by TwiceShy on September 26th, 2008

TwiceShy

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What would be the most practical thing to give a homeless person?

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  • by cobber on September 27th, 2008

    cobber

    can we just give them all bus tickets to Washington DC and let them run things?
    lets put congress and senate out on the street after all they have screwed up, and let the homeless have their jobs, and homes, and salaries.

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  • by tomsims on September 27th, 2008

    tomsims

    Short of a way out of homelessness ...

    My wife prepares little food baggies with snacks and toiletries to carry around in her car.

    The other day, I bought a guy a gidt card from a fast food place.

    Mostly, I feel best when I can give them a chance.

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  • by kelana on September 27th, 2008

    kelana

    First of all give him your interest and that you care. Arrange for him a job and place to stay.If he is too weak to work, sent him to a charitable shelter.

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  • by Nova on October 13th, 2008

    Nova

    A home! Then he's no longer homeless :]

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  • by Angie on September 30th, 2008

    Angie

    A cup of coffee and a sandwich

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  • by Scrappy on September 27th, 2008

    Scrappy

    food, water, gloves, blanket, socks, earmuffs, personal care items

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  • by philosopher-saint on September 27th, 2008

    philosopher-saint

    A residence?
    ;-)

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  • by cultofstupid on October 11th, 2008

    cultofstupid

    A family.

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  • by ALPHAMALE on September 30th, 2008

    ALPHAMALE

    It depends, there are many factors that can end in homelessness. Mental illness, drug addiction, financial ruin, abuse, ect...some type of housing would be a good start. Maybe a small bachelors apt unit somewhere as a first step if they are stable enough, otherwise shelter and treatment for addiction, or mental illness, ect...

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  • by Anonymous on September 30th, 2008

    Anonymous

    A home :)

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  • by Vampyre Bat on September 30th, 2008

    Vampyre Bat

    a bag of groceries. I did that once and he threw them because he wanted the money for booze. I decided to spend the money for him on food and give it to him. It taught me never to give to the homeless. Sounds cruel but hey it happened so I give to charities and they do the job for me.

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  • by user deleted on September 26th, 2008

    user deleted

    A home or a place, where people care about poor people and help them to survive and teach them how to survive in this cruel cruel greedy world.

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  • by IknowNothing on October 26th, 2008

    IknowNothing

    Dont know if you would call this "practical", as in tangible, but I've been homeless, I was homeless for years. Pocket change was nice. A ride was better. A meal was really cool. A job too. But what I wanted most of all, was for someone to just care enough to sit and talk with me-to listen, they didnt even have to say a word. Just bein there meant the world to me. I suppose one might call that HOPE.

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  • by cynthia on September 27th, 2008

    cynthia

    It depends on why they are homeless.
    If it is because of mental illness, depression, or lack of motivation, they could use a doctor and a friend.
    If it is because of economics, they could use a job.
    If it is because of a recent tragedy, they may just need a place to sleep and food to get them through the tough times.

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  • by Esteban-- Smartest Pumpkin on September 27th, 2008

    Esteban-- Smartest Pumpkin

    A blender

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  • by Wolf3587 on February 23rd, 2009

    Wolf3587

    I have been homeless a few times in my life (sometimes self-inflicted, other times not.

    After my last bout of homelessness, I sat and thought about all the other homeless people I had met and what we all needed more than anything else in the world and I came up with an idea and founded a charity called HISH (Homeless Is Still Human).

    The thing that effects homeless people MOST while on the streets is the fact that other people tend to assume that you must have either chosen to be there, be a drug or alcohol addict or mentally ill. In truth the vast majority of homeless people are none of those things and are exactly the same as you. Personally, I was an accountant, a musician and ran two sucessful businesses, so if I could be made homeless then anyone else can be.

    Try realising that the person sleeping rough on the corner could well be you in a month's time? Treat them with the same respect and dignity that you would want, and realise that it is already not easy being homeless, so don't make things worse for them by assuming they must be lazy, drug addicted or mad. Those people that do suffer with those problems often develop them AFTER becoming homeless (believe me, sleeping rough every night and having people spitting and urinating on you just for being there is enough to give anyone mental problems, or cause you to turn to drink or drugs to try and escape the feeling).

    The most practical thing you can give to a homeless person is the realisation that it could be you, or someone you care about, there in that place given just a few misfortunes.

    Many homeless people are ex-armed forces, or people that have experienced family breakdowns or simply fallen behind with bills while trying to deal with other issues. Myself, I first ended up on the street because my father died and there was noone who could take me in (be honest, couldn't that have happened to anyone?).

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  • by rigby on October 2nd, 2008

    rigby

    give them a job - most are homeless because they want to be - they take handouts and dont want to work - most dont want to live under rules with others

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  • by Inducted Kitty on September 30th, 2008

    Inducted Kitty

    A 700 Billion Dollar Bailout.

    What??? What's good for the goose.....

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  • by Dmitri on September 27th, 2008

    Dmitri

    A job would probably be the best, though a shower or even a shave, if the hobo is a man. If nothing else, give him a knife or a gun, and maybe some ammo, so that he can mug his way to some real estate!

