Discussions

Can I ask that if people see the 2 homeless elderly fellows who frequently sit outside of Tim Horton's on Victoria Ave. and sometimes at 7-11 on 34th Street to please offer them a hot cup of coffee/hot chocolate? I saw them outside last night, all huddled under a couple of blankets. They never asked me for money, they never approached me at all in fact. I asked them if they needed change, and they politely said "no, we will be fine, thank you." I have seen one of the men before....last winter, and I bought him a meal from McDonnald's because I had a bit of extra money at that time to help in a small way. I've never seen them with alchohol, but still dont like giving money when I dont know what it will be used for, plus I am struggling myself this holliday season, so I couldnt help this time...or so I thought..I went inside and got to thinking how cold they must be. I bought my coffee and counted my change...I had just enough for 2 small hot chocolate's, so I bought them a warm drink to help them stay warm....they were so happy to receive a warm drink! If there are others out there who see these men, please, if you can, buy them a hot drink or small warm item to help them? Or maybe bring them some warm blankets and warm socks? They are someones family, and they should see the warmth of the people who live here in Brandon.. Nobody should go hungry or be cold, especially during Christmas! Thank you for reading this....and please, no negativity needed, I simply want everyone to have a warm and happy holliday this year.

Have a kind heart.  
 
we should all be as thoughtful.. you know the old saying  
"there but the grace of God go I"

Does anyone have the information for the shelter? Maybe they are unaware of the times to sign up etc.  
 

7th St Health Access is the best bet to find options for accommodation. You may be able to call directly to CMHA Emergency Shelter 761-5040 but 7th St. is a for sure thing.  
Open daily!  

Samaritan house shelter opens at 7pm every night....

Does anyone know these 2 personally? If I made up a care package for them, how would I get it to them?

one them was at Tim Hortons at Canadian Tire this morning around 7:30. I bought him a coffee and slip him a few dollars. He didn't ask for anything I offered to buy him the coffee. When I handed him the money and gave him the coffee he responded with thankyou very much sir.

there are a few different needy men around the city, could you give a brief despcription of the two youre speaking of? id like to know if its the same ones i see and help near the superstore area or different ones? thanks

would you know if they are needy? It's close to xmas and they hang around some stores and restaurants. Not necessary to hit me this comment I am saying this because I know one old man that could do this trick. Not because they are in Brandon and say thank you so much sir that makes these two honest. Another homeless guy in the past told different story the 3x I say him.  
I was only wondering

Is he one of the gentlemen you saw? I know I see him at the Dollarama by Walmart a lot. I always drop a $5 in his guitar case and ask how it's going. He is very nice and polite.

the man with a guitar ( he rides a bike when weather permits) is not homeless - I have been told by friends of his that he has a place to live.  
 
he likes getting the handouts - but is ot in need as much as some others are.

1 chance said "would you know if they are needy? It's close to xmas and they hang around some stores and restaurants. Not necessary to hit me this comment I am saying this because I know one old man that could do this trick. Not because they are in Brandon and say thank you so much sir that makes these two honest. Another homeless guy in the past told different story the 3x I say him.   I was only wondering "

I saw a fellow huddled under a blanket at the 7-11 on 34th at about 5 am one morning. He never asked but I offered to buy him a coffee and something to eat. As I was handing him a few bucks this lady comes charging over from pumping her gas and yelled at me for giving him money saying he was probably going to spend it on something else and that people like that should be arrested. She then threatened to call the cops on him for loitering. I told this woman to go back about her business and that what I did with my money was my business and not hers. She continued her rude verbal assault on me when suddenly the fellow said the best thing I have ever heard someone say to another person. He looked right at her and said. "Ma'am, every day I wake up eternally thankful that I live my life and not yours". Awesome!!! Maybe he was in need, maybe he wasn't but the look on her face at that moment was well worth the few bucks I gave him.

if you give cash they will spend on alcohol if you give food/meal they will use their cash/saved money for alcohol and not because they are dress or look like homeless that they are.  
One person that deals with them at times in its job and they are not all what you think (again for most of them).  
My 2 cent opinion

Would rather assume they do need help than out to scam you.  
If you're right, it makes you feel good you were able to help out in a small way. And who really knows until you have "walked a mile in their shoes".  

CatMan said "Would rather assume they do need help than out to scam you.   If you're right, it makes you feel good you were able to help out in a small way. And who really knows until you have "walked a mile in their shoes".   "

Exactly how I feel. Some pocket change isnt going to break me. Once it's given its up to them how they'd like to spend it. If its food given and they eat it, well even better. Someone doesnt have to be living on the street and completely homeless to be in need.

I used to work among some these people. There's an awful lot of stories I wish I could share but I'm not sure they'd be allowed.  
Suffice to say, it's your money, do with it as you wish, but some (read that as most) of these people mentioned in this thread make a killing (I'm talking in the hundreds of dollars at a time) by panhandling in this city. Having worked around them, there isn't any of the more known ones I'd give money to simply because I know what their M.O.s are.

We have three bedrooms with only bed n dressers in them. We live out of town but still willing to offer what we have a bedroom, a roof, food, n help! Would they want a warm home to live in? We are not looking for SA payments r any of them vets?

They are very nice kind hearted people. I gave them the blankets, and the other day I went to 7/11 and they were outside so I bought them hot chocolates and food but unfortunately they were gone when I came back out. I drove around that area for about 10 minutes but didn't see them anywhere. Please remember the spirit of the season and give what you can . It's cold out there!

There are sometimes options available for folks experiencing homelessness too. This link gives an option for an outreach worker to visit.  
 
http://brandonhousingfirst.ca/services/people-in-need/  

That's amazing of you to offer! Wow is all I can say ! I hope only good things come your way from now on !

