There have been multiple accounts created with the sole purpose of posting advertisement posts or replies containing unsolicited advertising.

Accounts which solely post advertisements, or persistently post them may be terminated.

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?

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

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.

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.

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.

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…

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.

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. 👍

intensely_human ,

I’d give it to him.

njm1314 ,

I don’t even like opening the door to people I know.

brygphilomena ,

My brother was homeless from addiction.

I’d give food and water; if they wanted to wash up I have a hose and would bring them soap and shampoo. Unfortunately, I’ve been burned with shit disappearing from when my brother was addicted, so I probably wouldn’t let them in the house.

Triasha ,

I wouldn’t feel safe letting a stranger in to shower. My wife would be very upset with me.

They could have a bottle of water and a sandwich.

over_clox OP ,

Totally understandable, every situation is different. But what if you made a compromise, especially given the hotter than average weather lately, and gave the person a splash of shampoo and let him/her wash their hair with your garden hose in the back yard or something?

AngryCommieKender ,

I’d offer them the hose and privacy of the backyard at least. They could even use the warm collected rainwater if they wanted, I just would also get in trouble with my housemates if I did that.

CorruptedArk ,

I subscribe to a policy of cautious altruism, like a lot of folks already said. I need to keep myself and my family safe so probably not allow in the house, but I’d give food water, the hose, soap, shampoo, clean towel, and a change of clothes if I can. Maybe even some cash if I have it around to spare.

If I have a shed or garage I’d allow them to use it to change clothes privately and offer to wash their clothes if safe. They may have residue of drugs like meth on their clothes that I’m unable handle.

I’ve also got a decent amount of privilege to share.

Be kind, be safe

over_clox OP ,

Be kind, be safe, and love thy fellow person. 👍

CorruptedArk ,

I’ve quite a few friends I’ve personally pulled out of homelessness, so I’ve seen how hard it is firsthand, I hope things are better for you

over_clox OP ,

Things actually are better for me these days. Not great, but much better. I’m living in a decent affordable apartment now, rather than the old run down trailer park I came from.

Thank you for your kind words. 👍

I’ve had people occasionally help me along the way, and at my discretion, I’m glad to help others in return when possible. Pass it forward…

CorruptedArk ,

Also, for anyone reading through this thinking, “I shouldn’t give them money because drugs”

I use drugs to cope with chronic pain so I can get through a workday

I’m skilled labor and make a decent salary

The only things separating me from a homeless person were some “fortunate” family deaths providing enough inheritance to put me through college at a good time and some lucky networking

We should all be more humble and less judgemental of eachother’s choices

over_clox OP ,

I’m not exactly sure how to interpret all this, except I think you have a decent trustworthy soul, and care about others.

CorruptedArk ,

Yeah, I try to every day

Some days are harder than others, I ain’t perfect, I’ve caused probably as much harm as good, but I try my best

over_clox OP ,

I think you need a digital hug 🤗

overcast5348 ,

“I shouldn’t give them money because drugs”

I have a roof over my head, eat thrice a day, and have a loving family. Yet there are days when I want to drown myself in alcohol or weed. Who am I to judge a homeless person if they choose to do drugs and forget their suffering for a little while?

I always give money, if anything, to the few of them in my neighborhood. Whether it’s food , clothes, drugs or something else - they know what they need better than I know it.

John_McMurray ,

Sandwich, bottle of water, directions off the property.

over_clox OP ,

You mean directions towards the nearest shelters? It’s easy to tell someone to go away, but does it hurt you to try to help them locate proper shelter, instead of just tell them to go away?

Waraugh ,

I got kids, I’ll get you a sandwich and water while you wait outside but I don’t know them just like I don’t know any other stranger that showed up unannounced, that I would also not let in. If it was just me I have a higher risk tolerance, it’s going to be pretty close to zero when I have others who are dependent on me under my care. Sorry, not sorry.

over_clox OP , (edited )

Let’s say we’re in Arizona right now, hypothetical…

Let’s say it’s 120⁰F outside. You gonna leave the fella outside, only to die on your porch of heat stroke?

Edit: Ain’t that cute, I see I’ve been downvoted. Welp, if such a hypothetical situation happens, and someone dies on your porch in the heat, then you’d basically be guilty of negligent homicide since you could have helped, but refused to.

I’m not exactly a fan of having people die on my porch.

01189998819991197253 ,
@01189998819991197253@infosec.pub avatar

Don’t know where you’re at, but where I am, I have no legal obligation to help anyone trespassing on my property. That said, I would call the cops, so they can help him. While they may not be great at this, it’s their job (not mine), and I’m not risking my life. Maybe he’s honest in his needs. Maybe he’s not, and his intentions are nefarious. Do you know? I don’t, and I’m not willing to risk my life finding out.

over_clox OP ,

A person knocking on your door and asking for help shouldn’t be outright considered as a trespasser, especially if all they’re asking is help. Of course you can’t trust just anyone, but still, if someone showed up and knocked on my door, sweating their ass off in the scorching heat of the summer and asking for help, I ain’t about to leave them out in the heat…

01189998819991197253 , (edited )
@01189998819991197253@infosec.pub avatar

That’s fine. If your risk posture allows you to do that, then great. Mine doesn’t. I will give them as much water as they need, food if they need, even a change of clothes and a coolrag. They can chill in my yard under the shade of whatever trees they want. They can use my hose to cool off, wash, whatever. But, they’re not coming in my home. [and they need to leave before that evening’s up].

E: correct autocorrect

E2: this is a coolrag

https://infosec.pub/pictrs/image/a6803db4-15d9-493e-bc94-fc82dedffa82.jpeg

E3 in []

John_McMurray ,

No I mean gtfo and deal with your own shit.

over_clox OP ,

Hey, I ain’t mad, at least you said you’d help with the bare basics of a little food and water.

But what if it’s 120⁰F outside? What if they’re about to suffer a heat stroke on your porch?

John_McMurray ,

Are you seriously asking if I react differently in different situations?

over_clox OP ,

What if you were the person suffering in the heat? Should I open my door for you? Because if I could tell you were genuinely in need of help, I would…

feedum_sneedson ,

“absolutely fucking not, and never come here again”

Sorry, but I’ll help people when I want to, on my own terms. Before you pile on, I literally just housed somebody for over a month, in the shitty one bedroom flat I rent. As in, they stayed on the sofa and only left on Tuesday. I also provided 90% of their food and gave them money to cover an outgoing debt payment.

It was a fucking huge inconvenience, actually. A helping hand is fine, but some people will happily take your whole arm.

over_clox OP ,

Your last sentence strikes a hard truth, but I totally get you. Yeah, I ain’t suggesting anyone outright adopt a homeless person and wipe their ass every day and all, just saying that sometimes, depending on the circumstances and the individual, that it’s only proper to help for a day or three, within your means anyways.

curiousaur ,

Honestly it’s a bad idea. Might be fine, might not be. Not worth the risk. Some unhoused folks are addicts or mentally ill. People tend to return to places that become familiar. The might come back again. Maybe to rob you.

I’m speaking from experience. I gave a guy a place to live to try to get back on his feet, in exchange for some work. Realized he’s a severe addict and couldn’t get rid of him. Then I look like the asshole for putting him back on the street.

  • All
  • Subscribed
  • Moderated
  • Favorites
  • •
  • [email protected]
  • random
  • lifeLocal
  • goranko
  • All magazines
    •