Myth - Many homeless people are mentally ill.
Reality - Being homeless causes depression which is a form of mental illness.

Myth - They are different than you and I.
Reality - They are not different. Only their situation is different. One of their primary needs is to be loved and respected as human beings.

Myth - They have serious problems; therefore they are homeless.
Reality - This is true because being homeless causes serious problems. Their major problems may not have caused their homelessness. Think about how you might feel if you were suddenly homeless?

Myth - They have drug/alcohol problems.
Reality - Drug/alcohol is just one of the means by which a person can fall out of main stream of productive society. Homelessness and the resulting depression may cause a person to turn to drugs/alcohol. Divorce, death of a family member, bankruptcy, disgrace, economic disaster, war, loss of ability to earn an income, are other means to name a few. (Some of these may result in homelessness.)

Myth - Jesus said, "The poor will always be with us." Therefore I am not really required to do any thing for these people.
Reality - Jesus said, "Love your neighbor as yourself." And then showed us who our neighbor is. The poor may always with us so that each of us can learn how to "love our neighbor as our self." He also implied that we should give what we feel able to give.

Myth - Standing on a street corner asking for money is begging.
Reality - If a man is willing to stand on a street corner he is working. Standing on a street corner in Boise, Idaho in mid-August or mid-January is very hard work.

Myth - They are just looking for a handout. Why doesn't he get a job?
Reality - Ask yourself these questions; "Would you rather do a day's work for a day's pay or stand on a street corner asking for money?" If you don't get the days work and really needed money; "Then would you stand on the street corner and ask for money?" Most men want to work. They are often found at the day labor site. Hoping to get a days work. Standing on a street corner asking for money is a disgrace. Imagine how you would feel if you had to do that? Now go and figure out how to put these day labors to work so they may experience honor and self worth in their lives and be able to bring food to their families. (Matthew 20:1-14)

Myth - Homeless people should not be given money. They will just waste it.
Reality - Money is the life blood of our economy. Everyone of us who is employed/retired receives a pay check. With the money we receive we purchase necessities and luxury items. We may even "waste some of it" by purchasing a six pack of beer or a bottle of wine or a box of chocolates. (Our justification is that we have earned the money therefore we have a right to spend it the way we want to.)

A man standing on a street corner asking for money is working. He should receive what he is asking for. To ignore his request for money and give him food when we have money available is a form of judgement. How can we presume to know what his most pressing needs are? Jesus always asked (even when it must have been obvious) as to what the person needed/wanted him to do. (Matthew 20:32-33; Matthew 8:2-3; Matthew 8:5-7;) To give him food when we have food and don't have money is totally different scenario. In that situation we are giving what we are able to give. (Mark 10:36-40; Acts 3:6)

Myth - Homeless people don't need money.
Reality - Homeless people may need more money than we need. Homeless people are people who are on a trip without the benefit of an employer/sponsor. If you have ever studied your expense account carefully you know that being on a business trip is an expensive proposition.

In some situations Homeless people need more ready cash than we do to accomplish the same goal. If they have a car it will be an old large one that gets about 10 miles per gallon rather than the 25-35 MPG that newer cars get. Therefore they may need three times as much money as we do to travel the same distance.

Myth - I can't afford to give every homeless person I meet money. I just don't have that much.
Reality - God calls us to be on a team. We never work alone. (We may never know who the other team members are and we don't need to know.) If each of us gives what we can give then the problem is solved. God never gives us more that we can handle. If you walk around downtown Boise not every homeless person you meet will ask you for money. Trust in God not to give you more than you can handle.

If I give a homeless person $5 it doesn't hurt me a bit but it helps him. If about 20 people give him $5 each then he almost has enough for a one meal, a tank of gas and a room for that day. We are all part of God's team. Will you play on the team today?

What thought comes to your mind when a person with disheveled look and dirty clothes comes up to you?

Myth - If I give a Homeless person money they will just blow it.
Reality - We are called upon to give. If a person asks me for money under false pretenses and I give it to him, then I have done my part. He on the other hand will suffer because his request was not honorable and God will take care of that problem in his own way. Once again, it is my job to give not to judge.