Should I help my brother?

Question

I have a brother I have let stay with me twice. He stole money and things from us and he brought drugs into our house. My brother is 26 and I am 22. He did these things in a house where I try and keep my family safe. I am married and have a 2 year old with 1 on the way as well. I was talking to another family member of mine who said he is in a homeless shelter because the people he was living with couldn't pay their rent. Should I help him out again or should I finally let him learn from his mistakes.

Answer 1

let him learn from his own mistakes you have children you have to worry about. you don't want them thinking what he is doing is okay!  

Answer 2

Sounds like you need to consider using "Tough Love" with your brother since he's already broken your trust twice before. Assuming he's able to support himself (and a drug habit), let him know you love him & wish him no harm but he needs to figure his life out, grow up and get into rehab. There, he will have a roof over his head, food to eat & someone to help him get his life in order & enable him to function as a normal person in society. One day he will thank you - you may just save his life..

Answer 3

Don't become an enabler. Let him live and learn.

Answer 4

The best thing to do is to just stay out of it. You can't risk having your children get hurt.

Answer 5

Why are there no other family members who can extend a hand to him?

Why are you the only one who can help him?

Why isn't the family member who told you where he was helping him?

Your brother is 26.

No 26yr old should be living in a shelter unless they have something mentally wrong with them.

Is he is an able-bodie man?

Is his drug addiction holding him back?

Perhaps the people in the shelter can help him get the help he needs.

His problems are either related to mental issues or drug addiction.

In either scenario, the shelter can refer him for help.

Allowing him to move back with you without getting help would be foolish.

Best wishes

Answer 6

Wow, as tough as it will be to just let him go... the people below are half way correct.  You absolutely need to keep your children, husband, and yourself safe and healthy.  By the sounds of it, you've tried to help on numerous occasions.  I would ask where are the parents..  Are they able to help there son?  If anything, have one last talk to him about straightening up his life.  Set the ground rules... make them harsh as h**l and give him another route.