Results: How do you Help the Homeless?
Published on 11/11/2015
QUESTIONS
GO to COMMENTS
Comments
1.
1.
When you see a homeless individual, do you generally try to help them with their situation? Yes, I always try to help
7%
118 votes
I try to help most of the time
14%
250 votes
I sometimes try to help
36%
622 votes
I rarely try to help
23%
397 votes
I never try to help
20%
348 votes
2.
2.
If you do stop to help the homeless, in what ways do you or have you typically tried to help? Donate money
42%
721 votes
Buy the individual some food
31%
530 votes
Buy the individual clothing
6%
96 votes
Buy the individual some other form of assistance
6%
99 votes
Stop to talk
17%
295 votes
Make referrals to community agencies
16%
277 votes
Other (please specify)
18%
312 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| na | 3.48% | 81 |
| n/a | 3.00% | 70 |
| 2.23% | 52 | |
| nothing | 0.64% | 15 |
| none | 0.52% | 12 |
| i don't | 0.17% | 4 |
| no | 0.09% | 2 |
| not applicable | 0.09% | 2 |
| do nothing | 0.09% | 2 |
| none of the above | 0.09% | 2 |
| i support "homeless" charities | 0.04% | 1 |
| don't | 0.04% | 1 |
| used to take a small bag of fruit on my way to work, but retired now | 0.04% | 1 |
| give through agencies | 0.04% | 1 |
| it depends. | 0.04% | 1 |
| give them a place to live | 0.04% | 1 |
| n/ | 0.04% | 1 |
| ns | 0.04% | 1 |
| it's a great idea to give them money so they can use it to buy more drugs. | 0.04% | 1 |
| scowl | 0.04% | 1 |
| nothing i can do | 0.04% | 1 |
| give used clothes and maybe food | 0.04% | 1 |
| none of the above. a lot of these people are homeless because they want to be. | 0.04% | 1 |
| na. i can barely take care of myself. | 0.04% | 1 |
| i don't help. but if i could i would | 0.04% | 1 |
| give items i have on hand | 0.04% | 1 |
| no homeless people in my town | 0.04% | 1 |
| give them poisons for suicide | 0.04% | 1 |
| i don't stop | 0.04% | 1 |
| notihnkj | 0.04% | 1 |
| donate to homeless shelters | 0.04% | 1 |
| mm | 0.04% | 1 |
| say hello and smile at them, i give to a charity that helps them. | 0.04% | 1 |
| i help people i know who are having financial problems. | 0.04% | 1 |
| i keep a small kit in my car: snacks, personal hygiene stuff, etc and give it out if i see someone who might like it. | 0.04% | 1 |
| hand out water | 0.04% | 1 |
| give blankets | 0.04% | 1 |
| work indirectly via a group | 0.04% | 1 |
| no homeless here | 0.04% | 1 |
| give them a granola bar or food i have on me | 0.04% | 1 |
| never run into a homeless person/s | 0.04% | 1 |
| don't money and goods to local charities who support these people | 0.04% | 1 |
| no homeless people where i live | 0.04% | 1 |
| i knit/crochet hats & scarves all year for the homeless. | 0.04% | 1 |
| give them food | 0.04% | 1 |
| donate to amvets and vietnam veterans of america only | 0.04% | 1 |
| make eye contact, acknowledge their presence | 0.04% | 1 |
| i donate monthly. it helps many in need. | 0.04% | 1 |
| n.a. | 0.04% | 1 |
| nada | 0.04% | 1 |
| pet food | 0.04% | 1 |
| i have never been aare of any homeless in our place | 0.04% | 1 |
| ask him/her if i can buy him/her lunch/dinner at the restaurant near-by | 0.04% | 1 |
| donate items to mission, homeless shelter | 0.04% | 1 |
| too personal to specify | 0.04% | 1 |
| used to donate, but don't anymore | 0.04% | 1 |
| offered them jobs, but no one ever showed up | 0.04% | 1 |
| why is there no n/a option, you stupid fuck? | 0.04% | 1 |
| n/a we don't have a lot of homeless people around our aread (western ks) | 0.04% | 1 |
| not applicable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | 0.04% | 1 |
| offer them food | 0.04% | 1 |
| help in soup kitchen | 0.04% | 1 |
| donate clothing | 0.04% | 1 |
| b | 0.04% | 1 |
| if they have a dog i provide some dog food/treats | 0.04% | 1 |
| buy them booze. | 0.04% | 1 |
| walk on by | 0.04% | 1 |
| say hi, give em a cigarette so they don't have to pick butts off the ground | 0.04% | 1 |
| give them cigarrettes | 0.04% | 1 |
| donate to food bank | 0.04% | 1 |
| not much | 0.04% | 1 |
| i donate to food bank not to individuals | 0.04% | 1 |
| given them a gift certificate to a local tim horton's | 0.04% | 1 |
| i don't help | 0.04% | 1 |
| see comments below | 0.04% | 1 |
| don't engage with homeless people | 0.04% | 1 |
| donations to shelters | 0.04% | 1 |
| took in an old friend briefly who grossly abused the situation. | 0.04% | 1 |
| give loose change or a dollar | 0.04% | 1 |
| very rarely ever see a homeless person. i contribute to salvation army, goodwill, and city mission. | 0.04% | 1 |
3.
3.
