Linda Hall: Decision time when hand goes out

Linda Hall

Opinion

Here's a question for you - are all beggars homeless or are all homeless beggars?
The answer, of course, is no to both.

There are plenty of beggars on our streets who have a home to go to and there are homeless people out there trying their best to pull themselves out of poverty, find a home to live in and earn enough to feed their families.

There are also beggars who use the money they are given to feed themselves, which is what most people giving their cash expect them to do with it.

We all know ours is a kind and generous community and that many people simply can't go past beggars without handing over some coin.

However, as we have heard in the last few days, some are blatantly working the streets for the sole purpose of raising funds to buy drugs or alcohol to feed their habit.

How do we know the difference? We don't.

If you give money to beggars, once it's left your hand it belongs to them and they can do with it what they wish. The giver has no control over that.

Napier City Councillor Faye White has raised concerns about some of the beggars in the Napier CBD being aggressive and I've read hundreds of texts on the subject with varying views on the matter.

Some say giving money encourages more people to beg, others say to have compassion, that these people are down on their luck and need our help.

And they are right. People get into trouble financially for all sorts of reasons, however as I said before Hawke's Bay is a community that keeps on giving.

We have loads of groups that are there for people who through no fault of their own have found themselves unable to pay rent, mortgage or buy food.

Limitless Hope is still on the streets feeding the homeless and hungry, the Salvation Army constantly helps people with food parcels, clothing and bedding.

From what I am hearing, and have experienced, the people who need the most help are not those being aggressive on the streets.

A young man asked for a handout when I was walking to work a while ago. I may have written about it.

He said: "Have you got some money?" I told him I hadn't.

He replied: "Yes, you have, you just don't want to give it".

I said in my most polite voice: "Why don't you try and get a job?"

I can't print his response but suffice to say I was glad it wasn't dark and I wasn't alone on the street with him.

Most people don't like confrontation - being abused in the street is not nice.

However, people beg all over the world. It's not new and it's not going to go away.

When I was in Los Angeles last year and cycled along the beach at Santa Monica, on one side was a beautiful, sandy beach and the sparkling ocean, while on the other people slept rough everywhere.

They would roll their beds of cardboard up and park them under a tree for the day.

Some set up little stalls selling trinkets, others begged.

The people being aggressive are not going to disappear any time soon and, as usual, it's the bad apples who make it worse for those in genuine need.

As for giving money - it's yours - do with it what you think best.

* Linda Hall is Hawke's Bay Today assistant editor.