What are your actions on contact with a person claiming they are homeless and hungry?

He's mad because you can't trade a sandwich for booze or drugs. I would have left, too.

CSM Michael J. Uhlig I would also have left. You did the right thing.

CSM Michael J. Uhlig I ran into this quite often in California over the last several years and when I offered food and they turned it down, then I called them out. Those who are truly homeless will not turn down a good meal. Those who are panhandling for money and just aren't working will. I had one refuse some food that offered, I called them out, took off around the block, watch them leave and get into a very nice car. PanHandling has become very prevalent in many areas and you need to be cautious of it. The truly homeless are lving on the streets in downtown San Diego in box shelters and they are going to places that offer hot meals and a place to stay when it gets a little chilly or its raining (not often in San Diego, CA). I've got no issue calling them out of they refuse good quality food and just want money - that's my two cents on the post Michael!

CSM Michael J. Uhlig Only thing to do in that situation,anything beyond offering the food would have made you a "chump". If the person was truly hungry he would have welcomed the sandwich and thanked you in the process,instead of rejecting the offer as "sh*t".

I would have done the same thing. If he is homeless and hungry.....this is a time when beggars can't be choosers........and if they want to be that picky.....well then, they can find someone else to try and mooch on.

You did well.

Would have left, too. As soon as he turned down food, he may as well have said up front 'I want money for drugs or alcohol.' F-that.

CSM Michael J. Uhlig - I took the Metro to King Street Old Town Alexandria to meet an old colleague for quiet little evening dinner at The Wharf where they make a nice Linguine alla Viareggina and they have a nice collection of single malts. In any case, as soon as I step out of the Metro on my way to the Tram this guy tells me he is homeless and hungry - so I thought I was being kind enough to give him a fiver - but he screams at me as long as he can see me about how cheap I am - and that I should have given him a twenty. He started yelling about being a homeless veteran - so I came back - asked him what unit, when, and where he was deployed. He he said he was deployed at MCRD - and that I owed him for his combat service. I don't know, I probably shouldn't have, dressed to the nines for dinner, but I gave him an earful about what it means to lay your life down for your country - a bit of a crowd gathered chiding him for being such a fraud - and he slithered away back into the Metro. I don't know what the best thing is to do for people who are say they are tired and hungry but seem to be making asking for a handout their professional occupation. A rabbi a long time ago told me to give a quarter whenever asked for help by someone on the street - because while 9 out of 10 times this is just an act - the 1 out of 10 who need your help really need your help. I thought a fiver would be enough - how much are people really expecting when they say they are hungry? If I had the time I'd have bought him a meal at the start - but a few minutes later I felt disgusted - in part because I had visited Arlington earlier that day to support the family of another old friend. Warmest Regards, Sandy :)

A man who is truly hungry will not turn down food.

Sounds like a hustler. Their dickish response to a legitimate offer of food would have lost any empathy from me.