A Call For Action

[b&wpac4]

I've been working in Washington DC for several months now, and the longer I'm there, the harder it is for me to see the homeless people and feel unable to do anything. On my half mile walk, I see at least five people begging for change. When I first got there, I tried to give some each day, but it became difficult as I quickly realized that I would be in poverty if I gave and gave. These people are not defective and they do not deserve to be in the position.

So, my question is what can we do to help this problem?

What can you do?

I'm going to try to give to some charities. Still trying to decide which ones.

 

[JJWhite]

Hmmm...

I may be very naive for thinking this way...

but, could one tiny PART of the solution be in providing workshops or something on thinking outside the box and taking initiative to make money in other than conventional ways?

 

[b&wpac4]

but, could one tiny PART of the solution be in providing workshops or something on thinking outside the box and taking initiative to make money in other than conventional ways?

Do you mean for the homeless themselves?

 

[JJWhite]

Do you mean for the homeless themselves?

yeah... free of charge... I wonder what it would take... like I say, this may be very unrealistic???? Like, try to talk to some in a place where there are several homeless people to spread the word.. I guess it would take someone who could really communicate care for them and promise of opportunity... and then, even if just a few gathered... one could try to motivate... but first one would really have to study what kinds of things could be options??? I don't know... just a thought

 

[b&wpac4]

That's why I am planning to give to charities that provide similar services. I know I lack the skills to setup anything even close to that.

 

[xDenax]

I give to one of our local homeless shelters. I have a friend in LA who sometimes carries around food in case someone needs it. I'm not sure what we can do as a whole, as a society. It's a very complicated issue.

Does your congregation house the homeless? Around here we have a organization that deals with the homeless issue and one of the things they do is partner with a couple synagogues. For a certain amount of time the synagogue hosts homeless families, gives them a place to sleep and food to eat. If you don't have a program like that in DC or your synagogue isn't participating you could look into doing something like that.

 

[JJWhite]

A few college students here started up a non-profit organization to help provide services to women specifically who are in need of help... no one thinks they can pull it off successfully (due to their age), so, some time ago, they asked me to join the board (I suppose to add credibility since I'm older).... I agreed, but a couple of days ago when they asked me to sign the by-laws... I guess you could say I started fearing the responsibility, and thought of just helping unofficially.... this has been on my mind for the past couple days. This post of yours in making me GUILTY. I don't know what to do... I don't think wanting me on there because of 'who I am' and not 'what I will offer' is good thinking, but I don't want to turn my back on them either.

 

[jacks]

I would give to local Rescue Missions and food banks. If you search on-line you will find one in your area. I think it is better than just giving them money directly, so that you know that it is spent on food and shelter.

 

[razeontherock]

These people are not defective and they do not deserve to be in the position.

Ministering to our street population is an eye opening activity, that's for sure!

 

[Arthra]

Well my career was in Social Work and I've seen many programs over the years that sought to address the needs of people.. there was the "War on Poverty" and many other programs. I think the ssafety net has pretty much been torn to shreds and we've lost the war on poverty in the US.

Now retired I find I must help my son who has been unemployed for over a year keep his medical insurance by paying his premium.. Seeing that he has some work helping my wife on her teaching job and my sister hired him to look after a warehouse..anyway he has been ineligible for unemployment benefits.

My disabled son I assist him in keeping appointments getting meds and seeing that his basic needs are met.

A few days ago at a Jack in the Box restaurant i saw an old lady that seemed much the worse for ware standing under a tree.. I gestured to her to follow us into the restaurant and told her I'd buy anything she wanted on the menu.. She chose a cheeseburger for a $1.45 ..so I bought it for her.. She sat at her own table and had lunch..

but I'll tell you friends poverty is much more widepread than it was when I was growing up.. of course in my parents time they had the Great Depression.

