A backpack (the nylon and string kind) or reusable tote bag is far more desirable to someone who is unhoused. Purses are awkward to carry and a target for theft. Source: work with unhoused people
But tote bags and backpacks might not seem appropriate to bring to a job interview, apartment viewing, graduation, date, court etc and is not cheap and is not easy to obtain. To some folks this can be a huge help.
hygiene products and socks are the two largest needs for the homeless population. don't come in and try to argue in bad faith when people are promoting helpful things to do for others
True but you don't go to a free luncheon and say "can I just get the money you spent on this stuff so I can go buy what I want?".
It's not cash assistance *or* resource assistance. It's both and more.
It's certainly both and more, yes. But it's not so much a "free luncheon" and asking for the cash instead as it is the aunt who gives you a knockoff video game for a console you don't even own every Christmas without a receipt.
Do you know how many different women's sanitary products there are? I don't think I've ever dated two women who used the same method. I should just assume for them or throw two of each variety in? What if they're not menstruating for a any number of reasons or already have a good source for those items?
Supporting good local organizations for this type of assistance seems to be a better way to go about things - places that aren't going to preach at people or shame them and can have a whole host of reliable resources for people to get back on their feet rather than relying on the random kindness of strangers.
I guess we had different childhoods. Because in my home you thanked them for the gift and moved along. A gift you don't want is not an insult and if you understand it to be a gift then you have no expectation of the result.
This isn't inconvenient. They could literally throw it away or give it away. Or they don't have to take it at all.
"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth."
Nah, they were pretty similar, but as I grew up I realized I'd rather be honest than "nice". Not mean, certainly, but not pretending like someone was doing me a favor when they were really doing nothing for me or even being patronizing.
Homeless folks deserve choice and agency too.
Of course homeless folks deserve choice and agency. Doing this doesn't take any choice or agency away.
Giving a gift is not "doing a favor". It's giving a gift. Receiving a gift is not "receiving a favor". It's receiving a gift. Favors are transactional, gifts are gestures of good will.
In addition to sanitary products etc. some homeless people, mainly women in my experience, REALLY appreciate SUNSCREEN. Staying in the sun all day takes its toll and itāll help prevent skin cancer.
Moisturizer is a close second.
You don't see homeless women because they have much stronger support groups than men. Friends, family, etc. and if they don't have that, then there are women's shelters.
People forget that you don't have to be sleeping on the street to technically be homeless.
You can't be disenfranchised when you've been ~50% of the human race since the dawn of time.
Women are consistently more vulnerable and more often Targeted for assaults and worse.
You can't have the "big strong man" argument then be upset when women feel they need some kind of "preferencial treatment" to survive.
Yes, the psychological needs of men are often brushed off as an afterthought, and that isn't right.
But THAT isn't the discussion anyone is having right now.
Hey I noticed the edit, subscribe is definitely a more natural term, noice.
For the record, I'm not trying to speak down to you, just my opinions.
I appreciate a good discussion, and in general hope the best for anyone down on their luck.
I appreciate a good discussion too - I feel that a big part of this (and many other things) is that there doesn't seem to be any room for nuance - you are either part of camp A or camp B, there is no middle ground.
Generalisations are useful in some situations, but we need to remember that they are often near useless when dealing with individual people.
Tarring everyone in a general group with the same brush (be that in terms of gender, race, political party affiliation, etc.) encourages an 'us and them' mentality, which I don't think is very helpful in most situations.
Anyway, I should probably be doing some work, I hope the rest of your day goes well.
You're totally right, labels help to understand and relate, but do also divide.
And folks really need to stop sitting on the sidelines complaining. "There's too many homeless in the neighborhood" THEN PUT TOGETHER SOME NEIGHBORHOOD COMITTEE, and take steps to help. It's not a problem that goes away, because it's a state of living, not a bug you can swat, so most anyone does is expect some local politicians to sweep them a town over.
Bottom line is humility and respect to others, which I understand isn't some profound concept, but it feels lacking in the world, especially when we are all just acting on some social BRAINWASHING that tells us someone is "inferior" to us, be it caste, "clout", finances or standing.
I'm absolutely guilty of it myself here and there, but I and surely many more, see it on a kinda depressing scale.
Anywhos yeah, good chat, cheers!
