How should one treat the homeless?

At my local Walmart, we met a family asking for help that claimed to be from Romania. According to them they flew to Mexico and entered the border there. I don't know really what a Romanian looks like, but they were heavily accented and looked Mediterranean. I figure they may have been Muslims because they were all for us helping them until mom mentioned that our church would get them a hotel room and food if they needed it.

Not moslems....just scammers using their children to help them scam.
Because the children had already learned how to scam their parents.

Oh yes, lots of people use children to beg for money. Who doesn't want to help out a hungry child looking pitiful? They usually rake in the big bucks.

On a completely different facet of the topic, I have occasionally thought about the feasibility of living in a minivan. An engine with a small displacement could idle for a surprisingly long time on not much gas, which would keep the alternator spinning to generate electricity and provide heat or air conditioning. Remove the middle seats, put a TV tray in front of the back seat for your laptop and voila!

You could hang out in the Walmart parking lot for bathroom access (you'd be buying a lot at Walmart anyway because you're already right there, so nothing unethical about using their restroom) and Pilot or Love's truck stop has showers.

If you want to get innovative you could fill the front right side with car batteries (connected in parallel, not in sequence) drill a hole through the front dash and charge them off the car electrical system, then disconnect them when you turn the car off. Then you have power that doesn't depend on the car idling all the time, with no risk of running down the battery that starts the car.

The downsides would be annoying... No pets, no cooking, no fridge and you'd have to cross the parking lot to pee no matter what the weather is. Sure you could get a hot plate and a micro fridge, but that would take up precious space in a small area. There would be little space for stocking reserves of food and water. Your main reserve would have to be money, and that continually depreciates with inflation.

Also most vehicles don't last as long as most houses, and if your car broke down it would be a major inconvenience instead of a minor annoyance. It's almost impossible to find a mechanic who is both good and available to fix your car at a moment's notice.

I met a fellow who lived in his minivan..some years ago.
- He parked the minivan..at the Walmart (parking area).
---
I have been driving the minivan..many years.
- On road trips..for work.

I used to give 'Burgers & Pizza'..to homeless.
- I got into a conversation..
- To find out 'why & how'..they became homeless.

What did you find out?

I do not give cash to homeless people. I do drive thru and drop off a meal and a drink. I always pray for them that God will keep them safe and meet their needs. My daughters work in behavioral health and with social services. I ask them what the families that they are serving need. What the clients need. I'll drop that stuff off at their offices where the families go for resources. I also volunteer in the youth and family clothes closet downtown. All the items are free including clothes, shoes, boots , toiletries and school supplies. On another note, you cannot ever put yourself in any danger if possible. I box and have taught self defense to women. Please stay safe.

Sounds good. Im always surprised by how many homeless people had successful lives before things got difficult.

I usually spare some change if I'm approached by a homeless person. I have a home, a job, savings. I'm always warm and I always have food, as well as money for leisure items. However tonight I was approached in a backlane (alley) very close to my home by a homeless person asking me if he could use my phone. I declined by way of an excuse. It prompted me to think about how best to deal with homeless people. Any thoughts would be most welcome. Also, apologies if this isn't the right place to post.

Jesus experienced homelessness in ways many people do. First he was born in a stable in Bethlehem Judaea far from his eventual 'home town' ...then he was a refugee in Egypt...run out of Israel by crazy King Herod.
Then he settled in Nazareth which was Mary's village. However when he came to claim his Judaean birthright his brethren rejected him. His Fathers house (the temple) was overrun by money lenders. Eventually even that was destroyed, and when he was doing his minsitry he had nowhere to lay his head...he stayed in other peoples homes, or the disciples fishing boats, and even slept under Olive trees in the garden as he had nowhere to stay.

I usually spare some change if I'm approached by a homeless person. I have a home, a job, savings. I'm always warm and I always have food, as well as money for leisure items. However tonight I was approached in a backlane (alley) very close to my home by a homeless person asking me if he could use my phone. I declined by way of an excuse. It prompted me to think about how best to deal with homeless people. Any thoughts would be most welcome. Also, apologies if this isn't the right place to post.