I grew up in Salt Lake and later lived in Pasadena and in San Diego. Now I live in Adelaide, Australia. I don’t know what it’s like in other major cities in Australia, and I hear there is more begging elsewhere, but here there are very few panhandlers. Plenty of buskers (street musicians who often put out a jar for donations) but not much actual begging. This is also a country with a fairly strong social safety net. I can’t help but think that the two facts–the relatively low numbers of panhandlers and significant financial assistance for the poor–are connected.

Why does the moral obligation to away when they do something that only harms themselves…? Facilitating a crime is still immoral.

If we want to be part of solutions for people’s troubled lives, we should to charitably invest in programs and real expertise which could help deal with the seriousness of the problems people face. Handing money out to panhandlers does not do that.

I feel good about it, not because I think I’m doing the right thing. I feel good about because I think I’m helping them. Now, I could be wrong. I might not actually be helping them. I might be making their situation worse. I might be discouraging them from choosing some other option. Right? I might be discouraging them from going to a more formal system of help. But my view is that the people I’m giving money to, the more tragic-looking ones–they either seem uneasy about having an interaction with, say, a non-profit or a government agency. And their lives are miserable. I feel bad for them. And I’m trying to do a very small amount to make their lives a little more pleasant.

The question then becomes whether doing this is perpetuating the problem rather than solving it. There is a strong case to be made that it perpetuates drug use, tent cities and ironically the public becoming more scared of homeless people. (Since it moves more of them onto the sidewalks with some becoming aggressive as well making large semi-permanent tent cities with disease, drug paraphernalia, violence, and damages the areas of the city in strong ways) Yet on the other hand, the basic humanity of helping these people is important.

I’ll fully confess my own view is to never give to panhandlers. Again that’s primarily due to my experience in the past of working with homeless. While I was volunteering people would come in offering jobs that paid better than I was making at the time. A lot of it is either drug addiction, mental illness, or enjoying the lifestyle. But I tend to think these people need help and panhandling is a way to avoid getting help. (Not to mention some people who simply abuse the charity of others)

Ed Kimball’s anecdote about his father seems worth mentioning here: “[Spencer W. Kimball’s] brother-in-law Henry Eyring once asked him how he dealt with the scripture in Mosiah about not denying the beggar. Acknowledging the difficulty in complying, Spencer smiled wryly as he said self-deprecatingly, ‘I always read fast when I get to those verses.'” King Benjamin’s exhortation makes us all uncomfortable, and I think it is supposed to.

“Too often, I find myself avoiding eye contact as I give beggars a dismissive wave.”

My tendency to do this weighs heavily on me, so when I have nothing on me to give (nor the time to purchase something), I try to make eye contact with the beggars or indigent that I pass, acknowledge them and share some kind words. When I’m with my children, I’ll tell my children to say hello, which never fails to bring a smile to these people’s faces.

I’ve been scolded so many times for doing what I thought were kind acts of service, but I don’t care. Critics gotta critique after all.

It’s nice when you can fill a very specific need like in Rachel’s story. And what a neat experience to grocery shop with her rather than simply handing her a bag of food. It takes a great deal of courage to handle that much awkwardness during such a lengthy exchange (at least, it would for me). Thank you for sharing.

My local community donates hundreds of food baskets at Christmas every year. It’s a great thought, a lot of people donate time and money to it, and it does some good, but it’s not the most effective way to get those who need help the things they really need. Many of the families that get food baskets are already receiving food assistance from the government and have plenty of food–but have other significant needs. Rachel’s example of actually speaking with someone and asking them what they need is a great example of a better way to do things. And of course, the human element is also crucial.

Acknowledging the humanity of other people is important. Call it a categorical imperative. But it is also risky, because it makes us vulnerable in our humaness as well.

It’s been a few years but I used to do volunteer work at the local soup kitchen and surprisingly (at least then) food wasn’t the big need. They had more than they needed as BYU gave most of their leftover cafeteria food to the soup kitchen. But they were often in very short supply of diapers and feminine hygiene products. As I said, ask though as the needs change.

Personally I’d not give to pan handlers at all as often you’re simply neglecting the others in the most need.

After that I realized that all the nickels and dimes (or $20, in the case of the aforementioned man who scammed me, since I’d just gone to the ATM it was the smallest I had) that I’d given to panhandlers over the years may or may not have been going to people in need. I studied the issue a bit and every professional I talked to who worked with the homeless said you should not give to panhandlers. Many of these people have substance abuse issues and are in programs that require them to meet certain conditions to keep getting help. By giving them money or food you’re enabling them to circumvent the requirements of their program which only hurts them in the long run. I decided that if I give to a well-established charity the likelihood is that much greater it’s going to someone in need.

Carry cards with the contact information for a shelter in your city that you donate to. If asked for money or food, give the card. They may try to hit you up for a ride to the shelter as well, I’m told that it’s better if they make their own way.

I’ve had similar experiences to both ACW and Rachel. I’ve had guys say “I don’t want that, I want money.” I’ve had a guy in a jumpsuit (the kind you wear in methadone rehab in Harlem) hug me, weeping for a small gift of groceries, just some fruit, a juice, and few carbs. It’s a dance, and sometimes you step on toes or have your toes stepped on, but it’s important to keep dancing. Good for you for listening to King Ben. You bought groceries for Jesus.