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Beggars in France: To give or not to give them money??

I was in Berlin and Strasbourg on my last trip and noticed a fair amount of beggars. Many handing me notecards with very sad stories in english asking for change, others with the classic "I missed my train, i need money for the phone", line, and other very sad people looking in need.

In berlin I gave some beggars a bag of pretzels I had for food because I felt bad, but in the long run is it unwise to give to beggars?

I know that paris does have beggars near the tourist sites and I am planning on visiting paris on my trip to europe next year.

Posted by
23178 posts

How do you treat beggars in your home town? You sound like a soft touch so it could really hard for you to turn them down. But generally it best for you to ignore beggars. Europe has social services to these needs. The big thing I would be concern about is the possibility that the beggar is a distraction and a pickpocket will take advantage of your generosity.

Stop and think about. If you are in France or Germany and the beggar gives you a card in English - doesn't it look like you are the target. Since there are more locals around why would the card be in English? Doubt if the stories are true. Just looking for a little cash.

Posted by
16893 posts

If you think you'll want to donate in some cases, then I'd carry a little change in your pocket for that purpose. I really don't like taking my wallet out on the street for any reason that wasn't planned by me. Sad stories can be just stories and Frank is right that many distractions are a set-up for thieves. Also, twice in the past year when I gave something to an individual (€2 in Brescia and $2 in New Orleans), both recipients asked for more!

Posted by
7010 posts

Can you really tell the difference between what most people think of as beggars (those too poor to feed or clothe themselves properly, usually with physical ailments) and panhandlers (those just out to fleece you out of a few € by looking pitiful and feeding you a sad story, because it's easier than getting a real job)? If not, then I suggest you don't give them anything. If you really need to feel helpful, stop in a church and put a few coins in the poor box to aid their services to the poor. If they're begging for food, then give them food, don't give them cash as it usually goes for other things besides food. I may sound hardhearted but I have been scammed enough in my own country by seeing so called 'beggars' get up at the end of a few hours of begging and walk to their car or $1000 bikes counting their bounty.

Posted by
2599 posts

I ignore beggars. I do, however, give coins to buskers that really please me with their playing. In San Francisco you often see beggars/homeless folks out there with their cats or dogs, and in Paris I was amazed to see a woman with a rabbit.

Posted by
32173 posts

"the classic "I missed my train, i need money for the phone", line, and other very sad people looking in need."

I suspect that many of these people aren't as desperately in need as they portray. It's their "job" to wear old clothes and look "sad" and "in need". Some of these "beggars" may in fact be part of a highly organized criminal enterprise. I don't generally give any money to either the street beggars or those that come around to my restaurant table with their hand out, although in rare cases I will give if I have coins available (I try to follow the same principle that Laura mentioned - I'm not taking my wallet out for something like that).

I'll give you a couple of examples on why I'm skeptical about them.....

On a visit to Italy a few years ago, I noticed an old woman dressed in black (possibly Roma?) in the transfer tunnel of one of the train stations. She was bent over and leaning on a cane, was trembling and looked unsteady on her feet, as if she was ready to fall over at any moment. After I finished buying tickets or whatever I was doing at the time, I headed for the stairs to exit the station, and was most surprised to see the old woman sprinting up the stairs with the agility of an Olympic athlete (must have been scammer coffee break time?), and without using the cane. The donations she received must have caused a miraculous cure to her afflictions - hallelujah!

I've encountered similar situations here at home. On one occasion during a visit to the local A&W, I was approached by a guy that said his car was stolen and he needed bus fare to get home to Alberta, and he asked for $5 or $10. While it sounded like a plausible story, I'd seen that scam before so I didn't give him anything. In speaking with a couple of my colleagues the next day, I learned that they had given this poor soul a "donation" to help him get home (they felt somewhat foolish after I enlightened them). Lo and behold, the following day there was a bulletin from the police in the local paper warning the public about this particular scammer, and I imagine he left town real quick after that (probably using his car).

I give as much as I can to legitimate charities (both at home and on occasion also in Europe), so I don't have a lot of tolerance for street beggars. As a previous reply mentioned, I will donate to Buskers in Europe, especially if I take pictures or videos of them.

