Comments on: Giving to the Homeless http://www.joetaxpayer.com/giving-to-homeless/ Financial Commentary For The Average Joe Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:56:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Black Coffee: My Favorite Blogs, Money News and Opinions #27 http://www.joetaxpayer.com/giving-to-homeless/comment-page-1/#comment-13678 Black Coffee: My Favorite Blogs, Money News and Opinions #27 Fri, 25 Dec 2009 18:52:43 +0000 http://www.joetaxpayer.com/?p=2364#comment-13678 [...] Taxpayer… On Wednesday, Joe wrote about a trip he has planned to NYC.  Joe was saying how he likes to give money to the homeless because, like most people, it makes him feel good.  Hey, I completely understand and I think the [...] [...] Taxpayer… On Wednesday, Joe wrote about a trip he has planned to NYC.  Joe was saying how he likes to give money to the homeless because, like most people, it makes him feel good.  Hey, I completely understand and I think the [...]

]]> By: JOE http://www.joetaxpayer.com/giving-to-homeless/comment-page-1/#comment-13617 JOE Thu, 24 Dec 2009 02:04:22 +0000 http://www.joetaxpayer.com/?p=2364#comment-13617 No rocks, my friend. I hope the story of the two men of the cloth illustrated this is not a simple debate. There is no right or wrong. The amount we give to organized Schedule A charities is just shy of $10K/yr. Over the course of a year, fewer than 100 singles given to individuals. I admit that it's as much about me as it is them. I feel better not walking by a fellow human being with his hand out. Happy Holidays to you and yours. No rocks, my friend. I hope the story of the two men of the cloth illustrated this is not a simple debate. There is no right or wrong. The amount we give to organized Schedule A charities is just shy of $10K/yr. Over the course of a year, fewer than 100 singles given to individuals. I admit that it’s as much about me as it is them. I feel better not walking by a fellow human being with his hand out.
Happy Holidays to you and yours.

]]> By: Len Penzo http://www.joetaxpayer.com/giving-to-homeless/comment-page-1/#comment-13616 Len Penzo Thu, 24 Dec 2009 01:26:38 +0000 http://www.joetaxpayer.com/?p=2364#comment-13616 I do contribute freely to every street corner musician I see and, like EoW, the bell ringers too. Oh, and the girl scouts. But I never give money to beggars on the street corner. Ever. I do buy them lunch or dinner when I think they really are down on their luck. That being said... I'm sorry, but I just do not see how giving the average beggar a handout as being helpful in any meaningful way. Call me a heartless SOB, but it is my opinion that giving beggars money is actually doing them - and society as a whole - a big disservice. Instead, I think that money would be better spent going to the local homeless shelter. "You ARE a heartless SOB, Len." If you say so. But to me, there is no need for anybody capable of standing on some street corner on their own two feet to beg for money with a cup in their hand - my God, this is the United States of America, the greatest country on earth. The land of opportunity. Have a little self-respect. Despite the tough economy, there are entry level jobs everywhere. This ain't Bangladesh. Get a frappin' job, even if it is at the local hot dog stand. "But, Len, you can't live in NYC on minimum wage." Well, then move to some place where the cost of living is cheaper. If you have to, hitchhike. I've got my shield up. Let the rock throwing begin... Len Len Penzo dot Com I do contribute freely to every street corner musician I see and, like EoW, the bell ringers too. Oh, and the girl scouts. But I never give money to beggars on the street corner. Ever. I do buy them lunch or dinner when I think they really are down on their luck.

That being said…

I’m sorry, but I just do not see how giving the average beggar a handout as being helpful in any meaningful way. Call me a heartless SOB, but it is my opinion that giving beggars money is actually doing them – and society as a whole – a big disservice.

Instead, I think that money would be better spent going to the local homeless shelter.

“You ARE a heartless SOB, Len.”

If you say so. But to me, there is no need for anybody capable of standing on some street corner on their own two feet to beg for money with a cup in their hand – my God, this is the United States of America, the greatest country on earth. The land of opportunity. Have a little self-respect. Despite the tough economy, there are entry level jobs everywhere. This ain’t Bangladesh.

Get a frappin’ job, even if it is at the local hot dog stand. “But, Len, you can’t live in NYC on minimum wage.”

Well, then move to some place where the cost of living is cheaper.

If you have to, hitchhike.

