| I have really enjoyed the discussion so far. Thank you to everyone that shared stories about what they've seen or experienced regarding homelessness. It really is worth noting that while many people theoretically could just go to a shelter and get their lives on track, is it worth it to forego giving to those who truly need it? As Whatapainthisis showed, there are some people who truly might just need that little bit to get their lives together. Though I understand that giving the money prolongs the issue for many beggars, I don't think I could abstain from thinking, "What if that person really did need it?" Unfortunately sometimes you can't really know, and since that's the case, I'm willing to be wrong considerably more often than I am right. Not to mention all of those who simply can't get their lives back together and I feel it's worth it to give to those who ask.
Laxmom, the current foreclosure issue is one I didn't consider. I know often my family has cut expenses frighteningly close (sometimes my parents' clients have forgotten to pay--maybe not a big deal to them, but a huge one to us), and it's not at all hard to imagine a family living off a couple hundred or so less a month that would've been completely ruined by a seemingly minuscule shift in financial circumstances. |