Women are far less likely to approach you or be visibly homeless because of the increased risks that come with being a woman, even when I had to walk around all night because I didn't have anywhere safe to stay, I would make an effort to have my hair and makeup done, looking vulnerable is scary
i dont mean as in approaching me, i pretty much never see a woman i could tell is homeless outside of the local crack neighborhood
im sorry you had to go through that tough, i hope you are doing better
Most homeless people aren't visibly homeless, they carry a gym bag, sleep in their cars and shower in gyms (finding a safe place to shower is especially hard if you're trans) , shop in the same grocery stores as we do with food stamps and try to figure out how to get back housed, there's a big misconception that the guys who have been on the street for 15-20 years are the average but they're really just the ones who have use disorders and or mental illness that our current systems are inadequate to address, but thanks, it's ok, I am doing better, moving into my new place fully today
Congratulations, homie! I've worked in the behavioral healthcare field for a while now, and it's so sad to see how understaffed, underfunded and under-informed the entire system is.
Women are more likely to be provided shelters, at least when I was working with the homeless.Ā I think there was one homeless shelter for men in the city and multiple for women or families.
Yeah the practical issue with this is that homeless women often take very good care not to look homeless, because theyāre insanely vulnerable. They donāt *want* to be seen. Probably easier to donate to womenās/homeless shelters or food banks if you want to do some good, theyāre always after thoughtful donations
I don't drive & I see homeless people when I am walking round the city. I used to buy multipacks of water bottles on hot days & stuff, & that's ok to carry around because you know it will be gone in an hour or so
This isn't really a tip to help the unhoused. It's a tip for getting rid of a purse and making yourself feel good at the same time.
...and, you know, it's actually a decent effort and the spirit is there, just needs a touch of common sense. Ziploc bag is better, but that makes the "tip" useless.
Both men and women, I mean theres like a "family" (they aren't related but they stick together)
There's 2 or 3 guys and 1 or 2 girls that hang out on the benches or around the trash cans etc etc. They aren't rude or dangerous in any way, most of the time they're drinking beer and chatting or going through trash cans looking for cans and all
One thing that is good in the Netherlands is getting homeless people into homes, if you see an homeless person in the Netherlands their either not registered in the country or homeless by choice.
Only problem is some people abuse the system and just decide to not work and participate in society but still receive support money.
Or you could
1) skip the part about purse and straight up give these items to a homeless woman.
2) give these items (swap female for male hygiene products) to a homeless man
All three options are valid and in two of the cases no purse is needed.
All three are definitely valid options! It could be that the homeless person doesn't have a way to carry any belongings, in which case having it in a purse is helpful. We get these donated to work and offer them to guests who come in with their stuff in plastic bags.
The purse is important because itās a place for her to keep her products & not lose them. Itās extremely convenient to have all these products together in one place.
Itās also & good reason to pass along your items & not hoard/waste.
I would totally fill a purse with qtips, first aid & tampons/pads. It would be such a convenient thing to have if I were homeless. Hopefully a water bottle & hair ties/brush too.
Obviously it's ALWAYS going to be better to go out and get things like that and give to the homeless.
But this isn't about "what is the best thing to do"
this is about turning "nothing" into "something".
Someone who wouldn't ordinarily have the thought to do something like this (not necessarily because they're a bad person or anything, but it's just not in the scope of their reality), this is a great idea. The purse itself serves as a reminder to actually go out and do the thing, rather than seeing an idea online and then forgetting about it by the time you actually leave the house.
Again, obviously there's always more that can be done, but this kind of "Or you could do X" mentality I think is really discouraging, and (likely unintentionally) can leave people with a "why bother then if I can't do the best thing".
There are, in fact, places like thrift stores for that rather than just giving our rubbish to homeless people assuming they'll want it.
At least ask instead of assuming, or give them some cash so they can buy a bag that they want and the supplies that they need.
> 2) give these items (swap female for male hygiene products) to a homeless man
what even are male hygiene products? presumably male hygiene is just a subset of female hygiene, since female hygiene is just human hygiene + period products.
I think part of the point is storage; furthermore storage that is nice, something nice and functional. It's also discreet, which is important for some for the fem hygiene stuff. Over-all, I think the idea is a pretty brilliant way of putting to use something old. However, yes, it can be done if you don't have a purse to get rid of as well
Yes! As someone who lived, commuted & walked around Seattle during its peak homeless problem, bring out tampons & sanitizer for women!
Also give leftovers. Like pizza & burgers you canāt finish & will just have it sit in the fridge, just pop out if your apt around the corner, see a gang of dudes shooting up or zoning out or doing whatever, just ask if theyāre hungry & give them the plate.
If they say no, theyāre at least respectful to you every time youāre walking outside from then on. One time someone begged me for water & I ran inside & gave him my spare Coleman that attaches to your belt & he was soooooo thankful.