Posted by
2349 posts

There is no single right answer. This topic comes up occasionally and we discuss it because it affects us all. I never give to someone who is aggressive or who has a sob story. I find I'm more generous to those who just honestly ask for money. I may keep some spare coins in my pocket. If I don't have something in my pocket, I never get out my billfold.

New Orleans has a lot of "gutter punks" -usually young adults with dogs, walking quickly. They're aggressive, strong, and creepy. They look like extras from Mad Max. It's a lifestyle choice, with a whole subculture of its own. I kept my distance from them, but gladly gave to the older guys playing a guitar along the river. That doesn't make my donation choices right. I just establish my own boundaries and stick with them. I gave to one old guy because he sang "There she was just a-walking down the street" as I went past. He made me laugh. I'm sure that's worked for him before.

Posted by
2094 posts

Hi Fish, I agree that most of the beggars are probably scammers and best left alone. I do donate to the musicians performing on the metro or at the metro stations. Last year in Paris we encountered a gentleman playing La Vie En Rose on the violin and it was so beautiful I just about cried.

Posted by
8261 posts

This is a challenging question no matter where you are in the world. At home I deal with it by supporting my local homeless shelter and offering a food item when I have one.

It becomes even more complicated when you are in a place where you don't always understand the cultural norms. I agree that taking out your wallet ( here or abroad) is a poor choice.

Posted by
7981 posts

I am not entirely consistent but I generally donate to social service agencies in the US that provide services to the homeless and food to the poor; I am careful about bank for the buck. I give to buskers.

In Europe I generally assume there are social services for the poor and that most beggars are in fact doing their job which is grifting, stealing and cheating. The same family may have teen girls out picking pockets on the metro, men running 3 card monte games on Rue Steinkerque, and grandma and grandpa crouched and begging in the metro or with a dog on a corner. I have seen 'crippled beggars' at shift change get up and walk away. Because I assume they are just in the grift business I don't usually give.

I do give to buskers. The world is a better place for saxaphones and that lovely cellist in the metro near the Louvre. (I don't give to the ones that come onto metro cars usually but the ones in the tunnels and on street corners.)

Posted by
1806 posts

Yes, it is unwise to give money directly to these people. If you need to assuage some First World Suburban Guilt, donate money directly to a church, soup kitchen, the Red Cross, or any number of legitimate non-profits set up to assist those who are truly poor or homeless. I would venture to say that 80% of the time you are donating money that's used to support an alcohol or drug habit and 18% to support someone who is just scamming you and others with their sad tales. If you really still feel confident that you are dealing with the 2% that are hungry, offer to buy them some food on the spot. I can tell you that I have done that and, on more than one occasion been told "I'll just take the money and get my own food later".

One other thing to consider before you pull out your wallet or drop some spare coins into their cup: by giving cash directly to these people, you encourage them to "set up shop" in the area where you stumbled across them. This means the locals who actually live in that area or own legitimate businesses on that block now have to deal with the problem. Sorry, but as someone who has lived in a number of large cities, I can tell you it's no picnic to walk out of your apartment building and be greeted by some homeless guy pissing (or defecating) on the sidewalk 2 doorways down from your home. It's also a source of frustration for business owners as it is their customers that get harassed for change and they are often left having to sweep up the litter left behind on the sidewalks in front of their stores. Think about how you would feel if you walked out of your house tomorrow and encountered that.

Posted by
2466 posts

You don't have to give money to strangers, and you don't have to feel guilty about it, either.
It's hard to walk on by, but these people are not your responsibility, and are often not what they seem.

A great many of them will be running some sort of scam, others will try to occupy you while someone else tries to pick your pocket. Pulling out your wallet or coins when you aren't actually purchasing anything is always a bad idea.

Some people are mentally ill, and many others are legitimately homeless but they are all supported by the City of Paris if they want and need help.

Posted by
8293 posts

Well, lots of cold hearts here. Surely I am not the only one who posts here who had, or has, a troubled kid who lived on the street for a time. I give to street people when I can because I know that my son was helped by passing strangers and it only seems right.

