Homeless family....should I report them to CPS?

Question

Ok, hear me out. Everyday for almost 2 years I have seen this family around town. They usually stick to a particular spot for about 6 months and then move on to another area in town. There is mother and a son that are usually together. They always have a luggage tote, and a sign that says "homeless, please help with food" . There is a "dad" that walks around in different locations with a similar sign, but sometimes he sits with the woman and child. They are out there begging for money from sun up to sun down, winter thru summer. It gets past 100 degrees here in Texas, and yet it never fails that I see them sitting there.

My question is, if they are SO homeless, then why doesnt CPS or somebody...anybody take that kid in and care for him? Where does that child sleep? Why dont the parents take him to a shelter.....we have several here in town that they could go to. ( The shelters here require adults to be working, since they are out begging all day I know they are not working and therefore must not go to a shelter.) Why is this child not in school? THe child looks to be about 8 or 9. Personally I see it as a form of child abuse to have him sitting out in the heat/cold day in and day out. Should I report them? What would you do? This is really eating at me.

Answer 1

well thats a really tough question because if you thinking about it your taking a son away from his mother and father which seems terrible but if tehy really care for their son they would gladly et CPS take him to a loving home but still a decision wouldn't like to make but i would call

Answer 2

id say do it. i know its hard to get life on track but they are not making progress. you have a big heart. just follow it to do whats right!

Answer 3

I kinda agree with amber some ppl make more money begging then they could at real jobs, But like the other person mentions you have the child at heart. Real tough situation their, I personally would never want to be the reason a parent(parents) lost their child. But with the same thing, i would not want to be the one sitting their watching this child not get a great life which he deserves. Maybe you could (as strange as it might be) ask the family one day while leaving them some food and find out a little more. And based on that make you decision on to call or not.  but odds are the cops and and type of child services has passed them one or twice if they are always out their. So maybe thing are not as hard off for them as one might think . (hopefully for the childs sake)

Answer 4

Your educated. You know what's going on. You see things. This is the unfortunate reality of what goes on in our society. I've picked up people hitch-hiking telling stories that would make this sound like a soap opera. Leave them alone. Society harbors "much worse". These times we live in have put the most desperate people in even worse positions/conditions. Please respect what is given to you, and pray for the less fortunate. You will find more important things to do with your time, than to exploit other peoples misfortune. Deep down inside they are doing everything they can to help themselves. And they are. Be nice and let them do what they have to do.

Answer 5

It's sad to say this, but some people do this very thing as a profession.

You could report the family but you will do the child no justice.

I was homeless for three years.  One thing I learned was that some people choose vagrancy as a lifestyle.  I want you to understand something right now.  The road to h**l is paved with the best of intentions.

You could report the family to CPS and CPS could take custody of the child and place the child in the custody of a foster family.

This isn't always what is best for the child.  Sometimes it is much better to ask a special prayer for the family from your church.  If you're not religious, sometimes it's better just to give the kid some fresh milk and a cheeseburger so you can clear your conscious.

Here's the absolute worst part of it all.  Yes, the child is obviously suffering, but think about this.  In Third World Countries, children often go hungry and are sold into bondage or are abandoned altogether.

That family has eked out a survival off of the charity of others and your bleeding heart isn't going to help that child if you facilitate the government in removing custody from the parents.

What's more, you will bring very negative karma upon yourself by forever bonding the fate of that family and yourself together.

Go to your local spiritual leader and pray or sacrifice chickens and virgins or whatever it is you do and do not make it your place to decide what is best for a family, unless it is YOUR OWN.

Stay out of it and make your own heart a little bit harder.

good luck

Answer 6

I would report and would probably have peace of mind doing it.  You are not causing any kind of harm so do it.

Answer 7

Yes.  You have the child's best interest at heart.  What future does he have if he is homeless?

Answer 8

If I were you, I would mind my own business!

Answer 9

Call CPS, and ask. Some people make more panhandling than they would at a real job so they keep doing it. I have heard of people making more that 40000 a year! I don't make that much and i am a fifth year teacher with a degree! But if you are worried, call CPS, They will get to the bottom of it.  

Answer 10

Let me tell you a fact.  A friend of mine rides to work with me, when we pass this one location in the morning there is always this man with his little dog sitting there with a HOMELESS sign-- when we go home at night he's still there.  Well one night my friend went out to the club and guess who he saw there dripping in gold wearing a Rolex. Yep Mr HOMELESS himself.  Those people make more money than a lot of your average hard working americans.  Now as far as the child goes I think he should be in school unless he's being home schooled which he probably is and in a nicer home than you or I can afford. I'm sure it's already been checked into.  Your hearts in the right spot but I'd leave it alone.                       Once again.  If they have been doing it for years it has been investingated-leave them alone.