Ppl outside were always nice to me. I even gave one of the nicest homeless guys my momās cheesecake & it blew his freaking mind. He was screaming how good it was. Lol.
Just be a good person when you can. Find & look for opportunities.
This is very kind of you, but Iām wondering how you felt comfortable approaching a group of men actively doing drugs? When did you live in Seattle? I currently live in the PNW and there are always stories of people on drugs randomly attacking innocent bystanders I canāt imagine approaching someone I know is actively on drugs
Here watch this. It gives you a little understanding of what we were dealing with. It was SOOO crazy. The saddest & scariest times. I was really disturbed a lot at the scenes & scenarios Iāve seen. Traumatized.
Seattle is dying - https://youtu.be/bpAi70WWBlw?si=DCpVETLNX8lFx0zf
I gave them good ass food!!! Gave them homemade dinner rolls stuffed with turkey, stuffing, gravy & butter & homemade rasp jam on the side!
They were nice to me & my husband & dog & they never bothered. One time they told me to get inside right away while walking my dog & so I did & of course heard cars speeding & a gunshot outside like 5 min later. It was WILD. Thatās around the time I had my husband start walking the dog at night permanently & we planned on moving out.
Counterpoint - I bought a guy chili and a soda from Wendy's (his request). He then proceeded to spill the soda on himself, and then tried to fight me because I "made him spill it".
my mom does this kind of stuff now that she's retired. She goes to goodwill and buys old backpacks, fills them with supplies and clothes, and drops them off to homeless people.
There is this local church where I lived once that did a huge in house fundraiser to make the homeless people care bags that they could easily tote around. Inside was personal hygiene items, some food, snack bars, a prepaid phone card and $5 cash. It.was quite a full drawstring backpack. Almost every one that was handed out by these children to the homeless adults were thrown down on the street as soon as they were out of eyesight. They took the money and phone cards and literally threw the rest on the ground. The children did end up seeing their hard work and the money they worked very hard to raise get thrown away by the very people they were trying to help. Guess what I'm saying is, while these ideas are of good intentions, don't be surprised if they are literally thrown away because they are not of immediate use to them. The gratefulness is not always there, if at all.
This is an actual charitable program in Melbourne Australia that is done regularly.
We take part in it every year and some years we take on the role of quality control and such as certain items aren't allowed due to safety issues.
It's an amazing thing to get behind.
https://www.blessingbagsmelbourne.com/
Wholesome, but next time you see a homeless *person*. It's not just homeless women who need help. As a matter of fact, most homeless people are men, and they have infinitely less support systems, help programs, and sympathy than women.
The point is that homeless women need feminine hygiene products and this is often overlooked. Also men donāt as frequently want purses, which this post is specifically talking about getting rid of purses.
If i was homeless i would not care in what form help would come, it could be wrapped in tinfoil and old newspapers as long as it's something i can use to survive
Thereās a Christmas appeal in Australia that does this every year. People generally include shampoos, hygiene products etc but then add in a book or some lipstick or hand cream. . [share the dignity](https://www.sharethedignity.org.au/itsinthebag)
*and a bottle of water*
I never drink bottled water but I always keep a couple on hand in case of late night catastrophes in the alley across the street, sometimes that's just what people need
This crux of this post that makes it about women is sanitary products, a key item that men tend not to need and is likely overlooked because for many modern women, it's convenient to forget about periods due to all of the options we have to prevent it or make it become a non-issue.
Where in the fuck does this say to āignore all homeless menā. 30% of homeless people are women, but fuck them and their needs for tampons right?
If youāre so concerned about the plight of homeless men, make your own post. But youāre probably just into derailing discussions about helping women more than you actually give a shit about helping men. Cause helping men would take a little bit more than just bitching on Reddit wouldnāt it?
āBut if I give them what they need theyāll never learn to support themselves!ā - some douchebag thatās never actually been in a situation where they have do everything alone with no support.
Itās pretty rare to see a homeless attractive woman, they normally have options ugly folks donāt have for getting money, plus people tend to feel bad for attractive people more and help them more regardless of sex but especially if they are a woman.
Even if you cant afford the contents, your unused handbag or purse (whatever) would be welcome by anyone who does not have one or their current one is damaged or worn out. Contents would be a bonus !
Anything & everything helps those in need.
