Everyone has their own way of treating beggars on the streets, trains and buses. Many people ignore them in the belief that any monetary donation would be spent on booze, fags or drugs. It gets even harder to ignore the beggars when they try to exploit our concern for children and babies by sitting down with a child/baby in their arms.
I don't like ignoring them; I don't like giving them cash either. I want to help but I don't want to get involved.
A while ago I conceived a half-idea and I recalled it while chatting with a friend yesterday. I'm now posting it here in case anyone is in a position to build on it and make it work. I know it's not perfect but...
A charity (say Shelter) would produce Help the homeless cards (credit card size) and provide these to donors. Donors would then give the cards to beggars when they encounter them. The cards would contain a freephone number and a simple map of how to find the local shelter/soup kitchen or whatever the charity chooses as it's way of helping the beggars.
Maybe one side would carry a simple message such as: I hope you find this helpful and that you'll soon be able to get straight.
Donors would know that the money they donate helps the charity to help the beggars/homeless. By passing the card to those in need they would also be acknowledging them.
Would anyone want to give such a well intentioned card to a beggar? Would those who only really wanted cash for booze, fags or drugs get nasty if given such a card? Maybe there are other reasons to dump this idea. On the other hand maybe it will inspire someone to something better that will work.
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