5 Reasons I give money to the homeless and you might not agree, but I challenge you to continue reading.
This is a topic that is very close to my heart and one that completely changed the way I view homelessness overall. When you see a homeless person, do you give them money, or do you simply walk past them and ignore them? Here are 5 reasons I give money to the homeless, without hesitation.
Many years ago, I wouldn’t give my hard earned money to a homeless person. I didn’t know if they were going to use that money for booze or drugs. I mean seriously, how would I know that the money I gave them would actually help them?
My thought was this, go to a shelter and get help! That’s what they are for, right? You are in this situation from your own doing. Your reasons for not giving money to the homeless is your business, and I am not here to pass judgment on you either.
I am here to give my reasons I give to the homeless and will continue doing so in the future.
Giving money to a homeless person will not increase the epidemic
When I am out and about, and I see a homeless person, and I have cash available or change, I give it out. The amount of money and time I have given to the homeless hasn’t affected the numbers of homeless living in my area.
How do I know? Well, let's see, I don’t recall the last time I have been bombarded with homeless asking me for money because I gave a dollar or two to one about two months ago.
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I give my money with good intentions
When I give money, whether it's a charity or someone in need, I give the money with good intentions that it will benefit them. I can’t think and wonder how much of my money will go to the CEO salary, expenses for running the charity operation, or if that individual will use my money to help him or not.
When I give my money to the homeless, they can use it as they please. It is none of my business. If it helps them get something to drink during the hot weather month, good. I give my money with the intention that it will help someone. Whether that person will not use it according to my good intentions, well, that’s on them. The same goes for charities. I give money with the right intentions that it is going to help someone in need.
Not every homeless person is a crook
I can’t judge every homeless person because of some being bad apples. Just like in many other circ*mstances, there are honest people, and there are bad people. If I think that everyone I meet is a bad guy, then I will be in big trouble.
I don’t know their story.
I don’t know their story.Everyone has their own story. Some have mental illnesses, and if you have dealt with people who have a mental illness, you see where I’m coming from. The way this country handles mental illness needs significant improvement. When someone has a mental illness, it is hard to help them. It is challenging.
What if the person is a war vet? What if this is someones loved one who the family reported missing? What if they lost their home to a tragedy? The individual stories are endless.
Homeless shelters are not open for everyone.
I thought that if you were homeless and you didn’t go to the shelter, then too bad. The reality is that homeless shelters are not as easy or simple to get into. One can’t just walk in and say I’m here to stay in the shelter.
Some shelters don’t have space. Other have priorities, so if there’s a family, those will be taken in first. Others required paperwork and agreements, and when you are dealing with mental illness homeless, giving up rights don’t come easy.
I want to say that I don’t know how every shelter in the country runs. I am speaking from experience.
My Story
How do you know this won’t happen to you? In 2007, I lost my home to a house fire. I was homeless in matters of minutes. Though I am thankful to the Red Cross for helping us out, we were only allowed three days stay in a motel.
Thanks to my community and neighbors, I was lucky enough to have a place to stay until our home was re-built again. I was lucky! We were lucky. No cash, no shoes. I had nothing. Many other people are not so lucky, nor blessed with having amazing people to help them like I was.
In 2014, a close family member was homeless due to mental illness. The hardest thing to ever experience. Finding her a shelter was difficult and hard and I was so angry at the system, but I learned so much about it and how wrong I was about homeless people. It simply is just sad. To me, personally, this was a devastating blow and every day I think of her. Thank God we all pulled together and got her a place to stay. For how long? Who knows.
I am telling you my reasons why I give money to the homeless and why I will continue to give my money, whenever I can in the future.
I am not saying I will not give to charity because I do but experiencing what I have experienced in my heart, I think this is the right thing to do for me. Granted, I live in a small town. I don’t hunt down homeless to give them money. I know that a dollar can’t even get them something to drink where I live, but I am trying.
Knowing all this, I know I am helping them out. Everyone gives differently, and I encourage you to give. The way you give is your business, my friend; I'm not here to judge. If you don’t give money to the homeless, I will still love you and understand. 😀