To show the human side of some beggars, there is a small man who sits on the sidewalk to beg every morning across from my apartment. He always greets me with "Bonjour, Madame!" whether or not I give him money and is unfailingly polite. Most mornings a lady who walks a large dog stops to chat with him and the man hugs the dog and hugs the dog, and the dog practically sits on his knee. One day the lady wanted to carry on with her walk and tugged at the dog's leash to get him moving. He was having none of it and lay down on his side on the pavement, refusing to leave his friend. He did in the end, of course, he's only a dog, after all. But it brightened my day to see this and I can only imagine what it did for the man's day.

Some will say "sentimental claptrap", but I don't care.

Posted by
2393 posts

Norma - I know exactly how you feel. My youngest son lost his way for a while and spent some time on the street mostly due to circumstances beyond his control. He relied on the kindness of strangers and thank goodness some are. When I see people panhandling or am asked for money I happily give.

I do not wear things with pockets and my purse is carried with the opening toward my body so I do not feel like a target. I have never walked around ANY city afraid to stop and retrieve something - be it money, phone, lipstick or whatever. I also do not flash a wad a cash - I am prudent, not paranoid.

A couple of months ago a young man stopped me in the grocery store and asked me for money to get something to eat - I handed him $10 and he started to cry and thanked me profusely. Either he was one heck of an actor and deserved payment for the performance or he was sincere. Either way - I was happy to help.

That being said I do not hand out money willie-nillie either. You just have to use your own judgement and do what is comfortable for you. If you are afraid the person will head straight to the liquor store then keep a supply of gift cards to a chain restaurant on hand and give those. Me - I can't begrudge an alcoholic who is unable to get sober - supplying a bottle is far better than them having the dt's. Even Dr's will prescribe beer for inpatients in hospital who are heavy drinkers where appropriate.

Posted by
7981 posts

There is not much of a safety net for mentally ill substance abusers in the US; they live on the streets. That is not true in France. Truly poverty stricken people have access to resources. That leaves a lot of scammers who run their traditional family business.

Posted by
17646 posts

This is becoming dangerously close to being political. But what the heck .........
From a tourism point of view. Is it a safe thing to do?

I did sort of regret it once, at the train station in Vienna. I gave a gentleman the last few euro coins I had left, then he followed us to a stand up table and began talking a very bizarre fashion, then when that elicited little response he got loud and started shaking his fist. I just wandered to the nearest guard and asked if he could help us. The guard just shrugged his shoulders and looked the other way. We moved, the beggar followed, we moved, he followed again. I guess it could have gotten ugly. So, yes, my experience is it can turn bad from time to time.

Do I do it?
That has to be between me and my G-d. Chani I think will understand that concept. I can say that you should see their souls in a positive light as part of the character of the city; and their plight as an instructional or educational moment. Musicians are the obvious, but I love the effort to put a cup at the end of a 3 foot long stick so he can sit and still get the cup where it needs to be for attention. I also like the hula-hoop girl on Andrassy ut. Another interesting couple in Budapest is two gentlemen in their middle age that love to read. The citizens of the town have recognized this and they offer books along with coins. These two guys have a pretty nice ever changing library and some of the titles are impressive. Then there are the military vets, and infirm, disabled; that have to make one think of the problems of the world.

Should I do it?
I don't know enough about the support system in each city and each country to know how much of this is actual need or how much of this is choice or how much of this is mental illness. So I cant begin to comment on the ethics of it. In the US it is an issue that is dealt with at a local level so even drawing comparisons with the Us is impossible. San Francisco deals with the homeless one way while Atlanta a totally different way. Generalizations about the US do no one any good. If in the absence of any indication that your act will do more harm than good, and if legal, then If you are "called" to do so, then do so. I prefer the concept of Tzedakah more so than charity. You might research it and see if it affects your decisions as it does mine.

Posted by
32173 posts

Norma,

"Well, lots of cold hearts here."

I'm not sure I agree. While I won't usually donate to street hustlers, I'm not against buying a meal for someone in need, and I've done that here. On one occasion, I was talking to a person at a local Subway, and he mentioned that he and his girlfriend hadn't had any food for about a day. My "gut feeling" told me that he was being truthful, so I bought both of them a large Sub, with drinks. He may have sold the food for drug money, but at the time I figured I made the right call.

