I just came upon a situation, this person I "met" is homeless what should I do?

There probably isn’t a lot you can do apart from being her friend and listening to her. The only other thing I could suggest is checking out safe temporary accommodation that might be available through the Salvation Army, the local council and other organisations. You may be able to search for information on the net when she can’t.

I don’t think you can do much more than that and I can imagine you feel you should do more.

Being on a dating site seems like a bit of a red-flag to me, just protect yourself in case this is a situation where she might be trying to trick you somehow (maybe she has a pimp that will rob you or something). The internet is full of shady stuff. Assuming she really is homeless, and her situation is as it seems, then I agree with @Bellatrix. I think it’s great trying to help, just be cautious not to fall victim to something malicious.

@Bellatrix True I could try to start somewhere like that. I’m in Alaska, still pretty new here, not familiar with things around here or if they are like the states back home.

@gorillapaws Indeed you are right I kept this in the back of my mind talking and asking questions to her like does she do drugs or any addictions. How she became homeless. At the moment she told me she left parents place, after finishing school, didn’t say why exactly besides they “hurt her” she left it at that. Worst she has done was smoke little pot, but even that was rare for her she said.

Currently she found some people to stay with in a little room which they are letting here stay in for a few weeks. She even sent me a picture of it telling me there was some mold in the room.

So far there is nothing that makes me think this is a scam or otherwise HOWEVER COMMA (PAUSE) as my SGT likes to say. I will keep my wits about me make sure nothing seems out of place.

I am a leery cynic when it comes to stuff like that. Of course, if you ask her “do you do drugs?” or “are you addicted to any drugs?” she’s going to say no. What is she going to say, “Yes, I’m a drug addict? Please be my friend.” I would be very cautious and proceed with the utmost, if I were you. Actually, if I were you, I would give up this whole idea with this girl. Just my opinion.

@jca I second your notion. I am going to try and contact some shelter or something around the town and try to set something up if I even can…If she really is in this situation and is telling the truth I suspect she will take the help if not then it is out of my hands.

@CuriousLoner I think you are showing good judgment. Helping her find a place that can realistically help her is good. You are really not in a position to do more.

Your certainly shouldn’t have her move into the barracks with you. I’ve never been to a military post that allowed that sort of thing. The last thing you want to do is jeopardize your own situation.

Like others have said, I would be very suspicious of this. If you must help (assuming this is a real person with a real problem) than do it in some sort of official capacity as you have mentioned. Taking the problem on by yourself would be a horrible idea.

If I were you, I would walk away, now. I know that sounds terrible, and that you might feel a moral obligation to try to help her, but normal people do not beg strangers on dating sites for help. Something is very wrong if she doesn’t have anyone more suitable in her life to help her. If she is seriously in this situation, she is asking to be taken advantage of. As a woman, I intuitively am horrified of the very idea of the sort of people who would try to hurt me. If If she is really in this situation, the fact that she dealt with it like that is a HUGE red flag. She does not have adequate regard for her own safety.

Bottom line, either you have a woman looking to take advantage of kind hearted fools online, or you have a girl with emotional or mental issues. Either way, you should run in the opposite direction.

You’re a nice, intelligent, sensitive person. Don’t add “patsy” to the list.

Dude, you met in one day, on a dating site. She says she’s 18, lonely, needs help, and yet she manages to contact you through skype no problem. I’ll bet she looks good and the camera is aimed from above to show a nice shot of cleavage. The next contact will pull on every heart string you have. Let’s see. I’ll make up the script… She was abused as a child, her parent died, her dog is sick, she has no place to live, blah blah blah…. The bottom line will be “Send me money. Just $50 will help me.” Next week it will be $100.
Please…. don’t be a patsy. I hope I am wrong. But, odds are, I am dead on.
If you want to help someone, stick with people you know. Look around in your circle of family and true friends. One of them needs help but wouldn’t dream of begging to total strangers.
That’s the person you should help.

Stay the kind, generous person you are but make sure to invest your heart and resources where it will actually do some good.

Giving everyone an update I talked to a lady who works at a shelter for women told her about the situation. She gave me her number and a free clinic as well. I gave the numbers to the girl. As far as I know she last told me she job hunting and she thanked me for the numbers.

I haven’t talked to her since. I have no interest in dating her or following up anymore. I figure if she is going to seek more help she will. Appreciate the input from everyone.

You did a good thing without putting yourself at risk. Hopefully if she is genuine she will call the numbers you gave her and get some help.

@CuriousLoner You did the right thing. Nice.