I was approached by a woman in a Home depot parking lot not long ago. She stated that she and her husband were on their way through Austin. Their car had broken down and they needed to find a room for the night and was asking for help. I knew her story could be true of false, probably the later. I made a contribution to her fund with the following statement. "I dont know if what you are telling is the truth but I am making a good faith gesture to help you. If you are lying the concequenses of your deception are on your conscience." She took my money and walked away.

Another day I was at the corner of Parmer and I-35. A panhandler was standing in the street yelling at passers by, giving some theM bird, at one point laying down in the street and having a fit. I called the police on that one. Ironic thing is I saw him again last week only he had relocated to about a mile from my house. maybe I should have kept on driving.

To end this it is a case by case thing. You feel like a fool to be taken advantage of, but If what Jesus said "that what you do for the lesser of these you do unto me ( or something like that)maybe it makes an impression on the person you are helping and makes God smile too.

Give him $5, tell him about Jesus, and then pray for him. If there is a homeless shelter somewhere, then either give him a ride, or at least tell him about it.

I've been taken by these people before concerning "gas money". After I gave them the money, I circled the block and saw them asking other people for "gas money".

I give them a beer, seriously that's what they want and what gives there otherwise miserably and painful existience some pleasure.

What a great thread. I have wobbled back and forth on this for a long time. I had the same question it seems most of you have, "Will giving money help this persons condition, or make it worse?"

I think the parable of the Good Samaritan wins out over any argument. I think I will try to give unless the person is clearly being manipulative (I saw a recent sign that said "At least smile.", which I thought was definitely crafted to manipulate), appears of sound mind and health, or seems to be faking an illness or disability.

I always give

I am fortunate in life and if someone wants money to buy a beer because that is all he has in life, so be it.

I do however, usually have snackables in my car when I am in a big city (Like Houston) and I give them some of that as well.

There was the one legged Vet at Willowbrook Mall in Houston and we always get him a meal and give him 5 dollars.

The best part is when you give him money, it embarasses other people around you, so they do the same.

I have had to adopt a no give policy for homeless people. Reason - I'd go broke with the number of panhandlers that live the San Francisco Bay Area.

Lived in downtown Palo Alto and you can't walk a block without running into several. They are ALWAYS there and some of them are very aggressive. No matter how much you give them, they're still going to be there.

I will give to established charities, flop-houses, ministries, etc. and volunteer at food banks etc., but handing out money only encourages even more of these people to show up.

Please do not misunderstand my post. I believe in giving to those in need. I happened to have an advantage when my wife knew who to give to. Now I don't and I give as I said. Please do not withhold giving unless you know they are squandering the money. We never know why they are where they are. Until we have walked in their shoes we cannot understand.