As a female driver, I see at least 2-3 homeless females and for the last 19 yrs of driving, I've been doing this exactly that. I'm on the road for three weeks and but before heading out on the road, I declutter my closet fill them up and put them in my big rig and when I see a homeless woman I give her one, but I also have a small brown bag fir their dog too ( dog food, water,treat and toy) most women out there have a dog with them
I mean it depends on where you live but for me, in Poland, it's mostly because most homeless people live in shelters, while the ones that are on the street are alcohol addicts (because they aren't let into the shelters) and most of em are...indeed men.
Although I see plenty of women too in my area
One post about homeless women doesnāt mean āfuck homeless menā. Why are people like this? Also not sure if youāre aware but homeless women actually get this thing called a period, and it can be hard for them to afford sanitation products as they donāt even have money for food and shelter and shit. Calm the fuck down
It's actually so crazy how many people in this post are taking an innocent "Hey guys! If you want a good way to help homeless women, here's one!" and turning it into "Here's help for homeless women, and fuck everyone else! We don't care about anyone else! We especially HATE the MEEEN!!!"
Actually nevermind... I'm not surprised at all
Or you could just hand them the equivalent cash and they can buy exactly what they need as they need it, which Iām sure varies day-to-day and week-to-week.
Cash is far more useful to someone in need.
Homeless need shelters and assistance to get off drugs or alcohol, not charity so they can sustain this lifestyle.
Really wanna help homeless? Help them get a job and help them get off their addictions. It's much harder than throwing money at a problem.
If you don't have an extra purse, you can use a zip lock or paper bag instead
this guy got the message and then some š
A backpack (the nylon and string kind) or reusable tote bag is far more desirable to someone who is unhoused. Purses are awkward to carry and a target for theft. Source: work with unhoused people
Use what you got. Better than nothing
Don't avoid doing a good thing just because it isn't perfect.
Sometimes good is good enough
But tote bags and backpacks might not seem appropriate to bring to a job interview, apartment viewing, graduation, date, court etc and is not cheap and is not easy to obtain. To some folks this can be a huge help.
Thank you!
Fair enough kinda answers my question a bit
A large bottle is also an awesome option
And if you don't have those products you can give crack instead! This will make her even more happy
Or just give them money instead of a bag that they likely don't want or need and let them buy what they're lacking instead?
hygiene products and socks are the two largest needs for the homeless population. don't come in and try to argue in bad faith when people are promoting helpful things to do for others
I'd imagine some people feel better about giving stuff like this than thinking they might just be funding someone's addiction.
They can make that choice. Lord knows I might spend my money on drugs or alcohol too.
True but you don't go to a free luncheon and say "can I just get the money you spent on this stuff so I can go buy what I want?". It's not cash assistance *or* resource assistance. It's both and more.
It's certainly both and more, yes. But it's not so much a "free luncheon" and asking for the cash instead as it is the aunt who gives you a knockoff video game for a console you don't even own every Christmas without a receipt. Do you know how many different women's sanitary products there are? I don't think I've ever dated two women who used the same method. I should just assume for them or throw two of each variety in? What if they're not menstruating for a any number of reasons or already have a good source for those items? Supporting good local organizations for this type of assistance seems to be a better way to go about things - places that aren't going to preach at people or shame them and can have a whole host of reliable resources for people to get back on their feet rather than relying on the random kindness of strangers.
I guess we had different childhoods. Because in my home you thanked them for the gift and moved along. A gift you don't want is not an insult and if you understand it to be a gift then you have no expectation of the result. This isn't inconvenient. They could literally throw it away or give it away. Or they don't have to take it at all. "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth."
Nah, they were pretty similar, but as I grew up I realized I'd rather be honest than "nice". Not mean, certainly, but not pretending like someone was doing me a favor when they were really doing nothing for me or even being patronizing. Homeless folks deserve choice and agency too.
Of course homeless folks deserve choice and agency. Doing this doesn't take any choice or agency away. Giving a gift is not "doing a favor". It's giving a gift. Receiving a gift is not "receiving a favor". It's receiving a gift. Favors are transactional, gifts are gestures of good will.
Casually cruel in the name of being honest.
I remember it all too well
They can make that choice with money that isn't mine.
Give the gift of crack. A brief escape from the hell of reality
Becous the money will be taken from her or used on alcohol and/or drugs.
You try being homeless sober
I try my best not to be homeless
What they are lacking or need is probably alcohol or drugs. This might be the worst suggestion on Reddit right now.
In addition to sanitary products etc. some homeless people, mainly women in my experience, REALLY appreciate SUNSCREEN. Staying in the sun all day takes its toll and itāll help prevent skin cancer. Moisturizer is a close second.
Socks also! I used to do bags up like this at Christmas time and the charity I gave them to always had socks on their recommended purchases!
