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What would you do if a scraggly homeless person knocked on your door, and all he asked was for a sandwich, a bottle of water, a bath, and perhaps a beard trim?

I’ve actually skipped work just to help a homeless guy get his beard trimmed. Bought him pizza too. Kinda hard to get anywhere in life when you look like shit.

Be kind to the homeless, they just need a helping hand here and there.

What would you do?

intensely_human ,

I’d give it to him.

Themadbeagle ,

Had a dude come around in my neighborhood a few times. It was the middle of the summer and it can get above 100 where I live. Gave him pbj and some water because if was all I had at the time. He only asked for food and water. Haven’t seen him in a year now though.

BCsven ,

My mind initially skipped the p in pbj and it altered the story significantly

over_clox OP , (edited )

I hope the fella is doing okay these days. Thank you on his/her behalf for helping them in a brief time of need. Even if that’s all you could do, at least it’s something.

People like you help me restore a few points in faith in humanity. 👍

SeattleRain ,

I’d close the door on him then call the police. Y’all can virtue signal all you want but these homeless people can have mental illnesses and be dangerous.

over_clox OP ,

The police can be mental and dangerous themselves, what’s ya point?

SeattleRain ,

I’m not in danger. And sometimes cities like mine have special homeless units that aren’t cops.

todd_bonzalez ,

I’m trying to imagine, as someone who also lives in Seattle, how fucking terrified you must be if you feel compelled to call the cops on every homeless person you see.

They know your by name down at the station don’t they, lmao.

ACAB includes the weirdo neighborhood watch guy.

CanadaPlus ,

Yeah, this one is over the top.

over_clox OP ,

My late father would employ homeless people to rebuild wrecked motor homes. And amazingly enough, this tactic tended to work fairly well.

They weren’t allowed inside our house, except certain hours of the day in the evening. They were even welcome to drink some beer with us and shoot the shit during the later evening hours, just as long as they kept up work on the wrecked motorhome, which is where they slept.

I think they lived there while repairing it for like 6 months, and they were generally honest and legit. Never once stole a thing, they were just glad to have a place to stay during that time.

todd_bonzalez ,

It’s one thing to ask him to leave and close the door. But call the police? You need to touch some fucking grass. If anything you’d deserve a charge of filling a false police report for calling the cops because a guy asked you for a sandwich.

At least you aren’t afraid to tell everyone what a miserable snitch you are. Anyone I knew IRL said something this deranged and they’d be on the class traitor list for life.

RBWells ,

We bring food sometimes to the local homeless guy but he doesn’t seem to want anything else.

This answer for me would really depend on a lot of factors. I don’t want a homeless roommate who won’t leave and can’t work, don’t want a mentally unstable person in the house with my daughters. So random guy probably not. I’d bring him food and a gallon of iced water and say I could not let him in. If it was the guy we know from under the bridge, and husband home, probably would let him shower and give him some of husband’s clothes to wear, sure.

But we HAVE had homeless people stay with us for a time if we knew them, quite a few times. Wandering guys who just didn’t live anywhere. Couch surfing people.

over_clox OP ,

I’ve been ‘homeless’ after my father passed away 10 years ago, after paying 6 years of his land taxes. I’ve lost roughly 95% of everything I’ve ever owned, after paying 6 years of land taxes and bills.

I’ve been through some shit, so I have a kind heart towards others suffering the struggle…

RBWells ,

I have lived on the streets too. I just don’t feel like I can possibly help everyone, if that makes sense. And would question the motive of someone I don’t know trying to get into my house.

It’s a very complicated problem. Some people are homeless from simple poverty and can climb out with some help, but we know these guys (it was always guys) who just don’t fit into society and can’t have a regular job or hustle enough to have stuff, but can get by without much, there doesn’t seem to be room in this country (USA) for them anymore. Like they have been illegal -ized.

over_clox OP ,

Agreed and understood. It’s not possible to help everyone every time. Some days I struggle to help myself, but it is whatever it is.

But if I happen to find it within my means, I might help another person in struggle…

Pacattack57 ,

I would never answer the door for someone I didn’t expect so I wouldn’t know why they were at my door anyway.

rozodru ,

as someone who was homeless I’d let them in to take a shower and trim themselves up. If they’re an addict or mentally ill then no, i’d direct them somewehre else. I’ve had way too many bad interactions with both, especially addicts. If it was a homeless person who was sober and mentally sound? yeah i’d provide help because I know that programs and resources don’t exist for them they’re tailored for the addicts and mentally ill. Hell i’d even offer my couch. But addicts know the system and they’re only going to your door to rip you off. and the mentally ill don’t even know they’re homeless so they wouldn’t be knocking and asking for help anyways.

lightnsfw ,

I’d give him food/water, cash, call him a ride, or whatever else he needed but he’s not coming inside. Too much risk. Even just giving stuff I’d worry he’ll come back.

Hextubewontallowme ,
@Hextubewontallowme@lemmy.ml avatar

A beard trim… yeah, I’m too unexperienced to help him with that, but I’ll give him a shaver and a cream…

Bath… I’d just hope there’s a public shower nearby, and lend him merely some small bottles of soap and shampoo…

A sandwich and water… let’s see what food I have…

I’m not opening my door tho, to him

Clinicallydepressedpoochie ,

I’d give him a snack if he was desperate enough to come to my door. Wouldn’t let him inside but might come out to chat with him. Just to be sure they are well enough to carry on. Like, I didn’t have to call for medical assistance or something.

