I have had this argument with friends many times.

I find Father Tony's response offensive. Father Tony, I do respect you and read your writing often and usually with great approval. I just think you are wrong this time.

Contrary to anecdotes like the one above about the landowner who got rich off of begging, most beggars are poor and homeless, and may also struggle with abuse, addiction, and untreated health problems. 3.5 million Americans are homeless and 36,600 people in New York City alone sleep on the streets.

36 million Americans live below the poverty line and over 1.5 million New Yorkers live in poverty.

Someone who is not homeless and/or does not live below the poverty line has no right to judge the lifestyle or motivations of people who must live like this. It is insulting to poor people to insinuate that they are all liars, swindlers and criminals such as this post does. Taking a few personal anecdotes to pass judgment on a whole class of people... well there's a word for that.

What these massive numbers do say to me is that passing out money on the street doesn't really tackle the real problem, it only alleviates the passing guilt of those of us better situated. If we wanted to actually end homelessness and poverty, we would have to start doing uncomfortable things like changing our behavior in real ways and tackling systems of oppression.

I say, give money on the street if you want, or don't if you don't want to, but refrain from judging the circumstances of society's most vulnerable members.

Thank you for your reply Father Tony.

Here is why it seems that you are making general statements about indigent people to me:

"your argument was about beggars who claim hardship and misfortune. There are some things you do not see because you are not a resident."

This is sounds like a dismissal of the notion that beggars lead a life of hardship.

You follow with 3 anecdotal examples to prove... something. What are your anecdotes meant to prove? As a reader they looked like they were meant to prove that beggars are liars, swindlers and criminals as opposed to oppressed and marginalized people with a legitimate claim to social help.

I'm glad we agree on the stats and on the fact that ALL homeless people aren't this that or the other thing. I'm just trying to explain my reaction.

@Austen
What's going on with the statement that we need to "hold the person in need accountable for taking control of their own life." ? Why place the blame on the poor? I'm sure we already know this, but no one wants to be indigent. People who are healthy stay poor because of marginalization, criminalization, and discrimination. People who suffer from mental health, physical health, and addiction problems cannot be held accountable for their actions... only society can be held accountable for our treatment of them.

I don't understand this infantilizing of the poor, as though somehow those of us who aren't poor know what's best for them.

Giving money to an org means giving it to people who already have money who decide *for* the poor what's best for them. I leave it to individuals who want to give to decide if that's any better than giving $$ on the street.

I have lived in Manhattan for 22 years. In the beginning I would give a dollar here or there, until I wised up.

Now instead of giving money I always say I will give them food. Yet, in all my years, not one of them wants the food. WHY? Because they want to buy booze or drugs, probably the very reason that they are homeless. So Mr. Czech, you want to give money to someone to buy drugs go ahead. I won't.

GeorDy, your partner was right. Give the money to a charity that helps the homeless.

I was recently on a 2 week vacation on the West Coast, part of the time spent in Seattle to see the (very pricey) Ring Cycle, and saw a street beggar who looked like he was strung out on drugs and with dirty raggedy clothing. He held a sign that said " I need $100 for a hotel and a hooker". I felt sorry for him, a bit guilty for taking such an expensive vacation during the recession , and decided to make a contribution to a soup kitchen/homeless resource center in my hometown (S.O.M.E., so others might eat), to which I contribute a few times a year. This article is reminding me to do that. A disproportionate amount of money received by panhandlers goes for drugs, cigarettes, and booze. Most people on the street become "street wise" rather quickly about where they can get a meal, etc. I think that the organized groups dealing with that are the best to support.

RE: Salvation Army: Although they do some decent work with the homeless, they are very anti-gay, and have gone to Court in order to discriminate against their Gay employees. Since there are many other alternatives to which one may contribute, to help the homeless, I choose to support other groups.

It bothers me when people get all judgmental and won't give money to homeless people. Sure, some are frauds, but they will answer to God for that.

