Having been homeless,I would give them the change.Then again I hve compassion.

I usually give em some change.

what I hate seeing is the same people out panhandling the same corner every weekend. They park in a lot and walk over to the exit off the highway - bet they make more than me!!

If we see homeless people in the cities we buy a few extra things from McDonald's or take out place and hand them out. We were recently in Washington DC and the stark contrast of homeless vets living in the subway under the Veterans Administration building breaks your heart!!


<--------notice the quote on the Veterans's Administration Building!!

First off.

I'd like to say congratulations to peccy. No doubt it was a matter of time you would hit on a topic that would make weight to carry it to the end.

Second. I am an Alcoholic. I have been homeless. I have seen stuff that would make you doubt I lived in America, when it happened. Seen people die. Up close and very personal.

And.. finally? Yup.. I made the choice.

I made the choice to live in the gutter. I made the choice to scare the f@ck out of everyone I know. Made the choice to alienate them.... Forced them to leave me to die, in that gutter. That gutter? I was witness to several friends and strangers die in.

Nope.. I was not insane. Yes.. by some approximations.. I have a disease. At some point I chose that disease.

The fact is? It showed me much. About my path. Who I am. What I am doing here.

It showed me humility. Just how human I am.
I would not trade that experience for anything.

I lost everything. Not just somethings.. Everything. I had no place to go.. No place to get any respite. I was good at surviving in wilderness, new what that took. In the city? I was hamstrung.
I slept in doorways.. Got my food out of dumpsters. Got cash for bottles.

Never begged. Never associated with anyone in any of the camps. I kept to myself...

Occasionally... Someone would approach me and offer me something. A coupon for a burger, or some money... I would take it. They had some encouraging words to go with it too. Kind words..

I remember all the faces to this day. All those nameless people who really had something to say to me. All those people who had faith. True faith.
The rest? Who just threw some coins at me? I'd like to think they were just one step away from me.


Those days? Are far away from me. I will honestly cherish those days. If only to remember where I don't want to go again.... and to help people from going there in the first place.
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I met several people from several classes while there. I also worked for three years after that, in a mission to help.

I met people who were caught. But knew how to trust.. to get out.
I met those that were caught..but wrapped up in being scared. That took more work.
I met those that were sick... and could not get out.
I met those that were sick.. but still had choices.. and all it took was someone who could tell them to 'STOP'.
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The fact is?
I am very good at what I do. I am fairly successful and have always been ,when I've decided to do it....
Yet.. if someone offered me a position at helping those.. any of them?


I would do it.. in a heartbeat.
I would also take a hard line... Just as much as lilith does.
We may not agree on much, about this... But on a premise? How to deal? We agree.

i would laugh..i rarely have change...and i've done it before

That'll teach me.. I killed the thread!

I would always help if I'm able

That was a great, honest and touching post. It made alot of people sit back and think.

We need more people like you in the world

For real,,,I give anyone who asks a buck....
Why? Because if their REAL,,they will use it, and if NOT, hey, im out a buck,so what!!
But I sleep better later that night as I know I could have maybe HELPED..

And to ask,,,,,is as bad as one can be,,unless they are cons, and WE know what THEY look like....