I’ve got my shield up. Let the rock throwing begin…

Len
Len Penzo dot Com

]]> By: JOE http://www.joetaxpayer.com/giving-to-homeless/comment-page-1/#comment-13608 JOE Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:53:06 +0000 http://www.joetaxpayer.com/?p=2364#comment-13608 It varies depending on time of year and street, but I'm sure we'll meet quite a few. Weather should at least be in 30s-40s, not the single digits like just before New Year a year back. It varies depending on time of year and street, but I’m sure we’ll meet quite a few. Weather should at least be in 30s-40s, not the single digits like just before New Year a year back.

]]> By: Jackie http://www.joetaxpayer.com/giving-to-homeless/comment-page-1/#comment-13605 Jackie Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:00:01 +0000 http://www.joetaxpayer.com/?p=2364#comment-13605 I like the idea of bringing singles ahead of time and planning to give to the homeless. I rarely do, but not because I don't want them to potentially do something "inappropriate" with the money. I just pretty much never have cash on me. I have given food I had with me on my way home though, and I still need to give out the money I've been carrying around for a few weeks now for that purpose. As a side note, I was just in NYC and didn't see many homeless except in the subways and train stations. Maybe it was the snow. I like the idea of bringing singles ahead of time and planning to give to the homeless. I rarely do, but not because I don’t want them to potentially do something “inappropriate” with the money. I just pretty much never have cash on me. I have given food I had with me on my way home though, and I still need to give out the money I’ve been carrying around for a few weeks now for that purpose.

As a side note, I was just in NYC and didn’t see many homeless except in the subways and train stations. Maybe it was the snow.

]]> By: JOE http://www.joetaxpayer.com/giving-to-homeless/comment-page-1/#comment-13576 JOE Wed, 23 Dec 2009 05:25:10 +0000 http://www.joetaxpayer.com/?p=2364#comment-13576 Thank you for visiting and for the kind words. Happy Holidays to you as well. Thank you for visiting and for the kind words. Happy Holidays to you as well.

]]> By: Evolution Of Wealth http://www.joetaxpayer.com/giving-to-homeless/comment-page-1/#comment-13575 Evolution Of Wealth Wed, 23 Dec 2009 05:06:25 +0000 http://www.joetaxpayer.com/?p=2364#comment-13575 I think you have a great perspective on this. I think a lot of people lose that. I don't see a lot of homeless people where I am but I do always try to give to the bell. You all know what I mean, the ringing bell outside the grocery store. I saw an interesting post on this a few weeks ago, <a href="http://cjbowker.com/2009/12/we-all-need-a-bell/" rel="nofollow">We All Need a Bell</a>. Happy Holidays! I think you have a great perspective on this. I think a lot of people lose that. I don’t see a lot of homeless people where I am but I do always try to give to the bell. You all know what I mean, the ringing bell outside the grocery store. I saw an interesting post on this a few weeks ago, We All Need a Bell.

Happy Holidays!

]]> By: JOE http://www.joetaxpayer.com/giving-to-homeless/comment-page-1/#comment-13554 JOE Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:34:24 +0000 http://www.joetaxpayer.com/?p=2364#comment-13554 Hey Jason, thanks for visiting. Yours was one of the posts that inspired me to write one of my own. Hey Jason, thanks for visiting. Yours was one of the posts that inspired me to write one of my own.

]]> By: Jason @ RedeemingRiches http://www.joetaxpayer.com/giving-to-homeless/comment-page-1/#comment-13551 Jason @ RedeemingRiches Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:01:52 +0000 http://www.joetaxpayer.com/?p=2364#comment-13551 I love this topic! This is one that I often think about even though I live and work in a suburban area and have very little interaction with homeless. I really believe we have to have a heart of humility when we approach these situations. It's easy to look down on them or judge them, but that shouldn't be the case. I did a post on this a while back called <a href="http://www.redeemingriches.com/2009/08/05/should-you-give-money-to-a-homeless-person/" rel="nofollow">Should You Give Money to a Homeless Person</a> and I had a few comments come in that talked about giving McDonald's or some other restaurant gift cards instead of cash just in case they'd buy alcohol etc. I thought that was a great idea! Bottom line though is that seeing them as a person with a soul and a story goes a long way to aid us in our humility as we help them. I love this topic! This is one that I often think about even though I live and work in a suburban area and have very little interaction with homeless. I really believe we have to have a heart of humility when we approach these situations.

It’s easy to look down on them or judge them, but that shouldn’t be the case.

I did a post on this a while back called Should You Give Money to a Homeless Person and I had a few comments come in that talked about giving McDonald’s or some other restaurant gift cards instead of cash just in case they’d buy alcohol etc. I thought that was a great idea!

Bottom line though is that seeing them as a person with a soul and a story goes a long way to aid us in our humility as we help them.

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