Tuesday 23 July 2019

Helping beggars?

Over the years I have met many beggars, rough sleepers, "pan handlers" and a few clever con men with very convincing hard luck stories.

There were quite a few around Gloucester Green, St.Giles and Bonn Square in Oxford. Hornchurch had some and there were plenty along the Embankment and South Bank in London.

One of the hard luck stories that I have heard is the cleverly constructed tale about a sick relative and needing some extra cash for the train or bus fare to get to them.

I remember working with a London City Missioner in north London who was conned by a young man, dressed like a tramp, in his thirties who said that had travelled to London to meet his brother and start a new life.  He claimed that he had fallen on hard times and run out of money during his long journey from the north of England. He spent a few days at the mission. He heard the Gospel. He was fed, given new clothes and some cash for his train fare to get to his brother.  When he was ready to leave, he thanked the missioner for his kindness and help, and then confessed that there was no brother or prospect of a new life with him. It was a convincing con and he was off to spin his sob story and to find another sucker who would help him.

If you give to some beggars then the money will go on drugs, alcohol and cigarettes. Some beggars are not poor. There was a beggar by St James's Park station who "earned" more than some of the shop staff. The Hornchurch beggars stank of marijuana.

I have supported Big Issue sellers, but sadly I have known of cases where they are not genuinely homeless or needy. However, I believe that most of them are in need of a hand up and not a hand out.

I would recommend that if you wish to help the homeless, beggars and the needy, then give to a well established charity, like the Salvation Army, London City Mission, Shelter and street pastors etc.


Don't give cash. Sometimes give food and drink, but always support the worthy charities. They invest in accommodation, clothing and food etc. for these people and have the resources to help them effectively. Sometimes I tell the young fit beggars to consider working on a farm. There is plenty of work. "If a man does not work, then he should not eat" is taught in the New Testament (see 2 Thessalonian 3:10). To beg and sit idly asking for money is soul destroying. It is spiritually destructive, so we should encourage these idlers to find work or to do something constructive. I do ask them, "have you considered fruit picking?"

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I was asked for money from a young man who said that he wanted some kronor to travel to his sick son. It was a scam. I saw him a short time later in the queue at the McDonald’s restaurant near Stockholm central station. I’m glad I refused to give him anything.

Dedham

Dedham
River Stour