Giving to beggars

When you're at a red light and are approached by someone holding up a homeless sign, asking for a dollar, do you oblige?

No, but that probably doesn't subtract too much from the tax-free loot they make.

No. Once when I was walking to McDonald's for lunch I passed a woman begging change "for food." Maybe she was or maybe she wanted money to buy drugs but on my way back to work I gave her a Happy Meal.

Here in my town we do not have homeless people. We do have a place down town where people can live if they actually are homeless. The province puts them up in an old motel (so they have a decent room) and the restaurant attached feeds them. In the summer many of the local natives come to town and stay , you would think they were homeless but they are not. They prefer to stay near the liquor store. They will pan handle. I will not give them money. But one day a fellow asked me for money to buy a cup of coffee. That was different, I bought him the coffee. apparently he actually wanted the coffee cause as I was leaving he was thanking me multiple times. It is much to cold to be homeless here in the winter time. We would have people freezing to death literally. When Vancouver was having the winter Olympics they tried to run their homeless off (rather than house them) , they didn't want other countries to know we have some. The homeless simply moved farther out , fortunately though not to places like this area. They stayed in the more coastal areas as it is warmer in those areas. I am glad that most towns and cities in BC are more compassionate than Vancouver was, because we do understand that most homeless people have mental illnesses.

Nah. I'll do it if I'm on the street or on the train.

No, I don't.

No I do not.

I have never given money to a beggar. In the town, I grew up in there were several scams in which drug addicts would pretend to be homeless to get money from people. In the city I live in now,homeless people have approached me a few times and I say no. It is hard to tell if some really needs help or if they are going to use the money for food.