Are you neighborly with the homeless people and beggars in your neighborhood?
This is a genuine question. How do you interact with people who live on your street but do not have shelter?
This is a genuine question. How do you interact with people who live on your street but do not have shelter?
We don't get as many outright beggars but occasionally we do. One person I talked with who was simply demanding cash I suggested we trade stories. I'd tell him a story and he could tell me a story. If we agreed he had the better story I would give him $6 (which is the price of a typical paperback book). I told him about the birth of my daughter and how it changed me in ways I didn't expect. He told me about of joining the Navy rather than being sent to jail for shoplifting, and learning the fastest way to clean a mess hall that had just fed 80 sailors who had been sea sick. I gave him the $6. But strangely he didn't really want it, he wanted to tell me more of his stories. But I was out of time so I said if I saw him around again I would ask for another story. Sadly I didn't see him later. He really was a pretty good story teller.
The people who have been problems have either been high (drunk or drugs) or mentally damaged. No fault of their own but they simply weren't in a place to be human. My wife and I called 911 and helped one guy get to the hospital, he was passed out in the parking lot of Safeway. He didn't appreciate the help but I continue to feel it was the right call.
Wasn't meaning to call you out, but it felt awkward to transition out of 2nd person.
You should watch it. I think you might be surprised. I was.
I'm unimpressed with anyone who travels thousands of kilometres to sit in the street and beg.