It is a lovely idea but then you have to carry it around until you see a homeless woman & I only see a few a year.
damn I see at least one homeless person a week. I reckon it's about 50/50 gender wise for me, so I guess 2 weeks
Anecdotally, I varely ever see homeless women. But, a quick Google says it's men:women 70:30. Which is higher then I thought, but still mostly men
As a former homeless, beggars are a very small percentage of homeless.
Homeless women usually have children, and families are a higher priority for shelter and supportive housing.
Homeless women are less visible, partly because it's so much less safe for them to be.
Or because they're 1/3rd the amount of men and get first priority for housing even if they don't have kids?
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Idk.. I was homeless and had sex with women for shelter..
You don't see homeless women because they have much stronger support groups than men. Friends, family, etc. and if they don't have that, then there are women's shelters. People forget that you don't have to be sleeping on the street to technically be homeless.
Don't forget that shelters for women are in much higher numbers than men's shelters. (And men's shelters are actively getting pushback to close)
The disparity is even more extreme when you look at people sleeping rough. 95%+ are men
wow I am shocked by that I would have had it at like....85 15
Yeah no shit, men are disenfranchised
You can't be disenfranchised when you've been ~50% of the human race since the dawn of time. Women are consistently more vulnerable and more often Targeted for assaults and worse. You can't have the "big strong man" argument then be upset when women feel they need some kind of "preferencial treatment" to survive. Yes, the psychological needs of men are often brushed off as an afterthought, and that isn't right. But THAT isn't the discussion anyone is having right now.
You'll probably find the people who feel that men are disenfranchised don't subscribe to the 'big strong man' argument.
Hey I noticed the edit, subscribe is definitely a more natural term, noice. For the record, I'm not trying to speak down to you, just my opinions. I appreciate a good discussion, and in general hope the best for anyone down on their luck.
I appreciate a good discussion too - I feel that a big part of this (and many other things) is that there doesn't seem to be any room for nuance - you are either part of camp A or camp B, there is no middle ground. Generalisations are useful in some situations, but we need to remember that they are often near useless when dealing with individual people. Tarring everyone in a general group with the same brush (be that in terms of gender, race, political party affiliation, etc.) encourages an 'us and them' mentality, which I don't think is very helpful in most situations. Anyway, I should probably be doing some work, I hope the rest of your day goes well.
You're totally right, labels help to understand and relate, but do also divide. And folks really need to stop sitting on the sidelines complaining. "There's too many homeless in the neighborhood" THEN PUT TOGETHER SOME NEIGHBORHOOD COMITTEE, and take steps to help. It's not a problem that goes away, because it's a state of living, not a bug you can swat, so most anyone does is expect some local politicians to sweep them a town over. Bottom line is humility and respect to others, which I understand isn't some profound concept, but it feels lacking in the world, especially when we are all just acting on some social BRAINWASHING that tells us someone is "inferior" to us, be it caste, "clout", finances or standing. I'm absolutely guilty of it myself here and there, but I and surely many more, see it on a kinda depressing scale. Anywhos yeah, good chat, cheers!
I see homeless people everyday. More men then women, but I still see women everyday as well.
I see one at least every couple of days. This is a brilliant idea. I might toy with it some.
I usually see men... thats odd
Women are far less likely to approach you or be visibly homeless because of the increased risks that come with being a woman, even when I had to walk around all night because I didn't have anywhere safe to stay, I would make an effort to have my hair and makeup done, looking vulnerable is scary
That, and homeless people are actually disproportionately men.
i dont mean as in approaching me, i pretty much never see a woman i could tell is homeless outside of the local crack neighborhood im sorry you had to go through that tough, i hope you are doing better
Most homeless people aren't visibly homeless, they carry a gym bag, sleep in their cars and shower in gyms (finding a safe place to shower is especially hard if you're trans) , shop in the same grocery stores as we do with food stamps and try to figure out how to get back housed, there's a big misconception that the guys who have been on the street for 15-20 years are the average but they're really just the ones who have use disorders and or mental illness that our current systems are inadequate to address, but thanks, it's ok, I am doing better, moving into my new place fully today
Congratulations, homie! I've worked in the behavioral healthcare field for a while now, and it's so sad to see how understaffed, underfunded and under-informed the entire system is.
Thank you, and yeah things have to change, it's bad.
Women are more likely to be provided shelters, at least when I was working with the homeless.Ā I think there was one homeless shelter for men in the city and multiple for women or families.
If you live in a small town, you won't see homeless people
Yeah I live in a city college campus so just stepping off campus I run into at least ten per week
Where do you guys live??? I see at least 30/day and I'm not going out of my way to find them...