Given the number of barriers the homeless population faces, including drug and alcohol/substance use, do you generally find it a better example to purchase items for a homeless individual rather than to give them money? Yes, I want to make sure my money is spent on helping them rather than going to unknown items
28%
480 votes
Yes, purchasing food, clothing, or other needed items is a better human response and directly meets needs
27%
463 votes
Yes, purchasing food, clothing, or other items provides me a better personal connection to the individual
12%
205 votes
No, providing food or clothing removes personal choice from the individual
9%
148 votes
No, it is none of my business how the homeless individual spends money they receive
29%
502 votes
Other (please specify)
9%
157 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| n/a | 2.40% | 47 |
| na | 1.89% | 37 |
| 1.79% | 35 | |
| not applicable | 0.10% | 2 |
| i don't help, but if i did, i don't know what i'd do | 0.05% | 1 |
| i offer a referral to social services, not money, no food | 0.05% | 1 |
| not sure | 0.05% | 1 |
| i support "homeless" charities | 0.05% | 1 |
| agree with all of the choices, no right or wrong as long as you can help out anyway you can or feel comfortable with | 0.05% | 1 |
| if you purchase them items they'll have more money for drugs. please learn how to think. | 0.05% | 1 |
| r | 0.05% | 1 |
| i don't donate | 0.05% | 1 |
| dont know | 0.05% | 1 |
| donate to homeless shelter | 0.05% | 1 |
| no homeless people where i live | 0.05% | 1 |
| the charities best know how to provide what is needed | 0.05% | 1 |
| donate money to charity | 0.05% | 1 |
| all homes filled, everyone has a key. | 0.05% | 1 |
| work indirectly via a group dedicated to helping the homeless | 0.05% | 1 |
| too dangerous | 0.05% | 1 |
| i give to a charity that takes care of them. | 0.05% | 1 |
| mmmmmmmmmmm | 0.05% | 1 |
| it depends | 0.05% | 1 |
| depends on situation | 0.05% | 1 |
| not applicable!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | 0.05% | 1 |
| same as the question above. n/a | 0.05% | 1 |
| hi | 0.05% | 1 |
| never give them money | 0.05% | 1 |
| i have never met a homeless person | 0.05% | 1 |
| no money | 0.05% | 1 |
| still nada | 0.05% | 1 |
| n a | 0.05% | 1 |
| no | 0.05% | 1 |
| need to assist changing their lifestyle somehow | 0.05% | 1 |
| i do nothing | 0.05% | 1 |
| combination of both | 0.05% | 1 |
| don't assist the homeless as doesn't help them to just use their money for drugs or booze instead. | 0.05% | 1 |
| salvation army, swap.com, | 0.05% | 1 |
| undecided | 0.05% | 1 |
| none | 0.05% | 1 |
4.
4.
Which of the following do you believe to be the most helpful to assist a homeless individual in changing his or her situation? Money
12%
213 votes
Food
32%
547 votes
Clothing
7%
116 votes
Community Referral
25%
426 votes
Respectful, real relationship
18%
306 votes
Other (please specify)
7%
127 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| n/a | 1.50% | 26 |
| na | 1.15% | 20 |
| 0.98% | 17 | |
| all of the above | 0.29% | 5 |
| all the above | 0.23% | 4 |
| nothing | 0.17% | 3 |
| shelter | 0.17% | 3 |
| all | 0.17% | 3 |
| not sure | 0.12% | 2 |
| depends on the person | 0.12% | 2 |
| a job | 0.12% | 2 |
| don't care | 0.06% | 1 |
| prayer is the best. the others are important, too. | 0.06% | 1 |
| a job and a place to live | 0.06% | 1 |
| people have to hit bottom before they will pick themselves up | 0.06% | 1 |
| get a job get off drugs | 0.06% | 1 |
| give them a bible. | 0.06% | 1 |
| help of all the above without judgement | 0.06% | 1 |
| food and clothing, and then referral that gives help | 0.06% | 1 |
| no idea | 0.06% | 1 |
| some have chosen this way of life; they don't want to change; this i have learned | 0.06% | 1 |
| free housing so they can get jobs | 0.06% | 1 |
| depends on the individual | 0.06% | 1 |
| n?a | 0.06% | 1 |
| is all of the above an option | 0.06% | 1 |
| homeless shelter or home | 0.06% | 1 |
| it's not just one thing, it's all of the above. | 0.06% | 1 |
| none. they have to eventually help themselves. | 0.06% | 1 |
| job, healthcare, mental healthcare as needed | 0.06% | 1 |
| work | 0.06% | 1 |
| helping find employment | 0.06% | 1 |
| shelter and supportive services | 0.06% | 1 |
| every single one above | 0.06% | 1 |
| it depends on the individual, one may need clothes, food, or something else. | 0.06% | 1 |
| winter shelter | 0.06% | 1 |
| idk | 0.06% | 1 |
| job and housing | 0.06% | 1 |
| unknown | 0.06% | 1 |
| depends on person | 0.06% | 1 |
| not sure what you mean here. donations is what i do. | 0.06% | 1 |
| its all important. they are human beings. | 0.06% | 1 |
| creating homes and jobs and first medical assistance. | 0.06% | 1 |
| ? | 0.06% | 1 |
| aa/na | 0.06% | 1 |
| a job | 0.06% | 1 |
| job, mental health | 0.06% | 1 |
| no | 0.06% | 1 |
| none | 0.06% | 1 |
| don't know | 0.06% | 1 |
| housing | 0.06% | 1 |
| depends on the situation | 0.06% | 1 |
COMMENTS