 

[Philothei]

I think that to give to the local shelter foof bank is the best bet in order to help the local homless population. It is sad that we cannot help someone persoanally who is indeed homeless..... I remember an incident where my friend did indeed helped a homeless man to get his social security and helped him to find a rent control appartment It was strange as he later on contacted his children who were surprised to see their father was taken care by a stranger.... I wonder if we can do this in our times more frequently... All these homeless people are our fellow man and the numbers are increasing out there... I think it is time to take action and encourage our own church/parish to take care "one homeless at a time" project. I a bit tired of the "impersonal collective charity" where there is no personal involvent.

 

[BruceDLimber]

Our scriptures have a very straightforward solution to this problem!:

Not only are we forbidden to beg; we're also forbidden to give to beggars.

I refer such people to shelters and other agencies that can assist them.

Bruce

 

[b&wpac4]

we're also forbidden to give to beggars.

That's almost the exact opposite approach to Judaism. We're told that we are supposed to give. The problem is that while that may work in a small town, once we get to big cities we cannot simply give cash to everybody. I'd give myself into poverty.

Are donations to charities that help these people encouraged?

 

[Philothei]

In my birth city in a suberb of Athens I am faced with the same problem... How can we refer these individuals to the "agencies" though? What about if they are not willing to go or they are already full? I too do not agree to begging but we are commanded to give charity to the poor and if the only poor we see around us are indeed these beggers then are we to just avoid helping them?

I am personally torn whenever I am approched by them and in our country (Greece) it does represents a social problem... esp. with our finacial situation. I do not live permanently in Greece but whenever I visit it does breaks my heart

 

[ViribusUnitis]

I've been working in Washington DC for several months now, and the longer I'm there, the harder it is for me to see the homeless people and feel unable to do anything. On my half mile walk, I see at least five people begging for change. When I first got there, I tried to give some each day, but it became difficult as I quickly realized that I would be in poverty if I gave and gave. These people are not defective and they do not deserve to be in the position.

So, my question is what can we do to help this problem?

What can you do?

I'm going to try to give to some charities. Still trying to decide which ones.

You can't save the world on your own. It's just too big, too many options, choices. So choose one, focus on that and give the best of yourself.

 

[ViribusUnitis]

Our scriptures have a very straightforward solution to this problem!:

Not only are we forbidden to beg; we're also forbidden to give to beggars.

I refer such people to shelters and other agencies that can assist them.

Bruce

Circumstances should be taken into account, if you ask me.

 

[Arthra]

Our scriptures have a very straightforward solution to this problem!:

Not only are we forbidden to beg; we're also forbidden to give to beggars.

I refer such people to shelters and other agencies that can assist them.

Bruce

This is correct Bruce but as you recall even Abdul-Baha gave his trousers to a man who needed them when He visited the poorer sections of New York in 1912.

 

[Arthra]

The thing is it will take more than charity to correct the problem as these issues as we know go beyond giving to a poor person.. They are systemic to the society and after the great social programs have been disabled by uhh certain parties which will remain nameless, the only immediate resortt is dependence on charity.

 

[xDenax]

Our scriptures have a very straightforward solution to this problem!:

Not only are we forbidden to beg; we're also forbidden to give to beggars.

I refer such people to shelters and other agencies that can assist them.

Bruce

Why?

As B&W already stated, that is very contrary to Judaism. Giving to the needy is an obligation. Maimonides compiled a ladder of giving from the least meritorious to the most. This is just a simple version. You can see that giving when asked is on the list though it's always good to give before being asked.

1. Giving begrudgingly
2. Giving less that you should, but giving it cheerfully.
3. Giving after being asked
4. Giving before being asked
5. Giving when you do not know the recipient's identity, but the recipient knows your identity
6. Giving when you know the recipient's identity, but the recipient doesn't know your identity
7. Giving when neither party knows the other's identity
8. Enabling the recipient to become self-reliant

 

[b&wpac4]

Why?
As B&W already stated, that is very contrary to Judaism. Giving to the needy is an obligation. Maimonides compiled a ladder of giving from the least meritorious to the most. This is just a simple version. You can see that giving when asked is on the list though it's always good to give before being asked.

My problem is that it feels like trying to stop a flood with buckets. You just aren't going to be able to do it.