I live in New York and I often see homeless people come on the trains when I travel them. I mostly turn my head away and pretend I don't see them because most of the homeless people I see on the trains act crazy and like to get loud, they even attack people and I witnessed it myself once. They also like to speak loud on the trains telling people their story and ask for money at the end. Then they move on to the next cart and repeat. When I encounter a homeless person outside and I see them asking for money or food I would sometimes give them pennies, nickel's or a small piece of food if I have any on me at that moment. It's rare that I give out food to the homeless cause I never really carry food with me. Seeing a homeless person makes me feel bad in general. Sadly, it's common to see homeless people in the city.

So what do you do when you see or encounter a homeless person ?

I've never actually met a homeless person but if I did I'd probably do whatever I could with the available resources to help.

generaly i beat them with a stick until they black out, and tell them not to thank me for relieving there pain.

Ok, that wasnt true.
Honestly though, i ignore them. There's a housing scheme, the dole "out of work allowance", 110 ways to get off the streets.
But i see them with there drink, with there cigarettes, they are gamblers, drug addicts or alcoholics, the ones that aren't don't generally hang about, they take what they're offered and try to build a life.

I just keep walking.

I wear a lot of really nice clothing. I'm talking 50 dollar polos and nice looking Khakis. So I feel a little embarassed when I walk by someone who is less fortunate than me. I don't make eye contact, and I try to get by them quickly without making it obvious I'm trying to avoid them.

I feel bad for them, but I don't want to tease or provoke them or anything. They have had enough to deal with. The last thing they need is someone in fancy clothing taking pity on them.

It depends on the circumstances, but If I am able, I will sometimes give them a couple dollars or the loose change in my pocket. At times though, if they're exhibiting hostile behaviour, I will tend to just go out of my way to avoid them. I've found that the aggressive types are few and far between here though. Most are just decent ordinary people who are down on their luck, or debilitated by a severe addiction or mental illness.

I just keep walking while trying to not see them at their eyes.

It's sad to see them, I would like to help them in some way though...

If someone's just sitting there with a sign, doing their own thing and not being a bother or giving me puppy eyes, I'll give them whatever I have on me, which is usually just some change. When they sit at the end of drive thrus or at stop lights and come to your window to bother you, I hate that s***. I always tell them I don't have anything, even if I do. I don't have a lot of money either, but I don't badger people about it. It's fine if they're panhandlers and that's what they do, or even if that's what they LIKE to do (there are more voluntary panhandlers than people think), but don't make a stink about it. It's one thing to be in need, and it's another to beg and grovel and try to make people feel sorry for you. Everyone's got a story. I have no problem whatsoever helping people in need, but when people are aggressive or manipulative about it, trying to make you feel sorry for them or that you owe it to them, it's just irritating.

If they're being rowdy or pouty at me, I just avoid them. Sometimes they'll reach out to me but I just keep going. I'm never outright mean, because it's hard for me to just be a stonecold ass to someone I don't even know. I just say I don't have anything and I'm sorry and go about my business. I tend to feel that way about most things, so I don't feel too guilty about not being as sappy and sympathetic towards then than is sometimes expected.

It depend on how they act to me , and if I have anything to spare for them. If they act all rude or crazy then I would ignore them, and it telling me that they throw away their education or life. If they are kind out on the street and if I have anything that I could spare then I would give them the stuff I could spare.

We have homeless people all over the place here. Usually they wander about just off campus, but some of them sit along the sidewalks. They don't really bother me, but I always make eye contact or give them a nod when I see them. Usually they'll greet me or something, but that's it.

Back when I was in ROTC, though, things were slightly different. If I was wearing my uniform, some of them would actively stop me and talk to me for a while, only to eventually ask for money. I never have any on me though, so I didn't give them anything.

Yeah, we have a few homeless bums here in Lawton Okie land. Most roam around parks and schools (mostly cause they might be pedophiles.) I look at them and say "get the fu** away from me, RAPE! RAPE! I'M BEING RAPE HERE PEOPLE!". Just playing but when I see one, usually I just wave at him/her. If he/she asks for money, I usually just give him/her a $20 bill and just continue on my life knowing I just let him/her have money to buy cigarettes. His/Her choice on where he/she wants to spend it on so eh...

