Begging for food

Mr.David · 04-10-2013 07:33AM

Cody Pomeray wrote: »

This is 2013. We have spent €70 billion to save our banks; we cannot do any better for the children of this country? And the banks are our only priority. Let our people leave, let communities ruin, but never perish our banks. Something is so wrong with us.

The banks are a priority to regain (hopefully) economic growth and stability, precisely to avoid the situations being discussed. Without stabilising the economic system there will be no money to help anyone!

Oranage2 · 04-10-2013 07:38AM

stoneill wrote: »

I must admit that if I ever found myself homeless and without income I would not know where to go or who to see. I would probably end up begging for food after a day or two.

svp, gardai, priest. They might not be able to help but they'll put you on the right track.

MurdyWurdy · 04-10-2013 07:43AM

Wasn't there a thread on this before a while back? A poster did a big shop for someone and it turned out to be a scam. It's hard to know what to do but personally I would prefer to give to a food bank (and until recently did regularly through work)

I lived in NZ for a while and in the supermarkets they donation boxes as you left for the city mission. Was an easy way to donate and most people did, just by buying a few extra things in your shop. I would love to see that here.

Lux23 · 04-10-2013 07:44AM

Stheno wrote: »

If she's likely to see the lady again shoot me a pm and I'll send you what she should be asking so she can point the lady in the right direction?

Very tough in that situation and the lady may end up in hostels, but more likely b and b so at least a breakfast for her kids?

They have to spend all day on the streets so not surprised she's out in the rain like that.

Eight Ball · 04-10-2013 07:47AM

Not surprised by this in the least but hey not to worry once our bond yields are falling.

Gummy Panda · 04-10-2013 08:00AM

Some of it is well fake.

There use to be a traveller begging near arnotts side entrance facing M&S. She'd have a kid in the buggy, then eventually it was a sack of potatoes wrapped up to look like a kid and finally she stopped putting the effort in and had an empty buggy.

anncoates · 04-10-2013 09:14AM

Gatling wrote: »

Its a regular scam well known by anybody who works or has worked in retail security in any of the city centers ,

Personally I remember watching a woman setting up begging for food at 9am and watcher her receive various hand outs of food and bags of shopping throughout the day then watch as she passed the bags to a man to put into a van throughout the day I reckoned she was getting between. 20/30 bags a day and yet she moved to various locations around Dublin city center 7 days a week

You followed her around the city 7 days a week?

04-10-2013 09:48AM

Gummy Panda wrote: »

Some of it is well fake.

There use to be a traveller begging near arnotts side entrance facing M&S. She'd have a kid in the buggy, then eventually it was a sack of potatoes wrapped up to look like a kid and finally she stopped putting the effort in and had an empty buggy.

I know who you mean, she lives in a very very nice estate in Lucan in a 3 bed house. She trys to dodge her bus fare every ****ing time, all the drivers know her.

I wouldnt give her a shillin, shes not starvin that one, or impoverished let me tell you. Shes just a ****ing leech.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k · 04-10-2013 09:49AM

Femme_Fatale wrote: »

But... that's not always going to happen every time you give a beggar something small...

I know you're talking about giving food here,but giving something small, all adds up.

When I started working in Dublin, naive donkey that I am, would end up giving money to anyone who asked me for it.
So, it basically would start as soon as I got outside heuston station, before I'd even buy myself a luas ticket. 2 euro that man, another 2 euro to someone else ect. Some mornings I could be 8/10 euro poorer before I even got to work, and when that's pretty much every day, and you're running into the same people, naw. I copped on fairly quickly, not long after I saw that man that always sat reading a book on Stephens green, in the same spot every day, skagged off his head down that alley by coppers.

There's plenty of help out there for those people, if you really want to help, donate food or something to soup kitchens/homeless shelters.

Ray Palmer · 04-10-2013 09:56AM

Anybody who works in Dublin city centre gets used to the same faces begging and the junkies.

Been given the same sob stories numerous times by the same person but also the same story from different people and then see them talking to each other later on.

Giving anything out on the streets actually causes the problem of begging. There are services to use and you should support them and not undermine the work they do.

Look at a beggars shoes, often they are wearing fancy trainers. The junkies have even their own status symbols. They will sleep rough in order to save money to have fancy runners. The services won't give them money for runners but they can beg for the money. That is what you are paying them for.

When a guy comes up to you telling you how he lost his wallet for the 6 time in a week you can't help but be cynical. When a beggars has a spot you know they aren't doing anything to help them selves or use the services. When you see them in their spot a year later you got to wonder.

gobnaitolunacy · 04-10-2013 10:02AM

Offer to buy them a meal, they may change their tune pretty quick.

Surveyor11 · 04-10-2013 10:06AM

Personally don't give a red cent to beggars as this is generally organised in Dublin City centre (certainly by the Roma) and it encourages it amongst the junkies - I have seen the Guards move these people away from places that it's illegal to beg, like ATMs. Anyone desperate for food - the Capuchin day centre and other resources won't turn anyone away that's hungry.

