Originally Posted by
Ferg
Thanks for that. Yes it was tongue in cheek....low hanging fruit and all that....I agree, nothing like immersing oneself to get a feel for a place. Speaking of which, per your later post:
In my experience, these people are financially supported so I don't agree with the grinding unsupported poverty - unless it is a new breed of beggars. There are services and support for those who seek it, but maybe not sufficiently tailored to the needs of some of these people.
With the high immigration rates, some of the beggars could also be overstayers or otherwise currently ineligible for welfare. I am wary of profiling, but my observations could not rule that out.
I know I am generalising here but bear with me given these are my anecdotes. What I am describing occurred 8-10 years ago in central Auckland. I sat and talked to quite a few beggars and took a number of individuals for a hot meal and drink of their choosing, and all I asked in return was to sit and have a chat. Mental health issues and substance abuse are often related. I usually ask "what's your story - how did you get to this position?". You get most of the story and sometimes the odd lie (for instance checking with local social service providers who supposedly rejected them has previously unearthed lies). Drugs and lies go hand in hand. It is good that you made an effort to find out. I admit that I would be scared to take it upon myself to be so investigative. Undoubtedly some of those who beg, have had addiction issues, and have fallen foul of social agencies. Whether there are fewer last chances given, and fewer agencies of last resort than previously, I cannot say. Is available funding now swamped by the numbers of folk needing help, with Fewer private donors, and constrained taxpayer funding?
You only have to ask "what's your poison?" or "do you have an issue with alcohol or drugs?" and a number will confess to something illicit. I feel sorry for the genuine beggars (even if they have drug or have alcohol issues) because IMO this is a failure of mental health services and the closure of various facilities around the 1980s which pushed a number of these people into the cities and suburbs. Surely the solution is to reinstate those facilities and the tough love? Some beggars are not so genuine - on offering someone I regularly saw begging the chance for a hot meal and drink in a local café, he declined on the basis he "didn't want to lose his spot". So he wasn't hungry. Also, if you are going to give something I recommend first ask the person what they want. Some I talked to were sick of getting pies - they feel they have to show gratitude, but sometimes they might just want basics like bread and fruut. A problem is a problem, a drug addict needs help as much as any beggar. Those with mental health issues/addiction issues need help. Fewer shoppers carry around cash, so a donation of what they buy may be all they could do. Some may make the time and the effort of discussing the beggars needs, language issues notwithstanding.
Certainly community based support for mental health, shifted the onus more onto families. The intent is always to regularly monitor to pick up stresses and To ensure everyone can cope. If it fails, the public is affected by the fallout.
The issue we see today is IMO the result of decades of underfunding of mental health services. If anyone needs to visit another country to see what and/or how we can do anything better, it is those running and funding the mental health services in NZ.