Do you walk past a homeless person and how would a Good Samaritan act living in this age?

What do you feel about walking past a homeless person? Action or no action?


This has sprung up some debate recently in a very real way within a group where I live. Some of us were trying to re-establish a homeless person who seemed able to accept help and obviously needed it but it provoked some conflict over how that help was administered. Even within the Christian community, views differ on how to handle it, especially if you live in a big city and see it all the time.


Some say, there are too many to help so don't.

Some say, they are there because of MH issues so are beyond help.

Some say, give them money.

Some say no just give them food.

Some people say just walk past its not your problem.

Some say show an interest in them and no more, they just need human interaction and respect.

Some say, don't bother they like being street dwellers.



The “poor will always be with us” but how far would you go to help a homeless person, if at all and how do you view the responsibility in that length of action as Christians in the way Jesus Christ would have you act in these present times?

There's no comparison between someone who has been beaten and robbed and left injured in the street and someone who has turned begging into a living.

im fortunate to be poor so i dont have to worry about this

but i do give money to people if i can afford, like sometime there has been someone cut short on money in the cash register line and i give them the remaining amount if i have it.

where i live it depends on the kind of homeless we have three kinds:
1. the junkies.
2. the people who were fired and couldnt pay their rent, got unpaid rent and cant get new apartment cause of it (true homeless)
3. the rat thief scammers from usually romania who are "poor" and begging in our streets but have iphones, steal and had money to travel to here on a plane somehow? how poor can they be? i have had some of these try to put hands on me too. very nasty. they use scams like they come and give you roses and give you a sad story on paper with google translate and take your money. my mom was actually robbed by these people, they were hugging her and took her wallet and bus pass.

so out of these i say to group 1, give food and resources only, because money goes to just more junkie things. to group 2 give money and every assistance possible they are in rough situation and if given new opportunity and apartment wont wreck that apartment and fill it with roaches. group 3. i say deport them and make it illegal which its already made illegal in my country but it doesnt stop this pest.

No there isn't a direct comparison to that, but assuming they do not "beg for a living" out of choice or are not even begging but destitute, what then. Walk past?

Sure thing. How do you tell the difference and what is to stop all people using group 3 as a reason not to help the other groups?

its easy to tell. group 3 tries to scam and steal from me. if people dont want to help the poor or homeless they will find any excuse

There's very little we can do on our own except giving them some food, some time, and respect. I think the best thing to do is to join an organization dedicated to the homeless.

sure I agree with that. There a guy on you tube who gives out socks to homeless people (not group 3) and they seem overwhelmed by simple socks.

Sure that's a good way. Trouble is I know a guy who runs a homeless charity - he got sick of it himself as it seems Group 3 seem to give a bad name to the rest. In fact he said a lot of them preferred it on the street although I wonder about whether that's true and he just got fed up.

Are you talking about people who are born in Romania (a country North of Bulgaria) or about people who speak Romani (the Gypsies)?

It is true that some (maybe many) homeless people don't want to go to shelters. Some years ago there was a homeless woman near our home and I called a shelter. The guy said: "First of all you must ask the woman if she is willing to go to a shelter". I went to the woman again just to ask and she bluntly said "noooooo".

No. We should give only if people are willing to be held accountable for their future. People who don't want responsibility should starve.

Be careful of not understanding motivations.

Motivations become clear very quickly when you help those who ask for help. Some want to make their lives better. Some want to lay on your couch all day.

I just hope Im never homeless. Begging for a living would kill me inside.

Would it kill you enough to work two jobs to put a roof over your head?

that would kill me on the outside

It didn't kill me.

I don't think the "poor among you" is limited to those on the street but also those who live in a house who are JUST getting by. Plenty of those I would assume.
In regards to the poor on the street, honestly, I feel awkward but I really don't know what to do.
Do I sit with them, understand their circumstance and offer some temporary help? Do I just drop money or food and walk off? Is that really the help God is talking about?
Are they legit?

I did have an idea of a program where people, who run medium sized businesses to house, feed and offer a homeless person a small job to help them back on their feet. Obviously, there would have to be strict regulations and screening, but it was an idea.
I think it would be good to come up with ideas to give legitimate homeless people, who really want to get off the streets a permanent solution. Then again, there probably already is, I have to admit, I'm somewhat ignorant about homelessness and the available services to them.

What I would do is attempt to help in a roundabout manner.

Say to them, hey brother or sister, I have $20 here but, for the $20, I want an exclusive. I want to hear their version of their life in its full truth...Why? I would want to try and see where they are in their faith life. Are they blaming anyone or everyone like I use to. Are they hopeful for the future?

Go with the flow and give input when prompted.
A 10 minutes conversation showing that someone cares goes a lot further than any amount of money and $20 is meaningless to me, especially if there is the possibility the Holy Spirit can work through me and help lift a brother or sister up.

I will always buy them food. I will buy their medicine.... I only have had one person really need medicine.... I will buy baby formula.... but I have NEVER had a mother actually want it.... I bought it one time and she was gone when I got out of the store.... And I have given money for dope.... I work in a state facility so you do not need insurance and I can tell when people are just bad. I tell them this is a one time deal, tell them where to go for help and if I ever see you again I will not help you.

It's so sad but even among the real financially hurting you have the weed out the drug addicts and the "real" financially hurting. But we can... By giving them our time, talking to them about Jesus, a hungry person is a hungry person.... most addicts have not eaten for days... a person that needs medicine will go with you into the pharmacy (they have to be there to give their info.), buy a bus ticket for them... what is your time worth.... but really find out in your area where the adicts can get real help shair with them... probably already know.... give practical when you can but most of all take time, from your self and busy day and give Jesus!!!! Above all pray! Then let go, you planted the seed, it is God who brings in the increase!!!!