Sure there are places to eat for homeless people, but why should they not at least occasionally be able to decide what they eat, a burger and fries instead of beef stew and vegetables. A candy bar and a pack of cigarettes or $5 cash in the pocket might be just what the person needs to feel better and may be what they need to get back on track, because it gives them back a piece of personal dignity. Maybe they need some minutes for their cell phone, bus fare, or rain poncho. Just because homeless people have cells does not mean they have an expensive plan or are frauds. Sometimes family members will provide a homeless relative with a phone. A Tracfone is $14 and minute cards as little as $20.

Not all homeless people are drunks or drug addicts. Many have families that depend on them to bring in money or get a tiny disability check that does not cover the bills. Thanks to the Republicans, a person has a great deal of trouble living on a check.

Just give as Jesus gave or don't if you can't or don't want to. A lot of the homeless "ministries" have stringent rules or mistreat homeless people, especially those who are mentally ill and some, like the Salvation Army, charge for a bed. Many are run by conservative religious groups that make the residents listen to a message before they are allowed to eat and some are way too crowded for mentally ill people to cope with. Don't judge. It is not your place. And 6 months from now you could be on the street.

Father Tony,

I was born and raised in NYC and I do not give money to panhandlers. I do however buy a hot dog, a drink or the like on occasion when I am motivated (as you were) at the moment. More often I donate to the cause through managed programs and volunteer at times. As a great example here in NYC funding and donations are scarce for out GLBT center and the Ali Forney center, the latter which supports homeless youths.

I think both you and your partner have valid points (either point could be right depending on the panhandler). I also believe there are ways to help that remove polar perspectives and cut to the core of your motivation, which I view as helping the needy. An unfortunate fact I see even with my friends who are well off: they give in the moment, but not necessarily to causes not in their face.

We've all encountered pro beggars. I think the correct reponse is "Sorry, I can't help you," and then move on, rather than deliver a lecture or angry glare. But I would not write off all beggars as liars or losers. How big a deal is it to give 50 cents or a buck to someone? Is it really that much of a sacrifice? Those of us coming from a religious background know that giving alms to the poor is one of our responsibilities. If you prefer to funnel your donations thru an agency, that's fine -- provided you have researched the organization. As a reporter, I have encountered a number of do-gooder groups that use donations mainly to benefit themselves, rather than clients. During grad school, I lived for a year in India, where begging was much more prevalent and institutionalized. You eventually have to acquire the horrible skill of "non-seeing" the emaciated and sometimes intentionally maimed kids swarming around you. Yet, when you're safely out of sight of the big begging gangs, you often stop and give a lone kid a couple of rupees to shine your shoes or do an errand. These days, I occasionally help my storefront church take food and used clothing directly into the parks for giving to poor people, some of whom are employed families who have been evicted. City officials in Florida have tried to shut down such projects as public nuisances, but judges have upheld the right of association. We also send money to an interfaith coalition that runs soup kitchens and helps people get cleaned up and dressed nicely for job-searching. There's no right or wrong answer that applies to every situation; just pay attention to what that inner voice is trying to tell you.

honestly, i'd rather give than not. a quarter of fifty cents is not going to kill me and my not giving is not going to cure them... i have lots of stories too and actually worked with homeless, disabled and abused people. criminalizing poverty does not make it go away.

Dear GeorDy, god bless your good soul. don't change regadless of what the cold hearted tell you.

it takes a lot more than sharing half a sandwich to solve the ills that face us as a people and turning a cold back on poverty is just so much more a way to make one feel self righteous than giving someone a small coin. that sense of self justification comes out clearly when one has to explain how one is really actually usually generous. cold hearted ruthless judgemental is not how jesus looked at the sinner.

after 30 years of ronald reaganism bushism and newt gringrinchism it is time we stop blaming the victims and stop blaming altogether, stop yelling you lie, and start being humans again.

there would be no beggars on the streets if poor people did not have to beg and yes some wackos misfits sickos and mentally deranged and some con artists get in there too. but there would not be anyone begging if we as a people took care of each other, and really took the declaration of independence seriously.