Do I give a homeless person money, if so, how much?

I do. I can only hope he/she spends it for food. If they don’t, meh, I tried.
I give whatever I have to give.
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If you have the time to buy a meal and have a conversation, that’s better.
If you don’t, my motto has always been, “It’s the condition of YOUR hear that matters, not theirs. ”

I always give food rather than money in keeping with my colleagues above. Don’t want my monetary contribution going to something other than food.

I do when something about them moves me to make the gesture and I have it to spare. That happens some of the time but not all the time, and sometimes when they ask, sometimes when they don’t. It might be a dollar or it might be a twenty, depending. I don’t judge what they do with it.

I once met a homeless person slowly pushing a grocery cart full of her belongings down the street on a wintry night, and I gave her a five-dollar bill. She called after me and handed the money back, saying she didn’t want it.

You decide if you want to give them something, and how much. Obviously, don’t give more than you can spare.
As for what they’re going to do with it, that’s their thing, in my opinion. If you accept to give them money, I don’t see why there should be some obligation as to what they should use it for. I mean, you’re giving them money, then walking on your way. If they want to help themselves, they will. (and that’s gonna take a lot more than your small change)
If you feel differently and want to buy them food instead, then offer it to them.

Thanks guys. Next time I see a homeless man/woman I will just accept the exchange (by exchange I mean: their monetary benefit and my benefit would be my completion of my good deed of the day).

Personally, I don’t think it’s my job to decide what is best for the homeless person. If they want to get high instead of to buy food, then I respect that choice. I hope they find happiness. I know my five dollars is not going to save them and won’t be enough to get them into rehab or whatever they need to get healthy. I’m not giving it to make them change. I’m giving it because I want to make their life a bit easier, if possible.

No, you have no way of knowing the true circumstances of the person you see. They might be a fraud, or use the money to continue self-destructive behavior. I carry a pack of cards that directs people to the public/private services that can help them.

My son once gave a beggar his entire allowance – 4 quarters – before we went into the grocery store. After shopping, we went to the local pizza store and saw that same man putting my son’s quarters into a game machine. Sonny learned a lesson that day.

I’d try to get them to work for me. If they looked able. I bet they’d work for cheap. Could turn out ok…or not.

My husband gives freely whatever he can, as long as they ask nicely. Frankly, if you’re living on the streets and your shoes are falling apart, he thinks one more beer isn’t going to hurt much.

I pointedly ignore all demands from strange men when I’m out alone. Better paranoid than dead, y’know?

I never do. We have such a hard time with panhandlers. And no, not all of them are homeless.

I was at the store and a man came to me saying he didn’t mean to bug me or piss me off but he ran out of gas and had kids in the car could I help him. I said no and he pouted off. Two weeks later I was at the mall and the same man came up to me and said the same exact thing. I said no again.

Give to charity or volunteer.

I have been hit up so many times with the gas money gag it isn’t funny. They always say they aren’t drug addicts right off the bat, as if they assume I think it’s really what they’re up to. We read each other pretty damn accurately I think.

If you try to control what they spend it on then you are not giving, you are controlling. If you can’t extend a little generosity without the control card then don’t give. If you can then give what you can afford and walk away. Homeless people have dignity too and if you chose to “give” what they do with the money is out of your hands, (read: control ) literally and figuratively.

I was stood at the bus stop in the city when a woman came up to me and said she had no money and needed 60p for her bus fare. I said no. Then I lit a cigarette, and she said can she have one. I said no, they’re too expensive to give away. Then she said “Can I buy one off you?” I laughed and said “A minute ago you had no money.” She went red and rushed off, presumably to try the same scam at a different bus-stop.

I get hit on sometimes in urban areas by people asking for “bus money” or “my car broke down and I need to get home.” I tell the car ones to go to the police and they can help you.

If I just up and give money that I sometimes bled for to someone who is probably not working at all I feel that I should have some say in what it should be used for. I don’t want to be part and parcel to the illegal drug trade by extension. If I was a doper I wouldn’t have a job, just like them. If I get any impression at all thats what they want it for, they don’t get my money. That’s how I control where it goes. Buying dope for strangers just feels tacky to me.

I agree with @Seek_Kolinahr

Bottom line, the vast majority of homeless are suffering from some sort of mental/emotional issues, sure, some may have substance or alcohol dependencies, but this is a form of mental/emotional illness as well. I’m with @Seek_Kolinahr ‘s husband, my couple of dollars is not going to make any huge life changing difference for the person and if they want to buy a quart of beer, so be it. I think having a superior and holier than thou attitude rather than squeezing out a little compassion is self righteous and about as far from altruism as one can get. That’s why I say if you cannot truly give in the spirit of shared humanity without strings attached, then just don’t.

Your gift is tainted from the get go rather than given from an attitude of ” there but for the grace of god go I.”

Yes, $500