Having worked as a Paramedic, I've seen the reality of giving "donations" to street people because they're supposedly hungry, knowing that that it's all a lie and they'll be shooting-up as soon as they have enough to pay the pusher. I won't facilitate that kind of behaviour. I give as much as I can to local charities who deal with the homeless and those afflicted with mental health issues.

Posted by
11247 posts

Rome probably has more panhandlers than anywhere we've been in Europe. As residents, we have picked out a couple of charity cases and drop a Euro-or-two a week when we see them. They are a young African migrant who is pleasant and positive every day, not acting the victim as many do, and a pensioner who is a bit down on his luck but (we think) sincere and needy. These are people who (we believe) are not scamming. As Ken mentioned, there are many who suddenly are "able" when they need to be, so we pass those by. In other cities and in other cases, I walk on by and instead give a bit in the churches. Do not feel guilty for not playing.

Posted by
8293 posts

Ken, I did not mean to say that everyone is cold-hearted. Obviously lots of the forum members are kind and generous, as you are.

Posted by
2466 posts

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that giving money to strangers in Paris might reflect on your cultural upbringing, and possibly personal issues. If it makes you feel better to do this, that's fine, but you should be aware of what really goes on. I volunteer with the food banks, soup kitchens and refugee relief efforts in Paris, so perhaps can explain things a little better.

Though there are some "independent contractors" who work alone and do live on the money people give them, most often the money that you give - to a homeless family, to an apparently physically or mentally handicapped person, to someone with an animal, to the "petition girls" or anyone selling souvenirs on the fly - is turned over at the end of the day to a "clan chief". There is always someone in the near vicinity watching them work - usually you wouldn't notice them, or would just take them for another beggar.

If the women, children and men do not bring in enough money to suit the chief, they are beaten or otherwise punished - a popular punishment is to force a woman to lie face down with an empty cup beside her on a heavily-trafficked sidewalk - or sold to another chief where she will be raped and likely end up pregnant. Children from other countries are often sold to a chief when their families can't pay their debt to him, and are smuggled to France. The term for this is "white slavery", no matter what the ethnic origin of the people involved, and it should not be supported.

Most of these "workers" are rounded up at the end of the day in vans, and driven to campsites in the Bois de Boulogne or in camps set up along abandoned railroad tracks. The clan chief is in charge of the care and feeding of his workers, and is responsible for sending money back to the "godfather" of all clans, who lives like a king, usually in Romania and Bulgaria. There was a recent undercover operation in Paris which exposed and convicted one of the major "godfathers", and the number of "petition girls", "gold ring scams", bottled water and souvenir sellers diminished for a few months. But another chief has taken control of things, so everyone is back at work.

If you have had personal experience with family members or friends who found themselves in difficult situations, that is quite another issue, and it is right and normal to do what you can to help them.

It should not be confused with the fact that the City of Paris makes nightly rounds - called "maraudes" - in all neighborhoods to check on people who are in need - volunteer doctors, nurses, and charity workers deliver free hot meals, water, blankets, medical care and psychological support. There are food banks and semi-annual food drives, to which most residents contribute. There is even an association which provides free pet food and veterinary care to the animals which are kept as companions by many homeless people. There are shelters, though many "street people" prefer to remain outdoors, for their own personal reasons. When the weather turns too hot or too cold, more shelter areas are commandeered so that people won't have to suffer outside.

It's not likely that you will see any of this in action, because the "maraudes" take place late in the evening and in the early morning. The shelters and food banks are located in unused office or school buildings, not in "tourist central".
But there is help available, and the people who need it know when and where to find it - for free.

Posted by
2261 posts

^^^ Thanks for this, chexbres, very interesting. I'm curious, if one were to drop off a bit of food for one of these people you describe, does that put them in a bad spot with their handler i.e. for getting food and not cash? Do you feel it would it be better to not do that?

It's a complex issue, for sure.

Posted by
7010 posts

As hard as it may be I think it is best if tourists refrain from giving them anything and let the government/residents of the country take care of them, or not in the case of professional panhandlers/scammers. In the end it really does no lasting good for a few tourists to give them a few € and may just exacerbate the problem. Call me cold hearted if you will, I can take it. I know what I do at home to help alleviate the issue as best I can, I don't need to concern myself with it when traveling.