Cnw - Yeah, there are more homeless people than cabs!

I also live in New York (Midtown to be exact) and see NUMEROUS homeless people on a daily basis! Usually I turn away in disgust trying to avoid them begging me for change. It's not because I'm a "mean" person. 98% of the time homeless people are mentally unstable, habitual hardcore drug abusers, or alcoholics...so I refuse contributing to their addiction!

If I see/saw a homeless woman with a child, THEN and only then would I consider giving any spare change that I may have. This has been the case on rare occasions thank goodness!

Honestly, I truly pity the homeless...it's sad.

I vary depending on how they are acting. If they are acting friendly I will smile and say hello. If they ask for money and I have some, I might give a dollar. Once I had a person ask for money to go buy food while I was walking into a Carl's Jr... I had no cash, so I bought them a sandwich.

Center City in Philadelphia tends to have homeless people walking around asking for charity often - particularly during major events. Whenever I end up going there for some kind of trip I'll probably encounter a beggar of some kind.

I'm usually with my grandma at the time, and I'd personally say she's a bit over-eager to give homeless people money - both in terms of how much she gives (She may sometimes give $20 bills), the profile of the person she gives it to (It's always a really dirty-looking, possibly drunk, aged male - you know, the kind of person you'd think would attempt to take responsibility for their life before resorting to begging) and considering our own income (We've been pretty close to being homeless a few times ourselves, speaking in terms of finances, and struggle to pay taxes each year.), so I tend to be the role of the guy who just wants to move on and not interact with the person just to try to counterbalance her. If I wasn't with her, I'd probably give some spare change or food, but I certainly can't with those kind of things fresh on my mind.

I recall one particular case when a hobo said he needed $8 to get food from a Burger King... same one that had on the front door a promotion for a $1 Double Stacker deal (And a regular dollar menu otherwise). It's kind of led me to think that homeless people aren't thrifty shoppers.

I've also had a few encounters with hobos that had nothing to do with them begging for money, including one time in particular when I was stuck in the Suburbia station overnight (long story) and there was one that kept twanging an off-key guitar. It took me a -lot- of patience not to say anything to him.

About my last post in this thread, I'm changing that to when I'm on a midnight run or something. Now that I think about it seeing a homeless person would come as a shock to me and being the easily-distracted human being that I am I more than likely wouldn't notice.

Well, if i encounter a homeless person, i feel some what pity towards them because, you see most of those guys whether they are veterans thus they are brainless(crazy)or, they are like pigeons(fools)thus, everyone takes advantage of him, oh man i hate the advantage takers especially upon the poor people, back to the point so, when i see homeless, my hands automatically get into the pocket & handle him a money as much as i can because, those guys will be a sufficient reason to enter you heaven   

If I encounter a homeless person, I do feel pity for them. I can't imagine what it's like living on the streets. I'd be so scared, always looking over my shoulder, hoping I'd be safe and having to deal with that every night. However, I am poor, and I can't really give them any money. If I can, I will offer to buy them something to eat but that's about it. I know that SOME homeless people are too lazy to work and just want money for booze or drugs. But I will offer them something to eat at least. I can't walk away without giving something if I have the means to do so.

You know I feel bad for most people less fortunate than I am, and I wish I could really help them out.   There are just some times where You just can't without affecting yourself financially.   But then there comes the point that if they want money to feed an addiction I just feel like i'm wasting their time and mine.   I just can't give people like that any handouts because they'll just waste it on their addiction, I want to actually make a difference and help someone, not enable.  

Our city has ton of homeless people in it, and they aren't the nice sort, either.  I used to feel pity for the homeless, but I can't say I really do anymore.  I've just seem homeless people more often than not that are homeless simply because they're lazy or they spend any money they get on booze and drugs.

The homeless here just tend to sit around and cat call to young girls. I've even had some hide in bushes and taunt me by saying "Oh yeah pretty thing!  We can see you but you can't see us!!!"  The comments and stares are so lewd (I can't even post the usual comments they make to me here, since it's a 'safe' site) that I try to avoid them at all costs.  My husband wont even let me walk to north side by myself any more.

That being said, if I feel God telling me to help someone out, I'm going to of course.