I had a Roma neighbour once who came to my door in a distressed state. She begged for food from me - she said she had a 6 month old child that was starving . As it turned out at the time, we had a little guy the same age so I offered her a tub of baby powder - enough to make bottles for perhaps a week or so. She refused it point blank, insisting she wanted the money instead. Door closed pretty rapid after that.

Ray Palmer · 04-10-2013 10:15AM

Surveyor11 wrote: »

I had a Roma neighbour once who came to my door in a distressed state. She begged for food from me - she said she had a 6 month old child that was starving . .

A friend of mine had a large Roma family move in next door to her. She tried to be all PC about it but went mental at one of them when she saw them begging in the local supermarket. She was fully aware of all the benefits they were getting (due to a family member in DSP).

Then a few weeks later she spots various family members begging in Dublin city centre. She was completely livid eventually when she told the LL he kicked them out as they started begging door to door. They were in no way in need of the money.

xxmeabhxx · 04-10-2013 10:45AM

I've heard it's much better to give money to charities if you want to help the homeless than to the individuals directly because there are scams out there. My boyfriend was walking in town one day and said he saw a group of beggars being told by a woman which areas they should each cover to get the maximum yield.

AnonoBoy · 04-10-2013 11:34AM

dobman88 wrote: »

Like you OP, I would just walk past someone on the street looking for money but a few years back I saw a kid (about 12-14) sitting on a street in Dublin with a cup in front of him, as we walked past he said "anything to drink?". I am from Kerry and the person I was with is from Dublin and she said not to do anything cos the kid probably had someone nearby who would take whatever we gave. I couldn't do it so I went to a shop, bought a cup of tea and a sandwich and gave it to the kid. I then watched him from across the street. A man in his 40's came to the kid, kicked over the cup of tea, ate the sandwich and took the money from the cup. I will never again help somebody out after witnessing that!!!

Eh..... what?

A random person came up to the kid and stole his sandwich and took his money? Is that right?

Why would that put you off helping people?

mattjack · 04-10-2013 12:03PM

Ray Palmer wrote: »

Anybody who works in Dublin city centre gets used to the same faces begging and the junkies.

Been given the same sob stories numerous times by the same person but also the same story from different people and then see them talking to each other later on.

Giving anything out on the streets actually causes the problem of begging. There are services to use and you should support them and not undermine the work they do.

Look at a beggars shoes, often they are wearing fancy trainers. The junkies have even their own status symbols. They will sleep rough in order to save money to have fancy runners. The services won't give them money for runners but they can beg for the money. That is what you are paying them for.

When a guy comes up to you telling you how he lost his wallet for the 6 time in a week you can't help but be cynical. When a beggars has a spot you know they aren't doing anything to help them selves or use the services. When you see them in their spot a year later you got to wonder.

I work in the Homeless services particularly around addiction and I've never heard of a rough sleeping addict choosing to sleep out in order to get more expensive trainers , generally rough sleepers stay out because of the chaos of their addiction,lack of beds in hostels and/or fear of hostel accommodation.

Ray Palmer wrote: »

A friend of mine had a large Roma family move in next door to her. She tried to be all PC about it but went mental at one of them when she saw them begging in the local supermarket. She was fully aware of all the benefits they were getting (due to a family member in DSP).

Then a few weeks later she spots various family members begging in Dublin city centre. She was completely livid eventually when she told the LL he kicked them out as they started begging door to door. They were in no way in need of the money.

I hope that's worded arseways because if a DSP employee gave out information about somebody's benefits , they have no understanding of FOI, Data protection and confidentiality.

Elbaston · 04-10-2013 12:11PM

Buy red pepper.
Buy groceries.
If she'll willingly chomp down the pepper then she's obviously desperate for her kids, if not she's on her 5th sap of the day and will take a pass.

jimgoose · 04-10-2013 12:13PM

If some poor divil on the street, particularly a woman with a child, asked me for food, I would give it to them. If there's one thing that drives me nucken futs it's the idea of people going hungry, especially in a Western society.

OldNotWIse · 04-10-2013 12:15PM

Maybe I'm cynical, but I think pretty much everything is a scam. I have trouble trusting anyone.

Ray Palmer · 04-10-2013 12:17PM

mattjack wrote: »

I work in the Homeless services particularly around addiction and I've never heard of a rough sleeping addict choosing to sleep out in order to get more expensive trainers , generally rough sleepers stay out because of the chaos of their addiction,lack of beds in hostels and/or fear of hostel accommodation. .

Well my friends deal with addicts too and they are the one who explained it to me. I'll believe them over you as I know they work with the homeless and addicts and have to take your word you do.

mattjack wrote: »

I hope that's worded arseways because if a DSP employee gave out information about somebody's benefits , they have no understanding of FOI, Data protection and confidentiality.

People can understand things and choose not to do them.