I was in those shoes a few years back. I was homeless or living in horrible rooming houses. I got to know a lot of the people on the street and how things work. Most of them will NOT ask for money because they don't have the courage or feel it's rude/not their place. A lot of times when asking for money you get attacked like the one person mentioned. I'm already feeling crappy, embarrassed, and low. I don't need someone trying to bring me down more, so I stop asking.  
Someone else said these people get hundreds a day? Perhaps once in a while on a really good day with a few really generous people, but its not too likely. Myself I only tried asking for money a few times in the couple years I was homeless off and on, and it would take an hour or more just to raise $10 or so, with regular abuse along the way. I guess if you sat in one busy place all day, but very few do that. There's the few regulars that actively panhandle, but most don't bother for reasons I've mentioned.  
Some of them may buy alcohol with some of it yes, but not nearly most of the time or all of the money. There are constant alcoholics out there, but they are not the majority. They're just the ones you notice and remember. Most will not ask unless it's for something else more important than that. Just because you're in a bad way doesn't mean you've lost all your self-respect and morals. Most of the people I met on the street are the most honest, trustworthy, reliable, people I've ever met. They look out for eachother...they have to.  
And if even the non-alcoholics sometimes use 10 or 15 for some alcohol so what? There ARE alot that don't drink or very rarely because they know from experience it will make things way worse if not controlled, but for some that are having a bad day it is a welcome escape. You feed yourself, make sure you have warm clothes, maybe put some away, then what are you gonna do with the rest of the day sitting in the bush or in an alley etc. sometimes by yourself? Watch tv? go online? All the many past times we take for granted? You could maybe read until it gets too dark if you have a book you haven't read 50 times. Talk with friends, walk around, or sleep. Remember all the good times that are gone, and the bad times that are here. People lost, mistakes made. No hope for the future because it's hard to get a hand out of the gutter when no one wants to touch you. So sometimes you drink. It helps you forget for a little while, maybe puts a smile on your face for a bit, and helps you get some sleep. Quiets the self loathing. No one, absolutely NO ONE, I ever met WANTED to be homeless. But many have given up hoping for something better and they get used to the routines of it...the solitude and separation from society.  
You can't rent a decent apartment or house without a good past landlord reference (from a respected landlord), especially in this rental market. So you either live in a crappy rooming house or slummy apartment. Bed bugs, mold, and bad landlords that don't come around at all nevermind fix anything. Constant drinking, fighting, drugs, cops, etc going on in the other apartments or rooms. It becomes a catch 22 situation. A never ending cycle of bad rentals and living on the street.  
It's hard. It sucks. It's hard to keep your chin up and any hope for a brighter future. I'd still be there if it wasn't for strong willpower and caring family and friends.  
I'm not saying give these people your money, most are not looking for a handout. I'm not saying there are no scammers and people abusing people's generosity, because ya that happens. However not nearly as often as is sometimes thought. Those are just the ones you always see and remember. Not the quiet ones keeping to themselves. I'm just saying be nice, be respectful, have some empathy and please don't go out of your way to make their life anymore horrible than it already is. Thank you for your time.  
 
 
Edited by miller, 2015-12-21 05:46:27

I was reading your comment out to my wife just now and we got talking of the fellow outside of superstore who did ask for some money. He said that he was pretty hungry and wanted to get some bread and something else to eat. We take for granted that there are place that people can get a meal if they are truely distitute but gave a few dollars anyway. Since superstore is so close to the liquor store I thought we would wait a few minutes to see where he headed. He hit up one more person and got some money from them as well, and then headed into the store. I guess we all find it easy to judge people and all seem to focus on the negative stories we hear, but sometimes one just gets the feeling that people are sincere when asking.  
 
There was the mention of some people making a lot of money from the generosity of others and this sort of makes me chuckle. People do all sorts of things to enjoy life, they go to movies, they go to concerts, they go to professional sporting events, they do all these things usually at a considerable expense, so if giving a person a bit of money makes one feel better, then I'm all for it.

Thank you for sharing your story and shedding some light on the bitter reality of those in need. So glad to hear your situation has improved. Cheers to you.

By no means am I an authority on the homeless situation but I have been told that in our country, there is no reason for homeless people. And that everyone living on the streets is offered a place to live out of the cold. But for many, they prefer not to accept this assistance because of the rules placed on them. ie. in regards to addictions or taking prescription drugs for mostly psychiatric disorders. Of course, those working with these people may have a different story. I for one feel sorry for them but will not give any money, just in case it feeds an addiction instead.

You'll meet many just like me upon life's busy street With shoulders stooped and heads bowed down and eyes that stare in defeat For souls that live within the past where sorrow plays all her parts Where a living death is all that's left for men with broken hearts You have no right to be the judge to criticize and condemn Just think but for grace of God it would be you instead of him One careless step a thoughtless deed and then the mystery starts And to those who weep death comes cheap these men with broken hearts Oh so humble you should be if they come passing by For it's written that the greatest men never get too big to cry Some lose faith in love and life when sorrow shoots her darts And with hope all gone they walk alone these men with broken hearts You've never walked in that man's shoes or seen things through his eyes Or stood and watched with helpless hands while the heart inside you dies Some were paupers some were kings and some were masters of the arts But in their shame they're all the same these men with broken hearts Life sometimes can be so cruel that a heart will pray for death God why must these living dead know pain with every breath So help your brother along the road no matter where you start For the God that made you made them too these men with broken hearts (These men with broken hearts)

This is a great option. Thanks for posting it.  
 
www.brandonhousingfirst.ca/services/people-in-need/  
Also, I always think this could be me, my mother, my father, my sister or brother or friend. It is some ones relative either way. Let your conscience dictate what you do.