Teaching Homeless People

So I came across this link. I think it's actually pretty cool. This guy taught a homeless man how to code, and he was a pretty good student and worked diligently to become better.

http://www.upworthy.com/one-time-a-guy-gave-a-homeless-man-a-computer-and-the-recipient-did-exactly-what-the-giver-expected

 

Many homeless people have psychological issues and face mental challenges, these are difficult to help. And there are those who have simply given up.
To these the most important thing you could teach them is a strong work ethic and a sense of discipline. In order to do that you would have to get them to believe in themselves first. Get them off the drugs or alcohol and if you can do that, then maybe they could gain some self respect.
It's a tall order and you would have to commit and sacrifice a lot. Would you want to take on the task? After all that there would be no guarantee that they would simply give up and end up back on the street. The hard cold fact is that there are some people who simply can't make it in life and will eventually fall through the cracks.

 

And... I would take anything Upworthy publishes with a good dose of doubt. That homeless could be back on the streets by now, but Upworthy is not interested in that kind of stuff. All they want is hype that benefits them.

 

@Spoiltdiva
@qwikad.com

You are both right. But don't you think it's worth a try though? Not everyone has grown up in the most optimal circumstances to begin with, which makes it that much more difficult to move ahead. And if you give out coding books to a few homeless people out there, and give them a time to meet you for a session and to use a computer (at your office) you don't really have much to lose... Besides the cost of a coding book, which wouldn't cost much more than what you'd give to a panhandler anyways.

 

"Don't have much to lose?" How do you know that this homeless unfortunate doesn't come with a criminal record? I am a realist not an idealist. No way would I bring in a homeless stranger to my office/home. I've worked far too hard to have my valuables go missing just so that I can feel like a philanthropist that goes around saving the world.
Instead I'll send my annual $100 cheque to the Salvation Army and sooth my conscience.