That is an awesome picture Dennis. Thanks for re-sharing. I should have known there would be a past thread about this. There is a past thread about everything Going to find it and see what others haved said.

I normally give food. I never thought about the soup (what a great idea) but would go to the closest fast food and buy a bag of food.

When I lived in a more urban area there were a lot of homeless and a few homeless camps with quite a few pets.

Everyone has a different threshold for being "scammed". I'm sure I have been several times and I can live with that a lot easier then living with the idea that I didn't help someone in need for fear of being scammed.

I do prefer giving food directly rather then cash.

Salvation Army is one of the few large charities I will donate to. Pretty much the only one. Most of my money goes locally but years ago when I was a social worker Salvation Army was always there ready to help when I called them on someone's behalf. They would have someone in temp. housing, food, and clothed while other organizations were still filling out the paperwork.

I have the pleasure of working with many homeless, crazies, drug addicts, violent offenders, and criminals on a weekly basis.

Giving out cash is probably the worst thing a person could do, because the majority of the time it's going to go towards supporting that persons habit, whatever that may be. I've been dealing with them for over a decade, I know how it works.

Giving food, clothing, and supplies is the route to take. If they don't want the assistance in that form, then they really don't need your assistance at all.

I'm sorry to say too, be careful when you approach "homeless", even if they do have a pet. There have been incidents of people getting robbed in the middle of the day out in public all over the country. One of the most common scenarios is "homeless" guy gets arrested and sent to jail, pet goes to a shelter. "Homeless" guy gets 3 square meals, and a bed for a few days, pet gets taken care of at the shelter. "Homeless" guy gets out of jail and claims his pet at the shelter. Everyones had free meals, free vet care, etc and they walk away happy with no bill.

It really is a game to some of them, they know how long they're going to get locked up. The ones with no pets cause more serious crimes during the cold months so they can stay in jail and be more comfortable then on the street.

Sad but true.

I too have worked with this sector of society for over 20 years.

In many cases the lack of responsibilities and carefree freedom becomes an ingrained attractive lifestyle. Sure nobody want to be cold and hungry but I think the communities with the larger populations of homeless do an incredible job, ensuring that adequate shelter and food is provided during the more extreme weather conditions. Not many starve or die of hypothermia up here and we have big problems in the larger cities.

I've seen suitable jobs offered to homeless people that they've turned down as well as shelter that is refused. We have a very generous welfare system that many take advantage of only to find out that rent is never paid, minimal job search requirements are not met and/or basic life skills help is not taken advantage of.

But please don't get me wrong, there are some pretty sad stories out there. And with those sad stories comes a tremendous amount of help. The success stories are also many and even more heart warming when you've had a hand in turning someone's life around.

If I come across a particular situation that actually grabs my heart (not many these days - you get jaded pretty quick when you've gone above and beyond in advocating for a true scam artist), but if they're trying to get my attention, I will stop and interact with them in highly public areas like Walmart (where many of them hang out - more folks that can empathize with their situation).

I think they bank on the quick buck and folks being too busy to take the time to find out what's really going on for them. A few strategic questions of interest can have them moving on quicker than you if their story isn't a good one.

One of the biggest complaints from the homeless is that they feel invisible, they feel that nobody sees them. Personally I think it's more that they're not getting enough people to stop and give them money. They want to be seen and heard.

Let them know how you feel. Wow, it must be hard living on the street, how long has it been for you? What's the coldest weather that you've slept in? How did you survive that? What's your dog’s name, how long have you had him? Times are tough right now, when was your last job? What is it that you do? You're asking me for money and I'm sure you can appreciate my concern with just handing my hard earned dollars away, can you tell me a bit about what got you to the place you're at now.

Make them earn that dollar and often you'll get a really interesting story. Don’t just hand that loose change over.

Being in the business, I'm full of a tremendous amount of resources. If you've got a soft spot for these situations, it might be worth your while to familiarize yourself with the resources in your community - contact your nearest welfare department.

Depending on what the needs of the individual are - medical attention, dental, a bath, food, housing, community support groups, etc. you may be able to offer up something more than a dime and really make a change in a person's life, that truly needs and wants it.

Ben is right, simply giving them a dollar is the worst thing you can do. Any behavior, especially one that's monetarily reinforced, will most certainly be repeated.

I volunteer with a group of veterinarians and vet techs that offer free veterinary care to the homeless's pets in Los Angeles. It's amazing how much better care people take of their animals than themselves. It's run by all donation of supplies and time, including food, vaccines, medications, and we even have surgery days.

It's pretty awesome to see how much more truly grateful these people are than some of the average pet owners. A lot of them have jobs, a lot are trying to help animals. Most of their pets were also homeless - strays on the street. To help them help get these animals healthy again is rewarding for everyone.

 Quote: Katie Finlay

I volunteer with a group of veterinarians and vet techs that offer free veterinary care to the homeless's pets in Los Angeles. It's amazing how much better care people take of their animals than themselves. It's run by all donation of supplies and time, including food, vaccines, medications, and we even have surgery days.

It's pretty awesome to see how much more truly grateful these people are than some of the average pet owners. A lot of them have jobs, a lot are trying to help animals. Most of their pets were also homeless - strays on the street. To help them help get these animals healthy again is rewarding for everyone.

Something sort of like this just happened where I am (and was in the local paper this week, in fact). But it was a one-day event, and not ongoing.

The animal care was part of a multiple-homeless-services day. Dentists, eye doctors, chiropractors, vets, haircut professionals, DMV I.D.s, housing referrals, and much more.

Yours sounds much more intensive on the animal part. It sounds great.

It is really great They have their own facility, and it's a little makeshift but it works. You can volunteer as reception if you have no tech experience. They welcome all volunteers. It's generally twice a month. One clinic day and one surgery day. Reminds me that I need to get back out there!

http://www.hopeveterinarycenter.org/

What a nice program Katie. Wish my area had something like that.

that picture is awesome and it is a very sad situation that in this country we cannot or will not do more to help our own people that need it.

I was coming home from work one christmas eve - very cold, snow on the ground. Guy was sat on a bench, dog was wrapped up in the guys sleeping bag and the man just had a thin jacket on.

I stopped to pet the shepherd and was talking to him. The guy had spent the last of his money on a train ticket coming to town to meet his estranged parents but didn't have the final guts to go there.

I went and bought them a McDs each. I spoke to the guy some more and asked if he wanted me to call his parents for him. He agreed and I called them. Then he asked me to wait while they came to pick him up.

End result - three crying people, warm dog sat in a landrover and my good deed for christmas. Never saw them again but hope it all worked out.