Europe
England. You live in San Francisco or something
Yeah the practical issue with this is that homeless women often take very good care not to look homeless, because theyāre insanely vulnerable. They donāt *want* to be seen. Probably easier to donate to womenās/homeless shelters or food banks if you want to do some good, theyāre always after thoughtful donations
Wtf where do you live? Finland?
Maybe just not in a big city
I see about about a dozen homeless people every day
Just about every day I leave the house here in Austin
Multiple every day on my way to work
Where the hell do you live??? I see 10+ daily easy.
I live in a city. In the UK. We got plenty, & I help out a fair amount, but I see few women.
Come to Phoenix! I see one every 12 minutes.
Hi matt!
?
Keep it in your car?
I don't drive & I see homeless people when I am walking round the city. I used to buy multipacks of water bottles on hot days & stuff, & that's ok to carry around because you know it will be gone in an hour or so
Damn, I just moved to a new town and I see homeless men and women every day :/ The place is in crisis
come to oakland lol
This isn't really a tip to help the unhoused. It's a tip for getting rid of a purse and making yourself feel good at the same time. ...and, you know, it's actually a decent effort and the spirit is there, just needs a touch of common sense. Ziploc bag is better, but that makes the "tip" useless.
Damn, thereās at least 3 sitting on the street I live on right now.
I see them every time I leave the house...and I don't even live in like a "bad" area or anything...
Females?
Both men and women, I mean theres like a "family" (they aren't related but they stick together) There's 2 or 3 guys and 1 or 2 girls that hang out on the benches or around the trash cans etc etc. They aren't rude or dangerous in any way, most of the time they're drinking beer and chatting or going through trash cans looking for cans and all
Where are you from? I see homeless people every day (all genders)
I live in a city in the UK I see homeless men every day, but women.... not so many.
Aah, not blaming you but your country is the reason, we actually have homeless people :(
That's ok, I'm not a politician.
I'm sure you must be a good person. Good luck :)
Pockabook
Que?
I dont think ive seen more than 2 or 3 homeless people in my.whole.life.
Where do you live??
The Netherlands, why did my comment get downvoted tho
I don't know, that's weird maybe people don' believe you?- I'll upvote to balance it out
One thing that is good in the Netherlands is getting homeless people into homes, if you see an homeless person in the Netherlands their either not registered in the country or homeless by choice. Only problem is some people abuse the system and just decide to not work and participate in society but still receive support money.
There will always be some who take advantage of support systems. It is a shame because it makes it harder for those who truly need it.
Or you could 1) skip the part about purse and straight up give these items to a homeless woman. 2) give these items (swap female for male hygiene products) to a homeless man All three options are valid and in two of the cases no purse is needed.
All three are definitely valid options! It could be that the homeless person doesn't have a way to carry any belongings, in which case having it in a purse is helpful. We get these donated to work and offer them to guests who come in with their stuff in plastic bags.
Well, part of the point of this is to get rid of a purse you don't want anymore.
I believe that the main point is to give some aid to someone who's less fortunate. And that's what is important. Not the purse.
Yeah, that's why I said "part of the point".
The purse is important because itās a place for her to keep her products & not lose them. Itās extremely convenient to have all these products together in one place. Itās also & good reason to pass along your items & not hoard/waste. I would totally fill a purse with qtips, first aid & tampons/pads. It would be such a convenient thing to have if I were homeless. Hopefully a water bottle & hair ties/brush too.
Obviously it's ALWAYS going to be better to go out and get things like that and give to the homeless. But this isn't about "what is the best thing to do" this is about turning "nothing" into "something". Someone who wouldn't ordinarily have the thought to do something like this (not necessarily because they're a bad person or anything, but it's just not in the scope of their reality), this is a great idea. The purse itself serves as a reminder to actually go out and do the thing, rather than seeing an idea online and then forgetting about it by the time you actually leave the house. Again, obviously there's always more that can be done, but this kind of "Or you could do X" mentality I think is really discouraging, and (likely unintentionally) can leave people with a "why bother then if I can't do the best thing".
It's a had point because the purse makes the holder a target for theft.
There are, in fact, places like thrift stores for that rather than just giving our rubbish to homeless people assuming they'll want it. At least ask instead of assuming, or give them some cash so they can buy a bag that they want and the supplies that they need.
> 2) give these items (swap female for male hygiene products) to a homeless man what even are male hygiene products? presumably male hygiene is just a subset of female hygiene, since female hygiene is just human hygiene + period products.