It’s easy to say no when you’ve never been in that situation. I mean I’ve never been so out of it I’d beg a stranger to groom me but I have been completely on my own with nothing and no one.

Any homeless person with good intent would know that cold knocking someone and asking to come inside is a bridge too far. So if they were trying that shit they would most likely be competely toasted or having a serious mental episode. Even more likely they are trying to steal your shit.

I have had a homeless man come up to the door in an icestorm with no shirt on. The guy was soaked in alcohol and I did not feel safe. I did throw him a sweater, coat, and gloves because he could freeze but I was fucking terrified.

over_clox OP ,

Thank you on their behalf for at least trying to help keep them warm during hard freezing times.

over_clox OP ,

In my case, the ‘stranger’ wasn’t exactly a stranger anymore. Even though I had my own place to live with my family, I’d get tired of the home drama and I’d go ride my bicycle out to wherever my feet decided to pedal that night.

There were two particular homeless fellas that I’d sometimes stop and shoot the shit with for a couple hours or so. Sometimes they’d even buy me a beer, just to have a friend to talk to.

I never forgot their generosity. Never. I helped the older fella with a beard trim, some pizza, and a beer in return.

The younger fella had been an album producer in the past, so I found him a fancy green suit about his size. Dunno if he kept it, but last I heard he actually got him a place in the next city over.

p5yk0t1km1r4ge ,
@p5yk0t1km1r4ge@lemmy.world avatar

Given how I don’t let anybody homeless or otherwise in my house if I don’t know them, I’ll probably give them food and water

Subject6051 ,

I don’t hold any answers but if you’re reading this comment, I want to know how you take into consideration that if they are asking for money, that money can easily be used for drugs/opioids/other stuff which will hurt them.

i.e., Do you give them money or do you give them food, a bottle of water or stuff like that?

BonesOfTheMoon ,

Just don’t judge what they use money for. It’s not your place to police someone’s habits. Addiction is very hard.

lightnsfw ,

A couple years ago some guy at the gas station gave me this long ass spiel about how he wasn’t on drugs (like the whole time it took to fill my tank up he was going on about it) and then asked me for gas money. I was like buddy here’s $20 but if you’re spending this on drugs get some for me too.

wuphysics87 ,

Several years ago, my mom started making care for folks out on the street. Some water, a bag of chips, a piece of candy. Little things like that. I started doing the same thing. It’s good to help those down on their luck in small ways. Even to to look at them and say “no, I’m sorry” when they ask for money, rather than to just ignore them. You are acknowledging them as a person. If we wish to make a better society, actions speak louder than words.

I also prefer the term ‘de-housed’ to ‘homeless’. I feel the latter places blame on them rather than the former which places blame on the society which has failed them.

over_clox OP ,

I remember a skit by the late George Carlin where he suggested that instead of calling them homeless, that we should call them houseless instead, so yeah I get what you mean there.

wuphysics87 ,

Plow the golf courses and cemeteries! Give these folks a place to live!

over_clox OP ,

Ah, I see you’re a fan of the late George Carlin as well… 👍

CorruptedArk ,

This is the first time I’m hearing plow cemeteries, and I’m not sure I’m on board with that. People usually spend time there to deal with grief and losing a little bit more of a dead loved one would be incredibly painful for a lot of folks

Fuck golf courses though

wuphysics87 ,

It’s a joke from George Carlin. I wouldn’t advocate for plowing old ones (although dead stuff makes fertile soil). Personally, I wouldn’t make new ones, but perhaps a middle ground is to make mausoleums wbere people can be burried vertically.

CorruptedArk ,

Fair, never heard that one, but I can agree with not making new ones

0laura ,
@0laura@lemmy.world avatar

I think homeless is more fitting. at least to me, it’s a more emotional/painful word, which is a good thing. being homeless sounds a lot shittier than being dehoused to me.

wuphysics87 ,

That’s an interesting point, provided it motivates people to do something about it, rather than assigning a moral failing to the individual. I.e. they deserve it for their sins. In my mind, dehoused elucidates the lack of a basic human need: shelter. There is a solution, especially in the face of the greed of rent seeking.

andrewta ,

Food? OK

Water? OK

The rest? No.

HobbitFoot ,

Yeah. I don’t like people in my place.

BEWARE ,

No. You stay out.

Nemo ,

Depends if I know them. There’s been a permanent camp around the corner from my house the last five years. My wife and I know a lot of the long-term residents and have helped them do laundry, charge phones, and file taxes. But a stranger? I’d direct them towards other local resources.

toynbee , (edited )

File taxes? I admit I’m fairly ignorant of the plights of any unhoused person … And any complex tax situation, TBH … but it seems like most of them would be under the income threshold that would require filing of taxes.

edit: s/and/any/

alnitak ,

Homeless does not necessarily mean jobless. You still have to file taxes if you want a tax return. It’s a lot cheaper to live out of a car and have a PO box than it is to get an apartment.

toynbee ,

Fair enough, I hadn’t considered homelessness by choice.

I know homeless people can and sometimes do have jobs, but assumed their income would be insufficient to require interacting with the IRS. Thank you for expanding my perception.

Nemo ,

You remember a few years back when stimulus cheques were being sent out? They were only being sent to those who filed taxes.

toynbee ,

Gotcha, thank you.

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