LeinsterDub · 04-10-2013 01:30PM

stoneill wrote: »

I must admit that if I ever found myself homeless and without income I would not know where to go or who to see. I would probably end up begging for food after a day or two.

Yet you know how to post on boards , surely you could Google "homeless support in Ireland"?

mattjack · 04-10-2013 03:06PM

Ray Palmer wrote: »

Well my friends deal with addicts too and they are the one who explained it to me. I'll believe them over you as I know they work with the homeless and addicts and have to take your word you do.

People can understand things and choose not to do them.

Did your friends who work in these services call them "junkies" ?

biko · 04-10-2013 03:09PM

I usually give them lemons, for lemonade.

rubadub · 04-10-2013 03:48PM

elfy4eva wrote: »

Obviously depends on the situation, but I wouldn't be surprised if this was a bit of creative begging using social engineering. ie. If you ask for food people will see you as authentically desperate and more likely to give money to you (as who walks around with food to give out)

That's what I thought. People are wary about money being spent on booze/drugs or given to some begging gang ringleader. So by asking for food it seems genuine, people are not likely to have a spare loaf, or go journey to a shop & buy it for them, so might be more likely to give money thinking it definitely will go on food.

The OP said it was grafton street area. If I was a genuine beggar looking for food and not money I would be outside a supermarket. This way passerbys could nip in and buy the bread. Otherwise it certainly looks like they are after the money to me.

You get beggars asking for money for a hostel, these hostels should sell vouchers if this is genuine.

There was a story of some shoeless beggar in winter around stephens green, looking for extra pity with his bare feet. People offered to buy him shoes and were told to fuck off...

mattjack · 04-10-2013 04:54PM

rubadub wrote: »

That's what I thought. People are wary about money being spent on booze/drugs or given to some begging gang ringleader. So by asking for food it seems genuine, people are not likely to have a spare loaf, or go journey to a shop & buy it for them, so might be more likely to give money thinking it definitely will go on food.

The OP said it was grafton street area. If I was a genuine beggar looking for food and not money I would be outside a supermarket. This way passerbys could nip in and buy the bread. Otherwise it certainly looks like they are after the money to me.

You get beggars asking for money for a hostel, these hostels should sell vouchers if this is genuine.

There was a story of some shoeless beggar in winter around stephens green, looking for extra pity with his bare feet. People offered to buy him shoes and were told to fuck off...

You're right in your thinking , there are enough food services and services that provide in the city ,most or certainly a lot are tapping for alcohol/drugs .

If you think about it , a welfare payment here is about 188 a week , one bag of heroin is 20 euro and very few street addicts are on a single bag a day never mind whatever tablets they are taking.

Some hostels have a long stay system where you pay 50 or 60 euros upfront a week if you a longstay bed or either 3.50 or 4.50 a night off the freephone.

stoneill · 04-10-2013 05:00PM

LeinsterDub wrote: »

Yet you know how to post on boards , surely you could Google "homeless support in Ireland"?

How could I do that? Homeless and no money except internet access?

Paramite Pie · 04-10-2013 05:48PM

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Eh..... what?

A random person came up to the kid and stole his sandwich and took his money? Is that right?

Why would that put you off helping people?

You must be very innocent.:o

There are people out there who have kids begging for them. Anything the kids get (money, food etc..) is taken by their handlers. If the kids try to eat the food themselves the would be beaten. The kids get the leftovers. These handlers may or may not be the parents themselves.

Same thing happens with child pick pockets. Some handlers may have dozens of kids begging/stealing for them with one guy taking all the profits.

Gummy Panda · 04-10-2013 05:59PM

rubadub wrote: »

.

There was a story of some shoeless beggar in winter around stephens green, looking for extra pity with his bare feet. People offered to buy him shoes and were told to fuck off...

He was on Mary Street and not homeless. His friend would take his shoes and he would do the sad crying face. Pensioners would give him money or buy him shoes. He would bin the shoes if cheap Penney's ones.

mattjack · 04-10-2013 06:01PM

Paramite Pie wrote: »

You must be very innocent.:o

There are people out there who have kids begging for them. Anything the kids get (money, food etc..) is taken by their handlers. If the kids try to eat the food themselves the would be beaten. The kids get the leftovers. These handlers may or may not be the parents themselves.

Same thing happens with child pick pockets. Some handlers may have dozens of kids begging/stealing for them with one guy taking all the profits.

Sorta like an Oliver Twist scenario ?

shuffles88 · 04-10-2013 06:14PM

Gummy Panda wrote: »

He was on Mary Street and not homeless. His friend would take his shoes and he would do the sad crying face. Pensioners would give him money or buy him shoes. He would bin the shoes if cheap Penney's ones.

I remember that guy from the particularly bad winter we had back in 2010. I'm not a very hard hearted person but I took one look at him and I thought you exploitive bollix I hope you get the flu:mad:. Plenty of elderly people, families etc. were stuck in freezing cold houses with no help but this utter b-word was choosing to act this way. A whole rash of shoeless beggars appeared after that as I recall.

Begging for food

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