This is my approach too, except I adopted just one guy who was always at a particular corner. He was polite and friendly and never seemed strung out. My rule was if I saw him, I bought and brought him lunch or dinner. Over the years we got to know each other a little bit. He saw my amp in the back seat one day and his face lit up and he allowed as how he used to play. I told myself that if he ever got clean and sober I'd give him my guitar. I didn't tell him - thought it might be too much pressure.jabman wrote:I have a friend that took a different aproch to helping people like this out and I have adopted it ia well. He would carry extra food in his lunch expecally when he knew he would be passing one of these people. They used to hang out ( and probably still do but I havn't been by there in a long time) at a certin busy off ramp with a sign that said will work for food. so my frind would pull up to them and give him the extra food he had for the day.
I don't think it wise to give them money because you don't know if they are legit or not. But doing nothing is not right eather. This way if they are trully hungry they get food and if it is a scam then they get a free lunch and you are not supporting their habit.
So one day he shyly said he'd been clean and sober for 13 months, and was trying to get a job but nobody would consider him because he didn't have an address. So I asked around and without my knowing it, one of the community activists I asked went right over to see him, got him a spot in transitional housing, and eventually he got a job and got off the street for good.
He got a guitar, too.