Thames Reach, a major UK homeless charity, says 80 per cent of people begging do so to support a drug habit.Last week a colleague of mine tweeted a photo of a woman begging by the Mellieħa church door. In his tweet he wrote: “Authorities please note.” I immediately retweeted his appeal.
Subsequently, photos of other beggars seen recently on the island started being posted on social media, and the reaction was, unfortunately, hysterical.
Because the beggars in question are foreign, possibly eastern European gypsies, the whole thing turned into the usual ‘us’ and ‘them’ battle.
Liberals vs Xenophobics: liberals preaching from superior compassionate grounds, xenophobics attacking and threatening. One camp saying: “we should give money to the beggars, and not call the police”; the other camp barking: “let’s kick them out of the country”.
The reality is that the majority of people out there belong to neither camp, but are simply worried. As I am.
It is natural for us to feel anxious at the sight of beggars in the street. For many decades now, begging in Malta has been illegal and we have not had any.
This does not mean that we do not have extremely impoverished people with barely a roof on their heads. We do: I’ve see it with my own eyes and it’s heartbreaking. But at least, as a country, we have structures in place: a social welfare system, NGOs, the Church and local councils which help people not to resort to begging on the streets.
What has happened all of a sudden? Are these services and structures failing? Have these people fallen off the social net?
To me, it is irrelevant whether they are foreign or Maltese: any hint of the culture of begging rising in the streets should be curbed immediately. This has nothing to do with not adopting Christian values or giving the boot to Maltese hospitality. It has to do with putting a stop to something which is socially unhealthy.
It is fine when we just get a glimpse of beggars when on holiday: we chuck a few pennies in their hats and come back here to the sunny, beggars-free land. But I have lived for long stretches abroad, where every morning and every evening I’d pass by the same street beggars. One of the regulars on my way to work, always a bit drunk, cigarette in hand, used to be so persistent that I had to change my route to work.
We cannot be made to feel bad if we find beggars unpleasant and we are worried
Then there were the intrusive ones: the ones who come up to you, while you’re at the cash point withdrawing money, shake your hands and say: “Hello, love, I need just a little favour…” and then spin tales of an urgent need for a bus fare, or a hungry dog to feed.
They made me angry, then guilty, then I’d get upset with myself. Since then, I stopped giving money to beggars when I’m abroad. (I adopted the practice of giving money only to buskers: busking is commendable, for you are using your talents to earn money. It is what I plan to do should I ever end up jobless, although I still have to tap the talent).
It is comforting to know, however, that my reasoning is in line with a major homeless charity in the UK, which actively urges people not to give money to beggars.
Thames Reach, which has been providing support to more than 8,500 homeless people in London and surrounding counties every year, says there is “overwhelming evidence” that people who beg on the street do so to buy hard drugs, particularly crack cocaine and heroin.
Outreach team members estimate that 80 per cent of people begging do so to support a drug habit.
Mike Nicholas, a spokesman for Thames Reach, told The Guardian: “As an organisation that has worked with people on the street for over 30 years, we have seen many lives damaged by hard drugs and alcohol misuse. We have even lost people through overdoses in situations where a significant portion of the money they spent on drugs came from members of the public giving loose change.” He pointed out that most rough sleepers don’t beg, and most beggars are not rough sleepers.
Every year, particularly at Christmas time, Thames Reach encourages the public to stop handing loose change and to instead engage with people begging on the street and to buy them food or a cup of tea. “Best of all,” they say, “contact relevant authorities”, such as the police, the local council, voluntary groups and health and addiction services.
Which is exactly what my colleague appealed for in his tweet.
This was received with clamour: “We should help beggars, not take photos of them and call in the authorities.”
This is utter silliness and I think we are stretching political correctness way too far. Thames Reach considers concern about the wider effects of begging on communities understandable and justified. We cannot be made to feel bad if we find beggars unpleasant and we are worried. It does not mean that we are unkind, uncharitable, un-Christian people.
Let’s stick to their guidelines: if we want to help beggars, get them a tea, then call in the authorities, and give money to relevant charities.
krischetcuti@gmail.com
Twitter: @KrisChetcuti