Should We Fine or Arrest People Who Give Money to the Homeless?

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So, I was driving on the frontage road to the loop at Southwest Boulevard in San Angelo yesterday and the man in the picture above approached my car with a sign saying he is homeless and asked me for money. I politely declined (besides, I only carry hundreds, that's an old Fletch joke, anybody catch that?)

Well, when I got home, I do not know if my phone knew I encountered a homeless man (maybe it really knows that stuff), I got an alert on my phone about a council member in a North Carolina city who is suggesting those who give money to the homeless should be arrested. How did my phone know to send that to me? Maybe that's a blog for another day.

The council person in Charlotte, North Carolina says he does not regret his comment about the city's homeless problem.

Monday night, during a city council meeting, Councilman Tariq Bokhari suggested that when people give money or food to homeless individuals instead of charities and organizations, they are causing more harm than good.

“People aren’t getting it, and they’re still bringing food and clothing and resources directly to folks that are out there right now. They’re only making themselves feel good,” said Bokhari.

The council person went on to say they should look at making it a crime to give money to the homeless.

“Perhaps we explore making that a misdemeanor,” Bokhari said, referring to giving money directly to homeless.

On Friday, Bokhari said he didn’t regret his words “even one little bit.”

Should San Angelo look at something like this? We do not seem to have a big homeless problem here in our small town, but is it a good idea to get ahead of the problem before it gets worse?

I personally don't like to give money to homeless people because I've heard stories that they will spent the money on drugs and alcohol. I prefer to donate to causes or organizations that help the homeless get the help they need.

But should people be fined or even arrested for giving money directly to the homeless like the council person in North Carolina suggests? Let us know on Facebook or chat with us on our station app.