On the cold winter's days we have experienced lately your heart goes out to the homeless people you see shivering huddled under bridges and in doorways. You want to help them. You give them money or you give them warm clothing and blankets and food. But are you really helping them? Only too often the people who are really benefiting from your help are bottlestore owners and drug lords. So many of the homeless are alcoholics or drug addicts. I knew one homeless woman who used to visit me often. She lived on the street rent free. She was fed by various charitable organisations and churches, who provided regular suppers of soup and rolls at street corners, and she wore the cast-off clothes kind people gave her. Then she was able to spend her entire disability allowance on alcohol.
It is difficult to know what to do for the best. These people obviously need help. They are hungry and cold . Many, unlike the woman I mentioned, have no means of supporting themselves. If you don't help them what are they to do? But when you give to the homeless or allow them to sleep in your doorway or on your street, you are enabling them to continue in their self-destructive lifestyle. If you want to help give generously to the organisations that build and maintain shelters and to the centres that rehabilitate addicts.
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