Giving money to people who ask for it?

You’re approached on the street by someone who asks for money. Do you give it? Do you adamantly say no? I quite often find it an ethical dilemma.

As it usually goes, you are walking, minding your own business, when someone asks you for a couple of dollars for food and / or bus fair. I have found myself at times saying, ‘No, sorry,’ when I honestly didn’t have money on me, ‘No, sorry,’ when I had money on me and, ‘Yes,’ when I had change to spare. You always hear, ‘Don’t give money to beggars because they’ll just buy drugs,’ but you can’t possibly know if that is always the case. I too often believed this.

I was watching a TED talk by Joy Sun about giving money to the poor when she touched on an idea that I thought was interesting. Wealthier people think that poorer people are, firstly, uneducated and disadvantaged and can therefore not manage money. Secondly, this leads to the assumption that only the wealthy can control and disseminate the wealth to individuals. So, in other terms, wealthier people are more inclined to think that instead of giving someone two dollars if they ask for it they would be better to go buy a loaf of bread for two dollars and give it. The argument for, ‘They’re just going to buy drugs,’ never sat right with me. You can’t know for certainty, despite it being statistically more likely, but if individuals are addicted to drugs they will seek to acquire them with any means possible. So, here are three scenarios, even if a homeless person is on drugs, and why I think you should still give money:

1. A homeless person asks for money and is given nothing. He cannot afford food or even drugs. He may turn to stealing or other means to acquire drugs or survive.
2. A homeless person asks for money and is given very little. All the money he is given goes to drugs. He doesn’t eat or sleep well.
3. A homeless person asks for money and is given a little from everyone, amounting to a lot. You don’t know they will spend it on drugs and, even if they do, they may be able to afford a decent meal or a place to stay as well.

Another common argument is, ‘Why should I pay for them?’ I don’t like this argument at all. It makes no sense. It assumes homeless people and beggars are a pure drain on society and it is all their fault they are in the position they are in. It doesn’t take into account the luck of birthright, or the inequality and challenges some individuals face for no apparent reason at all. Mostly, to put it into perspective, I was on my way to buy lunch with my girlfriend. Between us we would have spent over $30, easily. If a homeless person asks for $2, I could have helped out 15 people, all for one meal. I see no problem putting aside an almost insignificant portion of your money to help someone out.

However, it is so complicated. What do you think is right? Do you think we should give or not?