Which is why I show compassion for them at a distance. And hope and pray that they try to go get some help.
And I know that if you yourself have been burnt once, you'd take the necessary steps to avoid the same thing from happening again. Not to wish any bad luck on you at all.
But the bottom line is, that help IS availible out there for them, and it more than likely costs them nothing. Nothing but time work and patience.
Some will ask for money and they are usually standing next to a liquor store, so you know what they want the money for. And if they are drunk or they drink to get drunk, I figure that if I were to give them money, well, I'm hurting them even more because that is more alcohol in their system, stomach and liver. That's why I shy away from giving them money.
Some will ask for money to get somethinjg to eat, or they eat food from the trash can.
I know that in Boston during the torridly hot summer weather and during the most bitterly cold days of winter, the homeless shelters and the police will go around and try to pull the homeless off the streets so that they won't die from the blazing heat of the sun or the bitter cold.
I can only look at them and shake my head. I might suggest to them to try to get to a shelter, but it's still up to them to make the move. Otherwise I can't force them to do it.
Here's another one of my old sayings; You can lead a horse or a dog to water, but you can't make them drink it.
I really don't have anything against them. They are human beings as well. Actually, it's society and the system that is failing them. I've always said that in cases like this, the system is broken and it needs to be fixed.
Sounds a bit more compassionate than this:
I never offer these people any money because I feel like this; That since they are out there all day begging for money, then why in the world can't they be looking for a job?!
Most of them just don't want to go get help. They just would rather stay out in the streets and be bums where garbage food is for free and so are empty soda bottles and cans!