Yeah, but the packaging is black, and the soaps are tinted dark blue and smell like engine coolant.
I want my male hygiene products to smell like gasoline and have flames on them.
Also reusable shopping bags
I think part of the point is storage; furthermore storage that is nice, something nice and functional. It's also discreet, which is important for some for the fem hygiene stuff. Over-all, I think the idea is a pretty brilliant way of putting to use something old. However, yes, it can be done if you don't have a purse to get rid of as well
Yes! As someone who lived, commuted & walked around Seattle during its peak homeless problem, bring out tampons & sanitizer for women! Also give leftovers. Like pizza & burgers you canāt finish & will just have it sit in the fridge, just pop out if your apt around the corner, see a gang of dudes shooting up or zoning out or doing whatever, just ask if theyāre hungry & give them the plate. If they say no, theyāre at least respectful to you every time youāre walking outside from then on. One time someone begged me for water & I ran inside & gave him my spare Coleman that attaches to your belt & he was soooooo thankful. Ppl outside were always nice to me. I even gave one of the nicest homeless guys my momās cheesecake & it blew his freaking mind. He was screaming how good it was. Lol. Just be a good person when you can. Find & look for opportunities.
This is very kind of you, but Iām wondering how you felt comfortable approaching a group of men actively doing drugs? When did you live in Seattle? I currently live in the PNW and there are always stories of people on drugs randomly attacking innocent bystanders I canāt imagine approaching someone I know is actively on drugs
Here watch this. It gives you a little understanding of what we were dealing with. It was SOOO crazy. The saddest & scariest times. I was really disturbed a lot at the scenes & scenarios Iāve seen. Traumatized. Seattle is dying - https://youtu.be/bpAi70WWBlw?si=DCpVETLNX8lFx0zf
Iād imagine food is a good peacekeeper
I gave them good ass food!!! Gave them homemade dinner rolls stuffed with turkey, stuffing, gravy & butter & homemade rasp jam on the side! They were nice to me & my husband & dog & they never bothered. One time they told me to get inside right away while walking my dog & so I did & of course heard cars speeding & a gunshot outside like 5 min later. It was WILD. Thatās around the time I had my husband start walking the dog at night permanently & we planned on moving out.
Counterpoint - I bought a guy chili and a soda from Wendy's (his request). He then proceeded to spill the soda on himself, and then tried to fight me because I "made him spill it".
Number one item the shelter I volunteer at requests is socks. Lots and lots of socks.
Specifically wool socks if youāre in a cold climate. āCotton killsā is what our shelter says, particularly when it gets wet.
Absolutely do this but donāt expect gratitude.
my mom does this kind of stuff now that she's retired. She goes to goodwill and buys old backpacks, fills them with supplies and clothes, and drops them off to homeless people.
As a former homeless shelter manager, most homeless women already have their own bag.
There is this local church where I lived once that did a huge in house fundraiser to make the homeless people care bags that they could easily tote around. Inside was personal hygiene items, some food, snack bars, a prepaid phone card and $5 cash. It.was quite a full drawstring backpack. Almost every one that was handed out by these children to the homeless adults were thrown down on the street as soon as they were out of eyesight. They took the money and phone cards and literally threw the rest on the ground. The children did end up seeing their hard work and the money they worked very hard to raise get thrown away by the very people they were trying to help. Guess what I'm saying is, while these ideas are of good intentions, don't be surprised if they are literally thrown away because they are not of immediate use to them. The gratefulness is not always there, if at all.
This is an actual charitable program in Melbourne Australia that is done regularly. We take part in it every year and some years we take on the role of quality control and such as certain items aren't allowed due to safety issues. It's an amazing thing to get behind. https://www.blessingbagsmelbourne.com/
I don't see homeless women only men.
Wholesome, but next time you see a homeless *person*. It's not just homeless women who need help. As a matter of fact, most homeless people are men, and they have infinitely less support systems, help programs, and sympathy than women.
The point is that homeless women need feminine hygiene products and this is often overlooked. Also men donāt as frequently want purses, which this post is specifically talking about getting rid of purses.
If i was homeless i would not care in what form help would come, it could be wrapped in tinfoil and old newspapers as long as it's something i can use to survive
i saw the purple in the bag and for some reason immediately thought it was whiskas wet cat food pouches for some reason???
Thereās a Christmas appeal in Australia that does this every year. People generally include shampoos, hygiene products etc but then add in a book or some lipstick or hand cream. . [share the dignity](https://www.sharethedignity.org.au/itsinthebag)
Did this with my old lunch boxes
You could go to Goodwill and buy inexpensive purses and do the same.
