bibi rose wrote:Somewhere on the site, he's got a list of things you can give homeless people that will help.

I found Kevin's post about useful gifts for homeless men and women.

Chicago is putting a lot of eggs into the "Housing First" model. A summary of the city's "Getting Housed, Staying Housed" plan is here.

I've had clients served by the Housing First program run by the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and Interfaith House, among others. I also have a client--mentally ill, mentally retarded, HIV positive-- who was just about to be placed into housing under the program but instead managed to get himself back into Cook County jail. In the "thank heavens for small favors" department, at least they've got him on the psych unit there. None of this is easy.

JiminLoganSquare,

When a homeless person advises the consequences of a food handout to a homeless person, that is of interest. I know people who regularly give food coupons or their doggie bags to homeless people. They felt it was better than cash because cash could be used to support their habits rather than food or shelter. It was of interest to me that this food handout would enable them to do what the donor did not intend: support their habit.

I do and will continue to give food to pantries. If someone has the means to cook, they are not homeless rather they are low income.

For many years, I took care of my low income elderly neighbors by doing their food shopping which they reimbursed and slipping in a few things I thought they needed without reimbursement. I cooked their holiday dinners. I did what I could to keep them afloat.

I do and will continue to occasionally prepare meals at Inspiration Cafe and such because I want to support their efforts to put these people back on track.

While none of us are so empowered to save the world, if we can help one person get back on track, like you did. Or keep your neighbor's thriving, like I did. A lot has been accomplished without interventions of government or charities.

Regards,

I never give to panhandlers. I don't believe in tax evasion.

Governments have been "intervening" for centuries with anti-vagrancy laws and currently with all manner of ordinances that criminalize the activities inherent to homelessness.

A few people have mentioned the people who request money for bus fare and cab fare. (I've even heard variations that include someone knocking at the front door, claiming to have just moved in down the street and having a pregnant wife who's gone into labor and having no money on hand for a cab...can they borrow $20?) I used to love CTA tokens, because I was much more comfortable giving someone a token than handing them $2.

However, I recently heard a presentation given by a Chicago police officer who said that virtually all of the requests for money for cab fare ("My car broke down and I need $10 to get the suburbs...") are a scam, and the quickest way to figure out whether the person's telling the truth it is to say, "Oh, my roommate/husband/brother/sister/wife is a police officer and would be more than happy to give you a ride. Hold on a sec and I'll go get them/call them." Then go back into your house (or reach for your cell phone)...chances are the person asking for the money will disappear. If they don't disappear, you can always claim that you couldn't reach the police officer and then decide whether you want to give them money.

The City of Evanston has an interesting program to help with the homeless situation - if you find a homeless person, you can call call (800) 439-6691 to reach EntryPoint from Evanston only, or use (847) 424-0945; they send out a social worker to assess the needs of the person in question and connect them with the services that are available.

I used to carry McDonalds gift certificates (back when they had paper ones) that I'd give out, figuring they could use a meal. I think that when you give money, you share some responsibility with what happens to it - this is why you should check out charities on the BBB website, and why I wouldn't give a stranger money, but might buy them lunch.

Either way, I think it's better to try to get people in touch with social services - there are a lot of them out there.

This non-food thread needs to stop!

The City of Evanston has an interesting program to help with the homeless situation - if you find a homeless person, you can call call (800) 439-6691 to reach EntryPoint from Evanston only, or use (847) 424-0945; they send out a social worker to assess the needs of the person in question and connect them with the services that are available.

I like that, because while it's humanitarian, it serves the purpose of clearing the streets of the homeless. I have no doubt that both missions were in the minds of the Evanston City Council; which mission predominated I wouldn't hazard a guess. Suffice it to say I support both missions.

rdstoll wrote:This non-food thread needs to stop!

Once the conversation dies on this subject, this thread will be moved to Not About Food.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:

rdstoll wrote:This non-food thread needs to stop!

Once the conversation dies on this subject, this thread will be moved to Not About Food.

Regards,

Cool.

Hammond