Posted by
13809 posts

I also thank you very much, Chexbres, for the information.

I also agree with Ken. After a long career as a hospital social worker I will donate only to local charities. I've heard too many people brag in ER about how they got the money for their last hit. I am not heartless.

Posted by
2393 posts

There is a definite difference between the more organized begging and and a lone person carrying clearly what is all of their belongings.

I remember one time walking by a guy who had a blow up bed all set up and made on the side walk in front of a department store if memory serves me. At the time squatting in public was allowed - not sure if that is still allowed.

Use your judgement and let your conscience be your guide - there is no real right or wrong of it.

Posted by
8293 posts

Glad to hear from Chexbres that the deserving indigent are so well cared for in Paris. I will refrain from giving a euro or two when next in Paris.

Posted by
3940 posts

I will usually give something to someone with a cat or dog (I'm a softy). I know our first visit to Strasbourg I gave some money to one of the 'beggar' ladies by the cathedral door - and she then got a little more aggressive and asked me for more as I tried to walk away.

To put in perspective - we were at Sacre Couer one evening and I saw an amazing transformation of a perfectly healthy looking older man who just a few minutes later was shaking like he had a palsy as soon as the begging hat came out - I guess it was his nightly change over. I'm not a total cynic - our town doesn't have a problem with beggars, but I am starting to think I can pick out those truly in need vs those just trying to pull one over.

I won't even take any cards/items from anyone anymore - in NYC - it was the religious ones (buddhist monks - suuuuure - I wasn't born yesterday) giving out 'free' bracelets on the High Line - then demanding money. In Boston - it was the 'deaf' one trying to hand us a card - and then of course would proceed to ask for money - perhaps he really was deaf, but these days...people will try anything. I keep my arms firmly crossed!

Posted by
17646 posts

To show the human side of some beggars, there is a small man who sits
on the sidewalk to beg every morning across from my apartment. He
always greets me with "Bonjour, Madame!" whether or not I give him
money and is unfailingly polite. Most mornings a lady who walks a
large dog stops to chat with him and the man hugs the dog and hugs the
dog, and the dog practically sits on his knee. One day the lady wanted
to carry on with her walk and tugged at the dog's leash to get him
moving. He was having none of it and lay down on his side on the
pavement, refusing to leave his friend. He did in the end, of course,
he's only a dog, after all. But it brightened my day to see this and I
can only imagine what it did for the man's day.

Some will say "sentimental claptrap", but I don't care.

Norma, One of the most real things you have ever posted. Made me feel good. Thank you.

Posted by
2466 posts

Most residents have adopted "their beggar" - someone they see pretty much every day and give a little money to when they can. But these are not the organized beggars I referred to above. If they are really popular, someone will see to it that their photo appears in the paper when they die.

As I mentioned, someone is always watching the "workers", and I have never seen them accept any food - their job is to collect money. They are allowed lunch breaks, they go for ice cream - all supervised and paid for by the "monitor", of course.

The families spread out on mattresses on the sidewalk might accept cookies or something for their kids - but they would prefer money so they can buy what they really want to eat. They have little gas stoves which they use to cook meals in the evenings. Since the children are not allowed to do anything except sit still and smile all day long, I wouldn't advise giving them snacks.

The dogs and cats are always given much more food than they need, especially since they don't move around much. The money you give will not be used to feed them, since most people prefer to drop off little packages of pet food, instead. These pets are a great comfort to the people who have them, but unfortunately they don't live long.

Posted by
345 posts

For many of the reasons noted in this thread, I do not usually give money to beggars. However, I had an experience in Paris last summer that made me pause. My wife and I were at dinner in the Marais and my credit card wouldn't work in the restaurant, so I had to go get cash from an ATM nearby. I walked down the street with my debit card, and a woman and small child were on the corner in front of the cashpoint, looking like they were settling in to sleep there that evening. I walked around them, they didn't beg, I didn't offer them anything - instead, I just withdrew my money, went back to the restaurant, and paid cash for a nice dinner. I have been continually conflicted about this moment and my approach to the street poor since.