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  • by Occams Electric Razor on September 27th, 2008

    Occams Electric Razor

    you know what they say give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, teach a man to fish and he'll know how to fish but will still be too poor to afford a fishing pole or bait.

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  • by 2highspeed on September 27th, 2008

    2highspeed

    A job. The idea of "teaching a man to fish" fits nicely here.

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  • by c h e l s e a m o n s t e r on September 26th, 2008

    c h e l s e a m o n s t e r

    a good pair of boots. I was given a pair of timberlands when I was homeless, they were AWESOME. also, a coat... especially now that it's getting cold. a gift certificate to a grocery store, a "hobo knife" (pocket-knife type thing but with silverware on it), a good sleeping bag or backpack
    there's a lot of really practical stuff you need when you don't have a home.

    course, you could always just give them a place to stay, or hook them up with a job interview.

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  • by schmee2369 on September 17th, 2009

    schmee2369

    attention, and conversation.

    Most people just pass em by or drop em some change.
    ask them their name, and give your full attention to them...they appriciate it becuase so many people dont even care.

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  • by Autism Knows is finally Maestro on February 22nd, 2009

    Autism Knows is finally Maestro

    A JOB! :o)

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  • by buzzard121 on February 18th, 2009

    buzzard121

    Stop and talk to us it help out a lot, Preyer for us, Just a little bet of food be nice,If you don't have no fmily and no frends,I was born with brain Damge,You can see i can't spell good and read, I was homeless 10 years Ride a bicycle all over, There is 2,000,000 in the USA There be more, Poor is poor Rich is rich,Some of us was put in this wold poor, Jimmy

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  • by Bridget on February 5th, 2009

    Bridget

    A chance

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  • by allikatzpop on November 11th, 2008

    allikatzpop

    A car and a house!According to Peggy Joseph ,Obama will pay for it all.

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  • by Smile loves California on November 11th, 2008

    Smile loves California

    Respect and kindness :)

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  • by NotAnonymous on October 13th, 2008

    NotAnonymous

    a butt plug

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  • by Mr n Mrs M... on October 13th, 2008

    Mr n Mrs M...

    Some crystal meth..

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  • by Kimaw on October 10th, 2008

    Kimaw

    Food, water, blanket and clothing.

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  • by Sodapop on October 7th, 2008

    Sodapop

    Coffee and a sandwich

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  • by gabriel on October 7th, 2008

    gabriel

    a clothes voucher, hot water bottle, pillow, bottled water?

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  • by moktook on October 2nd, 2008

    moktook

    A backpack and socks.

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  • by frequentuser on September 30th, 2008

    frequentuser

    A dollar if I'm feeling generous.

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  • by TissyLouise on September 30th, 2008

    TissyLouise

    Allow me to compliment the question. Superb! The most practical thing is always a gift card from Walmart, haha.
    Maybe a list of resources (shelter, food, jobs etc.)

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  • by McCAIN PALIN 2008 on September 30th, 2008

    McCAIN PALIN 2008

    It depends. Each case is different. An addict would be well served with detox and rehab. An uneducated person would benefit by some practical life instruction. A homeless child should be given safety, protection, human touch, and nutrition. Money and temporary shelter are like band-aids on a gaping wound. Of course they both are neccasary, but by no means the complete answer. I'm reminded of the old saying: "GIVE a man a fish, and he will eat for a day. TEACH a man to fish, and he will eat for a lifetime".

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  • by LuckyLefty on September 27th, 2008

    LuckyLefty

    A solution.

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  • by Sheriff Raff -Answerhag on September 27th, 2008

    Sheriff Raff  -Answerhag

    A Bible

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  • by ShadeZero on September 27th, 2008

    ShadeZero

    A job. Get them on their feet.

    Yes, yes, I know a lot of them have issues which need to be sorted out, but I'm sure some of them can handle a basic unskilled job. If they're unable to handle a job, they should be directed towards an organisation which can help them.

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  • by DudeLer 2 on September 27th, 2008

    DudeLer 2

    an invitation to live with you and sleep in your spare bedroom. so many homes have bedrooms going unused. why not share?

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  • by Ray Del Sol on October 17th, 2009

    Ray Del Sol

    CASH $$$$$

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  • by Anonymous on September 26th, 2009

    Anonymous

    A sleeping bag and a warm coat...along with the address of the nearest shelter where he will get food as well as a place to sleep.

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  • by LuLu on September 17th, 2009

    LuLu

    Food, clothing and the address to a shelter. +6

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  • by om-nom on September 17th, 2009

    om-nom

    a sleeping bag, a sandwich and the address of a local homeless shelter

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  • by lou lou on September 13th, 2009

    lou lou

    a flat or house key

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  • by mariebaby420 on August 21st, 2009

    mariebaby420

    Bread and Milk and a blanket.

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  • by MicrocosmicOrbit on August 20th, 2009

    MicrocosmicOrbit

    A reason to live.I have lived on the streets I am 95% sure whoever gave me point deductions did not.

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  • by Deep's on July 24th, 2009

    Deep's

    A job if possible with a shelter at ur place..

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  • by Sodahead on July 24th, 2009

    Sodahead

    Motivation.

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