I am still bothered by my doorbell ringing a few nights ago

You're right dragon. Anything can happen. And sadly, it doesn't usually turn out good. You definitely did the right thing. Like you, I would have turned her away as well. Sure, I would have felt bad, but I have my family to think of. I would never want to put them, or myself, in danger. I hate to say it, but I wouldn't even risk it for Jesus...especially in this day and age. With so much violence in the world I would rather not take a chance at opening the door so late.

i would probably feel and done the same as you as i have 2 young children.

I keep very little money in the house; maybe a few dollar bills and a little loose change. I probably would have given her what I had which would have been less than $5. But I would not have let her into the house. People ringing doorbells after dark are always suspicious here. I too have a policy of not answering the door after dark and I think most of my neighbors are the same.

I would give her some food but not money as we don't know what they would actually buy. There are organizations that help the needy. I would help her find one.

I am like you. I want to help but considering the evil that is about in the world, am leery. I think where I live it is easier to be kind. We don't have many vagrants and homeless. If someone would have come to my door and I knew that they were more or less a regular around the neighborhood, I would have handed out a sandwhich and perhaps a dollar or two and called the authorities. Just a quick word about your wondering if she'd spend the money on booze and not wanting to be responsible; once the money leaves your hand, your good deed is done. YOU are not responsible if the person uses your kindness to do wrong. God views your motive, and not the results of it, as good.

I don't know if you live alone, but to open your door at that time of night, without knowing who was there, was not a wise thing to do. I never open my front door for anyone before I use the peek hole to identify the person. If it were the homeless person, I think they would have come before it got that late at night. I think it is awful that there are not enough homeless shelters to help these people out,especially on a cold night. If I were you I would not beat myself up to badly, do to the fact that you don't know who was at your door. You really did the right thing for your safety.

Personally anymore it is So sad when there continues to be so many out there needing help like this, and everywhere continues to turn them away. Most of the time a lot of these people are only wanting some Food, a warm place to sleep, and sometimes even just someone to talk too. I think if it was me, it would be a sign from God that here is a person I keep on sending for you to help and how can you help them? Right now there is more needing help than most people will ever know so for me I try and do what I can with the ones I know needing some help.

One very cold morning, about twenty years ago I had a knock at my back door. I can hear it from my bed upstairs because the door is right under my bed. There was a young man, about seventeen. He was disoriented, thought he was in a different town, very drunk. I had him get in my van which was parked by the door. I called the police. They came out, but while I waited, I made him a cup of hot cocoa. All I could think about was that I would want someone to do that for my son. I think my kids were gone on a church trip. My husband was a truck driver. The police took him to his house, just few blocks away. I do not know why he was not locked up to sleep it off. They told me his name, and said it happened all the time. I might have given your little lady some food, but I do not think I would have let her in.

I'd have offered her the use of my shed. That's better than nothing. We've plenty of blankets & supplies that could have made it comfortable. There's also plenty of work out there I could find for someone so they could earn their keep. So long as they prove that they're willing to work I'll help em out. Don't expect to lay around & get free room & board at my place. P.S. my daughters boyfriend chose NOT to come stay with us when he found out my driveway needed grading. I'm not about to have a lazy musician crashing on my couch for nothing.

Interesting... We have around 100.000 homeless people in Australia. But you don't see them. Or rather, I have not seen them. Considering the social system we have in Australia, it is believed that many of them are homeless by choice. I don't think that they would come knock at your door in Australia because people know that they receive money from the government. One thing that I know, is that once you give them something, they will keep coming back for more. And after a while, it just become a nuisance that you cannot get ride off unless you call the police. And once you call the police, you risk having them coming back to throw a brick through your window. That is why we have the concept of charities, so that we do not have to get personally involve. It is like rescuing a stray dog. Once you start looking after one of them, it is like adopting them. They start relying on you. So unless you want to adopt a homeless person, it is best not to get involve. Some people deserve a break. But unless you know a little bit about them, it is hard to determine who you should help.

Hiya dragon, It´s hard to have such a good heart dragon but you really don´t know if the Woman could be unstable too. It´s true that some of them will get turned away for some reason or another who knows but even though I would feel awful I would not even dream of opening the Door at that time of Night or Day come to think of it. People here get turned away when they ask for Money it´s so heartbreaking to see this and the worst thing is they do not get any money either. I know that can be hard to believe but there are some People like that here. But as someones says you can give money to someone and they might come back and ask for more too. I am used to giving them food and if they are genuine they will not turn their Nose up at it either. It´s mainly bread and things that they can eat right away I give them because they obviously don´t carry a Cooker around with them either. A lot of People here do not qualify for Government help and if they cannot produce all the right papers they have had it. Some women here are given a pension of 100 Euros a month to live on. Now you cannot pay the Rent with that so if you are over the age of being able to get a Job then you will find yourself on the Street unless you have Family that will take you in out of compassion. I know of a very tragic story of one of those same Women she was just an ordinary Woman and now it´s another Story. You have to put yourself first dragon think of your safety as well. I always have a chain on the Door as well even if I open it. Take care now.xxx

Just like you I would feel bad the same way, but you did the right thing by calling the police to check on her. I don't know if the police ever check on her or not, but at least you did something. Another thing you can do is pray for her well-being, God's sovereignty and God's intervention.

We all should be very careful to open the door specially in the night. That's why when my door is knocking by some one or doorbell ringing then before open the door i just see who is the person and if the person is unknown then i don't open the door ask them why they knock the door and what they wants. I think all door must have this system. Good luck!

Wow i havent heard that story about Jesus.its interesting. No you did the right thing Im actually admiring you right now because of your courage.with the world and people being so crazy and violent I would be nervous about answering my door.I prolly would of done the same thing but since Im worried about strangers I prolly would of gave her what i could by passing it through the window.

I would not have opened the door at that time, unless I knew who it was. I can see why you are bothered by this. If I did open the door, I probably would have told her that I did not have any money, and ask if I could call someone for her to take her to a shelter.

Oh my God. You must really be a good person. If that ever happen to me, I would probably be so scared. scared enough not to open my door. I don't know what will happen if I let a stranger inside my house in that time of day. