New Yorkers are drug Junkies

[Londoner]

the proof is in this Youtube video:

https://youtu.be/Ilxjo5RlzFc

[Piling]

There had a similar show in Paris : a beggar with a dog and a pregnant woman. People gave a lot for the dog. And about the pregnant woman they stopped and gave advices to get aids (because in France single mothers had some rights and special funds).

In Paris there are also many gipsies or Romanians with kids or kids begging alone. Generally French people do not give money to kids, because they suppose they are exploited by professionals (true). They give to people with cats or dog (never seen one of these dogs or cats too thin, afraid and mistreated; at the contrary they seem fine, though perhaps drugged sometimes to stay still).

If a homeless writes thing like I need drugs booze and weed in Paris, I think that many people would laugh and might give, because we like humour.

Probably New Yorkers understand as most of people in big cities that most of homeless are addicted (they became addicted in the street or fall in the street because of addiction) and it is ok to tell it.

Now we have a new flood of refugees (Syrians, Africans, Afghans). Perhaps perception will change, because many of them have kids and now there are many children who fled Afghanistan, Africa or Kurdistan alone.

[Anthea]

In the UK a lot of the mental hospitals were closed in favour of 'care in the community' some people fell through the care net

Most of our beggars really are alcoholics or junkies and some of them are abusive and dangerous - we are always told never to give these people money - if we want to help just give them a sandwich or some fruit

The main reasons so many beggars live on the streets is either the ending of a relationship due to their alcohol and drug taking - or being thrown of their previous accommodation due to same

There are cases of dogs being shared and many instances of children being shared by Romanian beggars in order to gain public support

In England we have an organisation that uses homeless people as newspaper sellers - not sure what it is called