Direct approach begging

I was approached by four men asking for money as I walked a few yards on one cross roads in a pedestrian area in a north west small town centre today. None of them were familiar beggars in this town. All looked to have significant drug problems. In response to 'can you spare some cash', I said No and continued walking.
I saw four other men sitting begging in the same area, which connects M and S with the indoor shopping area so is a bus thoroughfare.
I wondered if they'd somehow been brought in to beg. I've never seen any of them before and never so many in one small area.
It's a growing problem.

jevive, people don't have to be homeless to sell the Big Issue.

In fact, I think they need to have a place to live as having an inccome allows them to claim housing benefit.

Small thing? Same thing, doh!

Small thing in Leek, Staffordshire jevive. A lady in a hijab and long dress and coat has stood outside WHSMITHS, selling Big Issue, every Saturday for 4 years. At the end of the the day, a large Mercedes car comes and picks her up. I'd rather give to the Salvation Army chap who stands a little further down the road because I know what good work they do for the homeless.

The same Big Issue, a scarfed lady of Eastern european appearance, is very pleasantand and has been selling outside Waitrose for about 10 years. A long time to be homeless, surely??

By co-incidence, I have just read an article in our local paper; the main charity dealing with homeless people in the town has asked that people donate to them rather than give loose change or food to people on the street. Although well meaning, a sandwich and a hot drink could be the fourth or fifth that morning and thus unwanted and a waste of money. The charity estimated, based on what their clients tell them, that around £330,000 is given by members of the public; they have asked for some of that to be given to them instead in order that they can direct help properly and to those who need it.

When I had a job that involved travelling to London, I remember when I was smoking a cigarette outside Paddington Station, being approached by quite a well presented young man who said "as you can probably tell, I'm homeless".

I offered to take him into the M&S Food, just a few yards away, and buy him a sandwich and some fruit.

He ran off!

A friend was collecting nice toiletries for the local women's refuge and I thought that was a very good idea.

We never give to beggars. Instead we give food to the local food bank and homeless charity.

We were in Doncaster not long ago and saw a group of young men drinking coffee and chatting. They then split up. Later we saw some of them begging at different locations. A busker told us they were part of a gang who go to different town centres every day.

Someone I know in Kent gave money to a beggar who approached her in Margate. Before she could turn round, she was surrounded by more men, all aggressively demanding money from her. She was very frightened and said she'll never go back to Margate after that experience.

I was pushed against a shop window in our town centre, the beggar was really aggressive and demanded money because he said he could see I could afford it. I often wonder how he came to the conclusion, the pair of trainers I had on were no better than his.
I think you were right to be uncomfortable, his approach was aggressive.

My friends DD works for a homeless charity in Norwich. Her Advice to us was. No money and no food.
Generous people do buy sandwiches and tea/coffee but sometimes the begger has already been given more than enough. She advised us to donate to the homeless charities that provide facilities and soup kitchens.
We now donate our clothes to the homeless. Some of them have such sad stories.

The other week in town, there was a man sitting on the ground begging, just outside the Co-op. A very nice elderly lady came out of the shop to him, holding a packaged sandwich and a hot drink from a machine, which she offered to him, and he turned them down, was adamant that he didn`t want them. Then last week, outside another shop, a young, quite scruffy, man walked up, sat down on the pavement, and "set his shop out", blanket, cap on the ground for money, but he was wearing brand spanking new trainers!

Blinko - anyone in Brum who wants to support genuinely homeless people can look at Birmingham Homeless Outreach. For several years these volunteers have been going out each night to provide food and hot drinks. They also collect and distribute bedding, warm clothes and toiletries. They know the city centre homeless as people, call them by their names and ask how they are. BHO is quietly doing good work and the people they help can trust them.
They are able to make an accurate assessment of how many rough sleepers there actually are in the city. I think their work is impressive. They are on Facebook.

Ana - I wish! I did start to flounder for a few long-forgotten, but possibly half-useful phrases, but it all happened so quickly! Mind you he didn't seem to have an accent either ...

Pity one of you wasn't fluent in French - that would have floored him!

I used to be married to a vicar and we were used to people coming to the door in need. We always offered them food and drink and on some occasions H would drive them somewhere or buy a train ticket for them if travel was clearly the issue. We never directly gave money and that approach sorted out who was really needy.

I don't usually give money directly to homeless in the street, but will 'pay forward' in a café /buy food / Big issue etc. and support a homeless charity. In this instance I was just so taken by surprise and felt intimidated - it was beyond my experience.

It was an Ask café in Canterbury. I didn't think to report it.

When I got home DH said I should have said 'No' and I did see younger people in the street handing back the fliers and shaking their heads. Part of the problem for me was that we were seated in a corner and he came and stood in front of us so we were a bit blocked in. As we watched him walk away, I noted that he was actually quite well dressed in a clean / smart pair of jeans, jacket and newish looking trainers which made me think he wasn't genuine - but then it is so easy to judge and not know ... I suppose on balance, we didn't give him much between us - not more than £5 and it may be that he really did need it!

I agree Greenfinch I have done that and also bought a sandwich but from the look he obviously wanted hard cash so that he could convert it into alcohol or drugs.

I live in London and never nowadays give to anybody unless it is eg well known charities at supermarkets but I feel uncomfortable walking past because I cannot donate to everybody.

If they have a dog I go into the nearest supermarket and buy some dog food for it.It is not always received very gratefully.?

I will just add that even though we have a large number of homeless and beggars in our city, I have never been approached with aggression, so maybe not worry so much.

My GD and I are going to London for 2 days in a couple of weeks.
I am a bit scared of beggars as I am very old and she is young but I think we will just use taxis in spite of the cost. Safety is important to me now.

My city is also Manchester, the advice from the council is not to give money directly but to one of the charities, so that is what I do. Shopping this morning saw four homeless people plus the Big Issue seller. (just local shopping, under an hour) It is a quandary I know. One of the beggers was a woman and I didn't really know what to do, but I thought what if she just has to hand over the money to some gangmaster, so I didn't give her anything. I don't know if I was right or wrong.

Devongirl I have pmd you, as didn't want any staff to get into trouble.

It was interesting that the thirty-somethings I was with were less tolerant and would not have given to the beggar.

I don't give directly to beggars as I believe it encourages the practice. I live near Birmingham and have seen street beggars board the evening commuter train back home. So street begging must pay, mustn't it? I much prefer to donate to charities for the homeless.