Posted by
299 posts

Thanks for telling us about the system of "maraudes" in Paris, chexbres - wish we had that system for our homeless here, especially in winter. Also, I feel that if I'm lucky enough to be able to afford a vacation abroad, then I can help out someone in need. I try to be smart about who really needs help but if I make a mistake, so what?

Posted by
2376 posts

NOT

Read the Sherlock Holmes story 'The Man with the Twisted Lip'

Posted by
2466 posts

Many people find it difficult to support the homeless in their own backyard or even their own country. I'm not sure why this is so.
I do know that many people prefer to give money to charities doing work in foreign countries, because they believe the money goes farther. But this isn't always the case, unfortunately.

Posted by
3696 posts

It is a personal choice, and while I tend to be a bit more skeptical when in Europe (guess all the stories about the scammers)
I will still trust my instincts and give when I want. As far as giving at home, after becoming involved with a few organizations helping the homeless, I will always give something. Organizations are not always there to help and the number of homeless far exceed the places for them to stay. Sometimes donations to 'good deed' organizations do not give the percentage to the poor that you might think. It is a heartbreaking situation.

Posted by
17646 posts

G-d has inscribed a judgment against all who have sinned, but repentance, prayer and “charity” can alleviate the decree. The same people who believe this often believe that different forms of giving are judged differently. From least meritorious to most meritorious the list is:

  1. Giving begrudgingly
  2. Giving less that you should, but giving it cheerfully.
  3. Giving after being asked
  4. Giving before being asked
  5. Giving when you do not know the recipient's identity, but the recipient knows your identity
  6. Giving when you know the recipient's identity, but the recipient doesn't know your identity
  7. Giving when neither party knows the other's identity
  8. Enabling the recipient to become self-reliant

Now if you accept this premise, which I think is quite beautiful, then “Giving when neither party knows the other’s identity” seems to indicate that it is more about the act than the good. I say this, because without knowing the recipient how could you know the extent of their need? How could you investigate if they were con artists? So it’s more about you being a good human being than any other factor.

If you come to Budapest and you want to say thank you for the way you were received by the people of the city, then I know some places you can leave a little money behind.

Posted by
16893 posts

James, your formula reminds me of the time that I was dining outdoors in a very casual Moroccan street market setting with a Moroccan friend. I was shocked when a poor man helped himself to some food from our table. I thought maybe he should ask or wait until we were finished. But my friend corrected me by pointing out that their tradition would be to offer him the food ourselves or invite him to join us. Indeed, others had invited me to share their lunch in some pretty unexpected circumstances, like at a car rental office.

Posted by
17646 posts

Laura, thank you, but its not my formula. According to tradition, the formula predates me by something less than 6,000 years. Not a particularly popular formula in history either.

Posted by
15680 posts

chexbres, what you stated above is exactly what I've been told by some of my European friends. Knowing that these people will be be beaten or otherwise abused if they come up short at the end of the day makes it difficult to refrain but neither do I want to support that sort of human slavery. I usually end up dropping some $ in church alms boxes and just hoping it gets to the most needy. Not sure that's the best route either.

Posted by
2466 posts

There are all sorts of theories on why people give or do not give, and what they might give, and to whom.
But then there is the wise notion of "teach a man to fish..."

When I first moved here, I found it extremely difficult to avoid giving money to people on the street. But when I joined neighborhood organizations which work to help them in better ways, and understood how the "Eastern Mafia" gangs worked, it was a little easier to appease my conscience.

Posted by
389 posts

Many people find it difficult to support the homeless in their own backyard or even their own country. I'm not sure why this is so.

I do know that many people prefer to give money to charities doing work in foreign countries, because they believe the money goes farther. But this isn't always the case, unfortunately.

Can these tourists be feeling some guilty while splurging on their trips?

Before paying for a product or service, I research for what would get the best bang for the buck. Before donating to a charity, I would do the same. Starting with some idea of how the donation will be spent.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/charities.asp

http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=topten.detail&listid=8

http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=topten.detail&listid=92

Perhaps those donating or volunteering overseas have done the same, and have decided that their donation or contribution there are most needed, and would not be lining someone's pockets.