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Should you give money to beggars? Should you give money to beggars?
No, you never know what they might do with it. No, you never know what they might do with it.
No, it disincentives them from seeking serious help. No, it disincentives them from seeking serious help.
Yes, you should always give to those who have less. Yes, you should always give to those who have less.
Yes, it will make you feel good. Yes, it will make you feel good.
Give to charities instead. Give to charities instead.
Give food instead of money. Give food instead of money.
They may spend it on drugs, alcohol, or gambling They may spend it on drugs, alcohol, or gambling
Homeless people may gamble with the money they're given. Homeless people may gamble with the money they're given.
They may not feel pressure to seek employment They may not feel pressure to seek employment
They may not feel pressure to save They may not feel pressure to save
The Ripple Effect The Ripple Effect
It will make you feel good It will make you feel good
It shows solidarity It shows solidarity
It doesn't matter what they do with the money It doesn't matter what they do with the money
Helper's High Helper's High
The Growth Effect The Growth Effect
Charities know what beggars really need Charities know what beggars really need
Food is a basic necessity Food is a basic necessity
Giving something other than money shows that you care Giving something other than money shows that you care
Debate Mini Map

Should you give money to beggars?
Back to question

Give food instead of money.

< (6 of 6)

Food is a basic necessity

Everyone needs to eat. Giving food to a homeless person eliminates the step of them needing to buy it themselves and they can save their money for something else.
James Carter Dorothea Hurley
< (1 of 2) Next argument >

Context

Many homeless people eat fewer meals a day and lack proper nutrition.[1] Yet it is difficult for them to receive food stamps without a stable address, and even food pantries and kitchens cannot provide three nutritious meals a day to every needy individual.[2]

The Argument

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs shows that physiological needs, including food and water, are humans' most basic needs.[3] Food is a basic necessity, and by giving food, you can ensure your donation can fulfill a beggar's need. Homeless people must use their energy to find food, so giving food to the homeless gives them more time and effort to improve other aspects of their lives.[2] Though you never know what a homeless person may do with cash or a gift card, you can be certain that a homeless person cannot misuse food on drugs or alcohol.[4] Furthermore, giving someone food guarantees that they do not need to buy a meal for themselves, allowing them to save cash for other necessities.[5] There is more than one way to help homeless people by giving food.[6] You can organize a food drive or organize ongoing donations to a specific group of homeless people in your area. You can collect leftover goods from bakeries and restaurants, making sure perfectly edible food does not go to waste.[7] You can also give and volunteer directly through an organization like Hashtag Lunchbag,[8] which prepares packed lunches for homeless people. If you have the means to enjoy food on a regular basis, you likely have the means to spare an extra meal for a homeless person.

Counter arguments

You don't know what that person is able to eat. The right to adequate food is codified in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which clarifies that it must satisfy dietary needs and be culturally acceptable.[9] The meal that a passerby gives to a homeless person may not be adequate or culturally acceptable, whereas that person could have used donated cash to buy their own food.

Proponents

Premises

[P1] Every person needs food to survive. [P2] Having food needs met allows homeless people to put energy to other needs, such as shelter or clothing.

Rejecting the premises

References

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1580272/
  2. https://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/foodsharing/intro.html
  3. https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html
  4. https://www.parlia.com/a/GHrMPRGWHctlQgGJqCZKjZgbL/they-may-spend-it-on-drugs-alcohol-or-gambling
  5. https://www.overcominghomelessness.com/should-we-feed-the-homeless/
  6. https://www.pocketsense.com/feed-homeless-7672.html
  7. https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/reduce-wasted-food-feeding-hungry-people
  8. https://www.hashtaglunchbag.org/
  9. https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/FactSheet34en.pdf

In the Wild

This page was last edited on Monday, 22 Jun 2020 at 04:13 UTC

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