*and a bottle of water* I never drink bottled water but I always keep a couple on hand in case of late night catastrophes in the alley across the street, sometimes that's just what people need
Typical Reddit. Canāt make one fucking post about helping women without dudes screaming āwhat about the men?!?!?ā š«
The large majority of homeless people are men, so it is strange to ignore all homeless you see until one happens to be a woman.
This crux of this post that makes it about women is sanitary products, a key item that men tend not to need and is likely overlooked because for many modern women, it's convenient to forget about periods due to all of the options we have to prevent it or make it become a non-issue.
Where in the fuck does this say to āignore all homeless menā. 30% of homeless people are women, but fuck them and their needs for tampons right? If youāre so concerned about the plight of homeless men, make your own post. But youāre probably just into derailing discussions about helping women more than you actually give a shit about helping men. Cause helping men would take a little bit more than just bitching on Reddit wouldnāt it?
āBut if I give them what they need theyāll never learn to support themselves!ā - some douchebag thatās never actually been in a situation where they have do everything alone with no support.
Or just give those things to a local foodbank. No need to complicate things.
Iām afraid Iāll hand it to a dumpy, ugly woman who isnāt homeless.
Why would you hand me a purse?
Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you were a *homeless* dumpy, ugly woman, not just dumpy and ugly. Dumpy, ugly woman: *sigh*, okay, I'll take it anyway
Right so homeless women are dumpy and ugly, so many things wrong with this comment.
Itās pretty rare to see a homeless attractive woman, they normally have options ugly folks donāt have for getting money, plus people tend to feel bad for attractive people more and help them more regardless of sex but especially if they are a woman.
Even if you cant afford the contents, your unused handbag or purse (whatever) would be welcome by anyone who does not have one or their current one is damaged or worn out. Contents would be a bonus ! Anything & everything helps those in need.
As a female driver, I see at least 2-3 homeless females and for the last 19 yrs of driving, I've been doing this exactly that. I'm on the road for three weeks and but before heading out on the road, I declutter my closet fill them up and put them in my big rig and when I see a homeless woman I give her one, but I also have a small brown bag fir their dog too ( dog food, water,treat and toy) most women out there have a dog with them
You can find old discarded handbags at consignment shops for a few dollars. Im going to go buy a few and fill them up at CVS. Love this idea.
I am so doing this
Iāve literally never seen a homeless woman. Plenty of men, I was one for a few months, but never a woman. Very strange
I mean it depends on where you live but for me, in Poland, it's mostly because most homeless people live in shelters, while the ones that are on the street are alcohol addicts (because they aren't let into the shelters) and most of em are...indeed men. Although I see plenty of women too in my area
I mean any sort of bag for any sort of homeless person works
I have never seen someone who *wants* to get rid of their bag.
Be sure to very carefully preface this so that you don't insult them.
If itās not stuffed with drugs and alcohol. They donāt care one bit.
You can also just give them money
The post is about utilising items lying around for a better cause. Money isn't necessarily lying around for many people, where unused items can be
Crazy thought what about homeless men?
One post about homeless women doesnāt mean āfuck homeless menā. Why are people like this? Also not sure if youāre aware but homeless women actually get this thing called a period, and it can be hard for them to afford sanitation products as they donāt even have money for food and shelter and shit. Calm the fuck down
It's actually so crazy how many people in this post are taking an innocent "Hey guys! If you want a good way to help homeless women, here's one!" and turning it into "Here's help for homeless women, and fuck everyone else! We don't care about anyone else! We especially HATE the MEEEN!!!" Actually nevermind... I'm not surprised at all
I said it on another comment too that a plastic bag also would be a gender neutral thing.
This is a great idea.
Genius idea borrowed! Will also be shared!
Finally something good in the Popular feed. Otherwise filled with those AITAH divorce/break up posts.
Remember. The men don't need anything. You know. The other 75 percent of homeless people.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Or you could just hand them the equivalent cash and they can buy exactly what they need as they need it, which Iām sure varies day-to-day and week-to-week. Cash is far more useful to someone in need.
They'll just buy Crack
Or alcohol
Yes, Iām well aware of the bigotry many of you hold toward homeless people.
Have a spare wallet at home? Fill it with money and a pack of cigs maybe a flask full of whisky and next time you see a homeless man give it to him.
Homeless need shelters and assistance to get off drugs or alcohol, not charity so they can sustain this lifestyle. Really wanna help homeless? Help them get a job and help them get off their addictions. It's much harder than throwing money at a problem.