I’m approached by a homeless person. ‘Spare any change?’ the problem is the context. I just don’t know what they need the change for. Are they saving up to buy food or a hot drink? Or are they going to splash out on old habits like a can of booze or a line of coke? You’ve got no way of knowing whether you’re helping them to survive or fund disorderly crime. And as soon as you donate, they’ll hound you for more. You could give them a gift or loyalty card so they’ve got no choice but to spend it at an outlet. But these people may be nervous of entering such stores; they may even be accused of theft as soon as they enter. It seems that the best course of action is to donate to a cause that deals with the homeless. It might not help the person in front of you in the short term; but you can always attempt to persuade these organisations to assist a particular person and they may even be aware of their background.
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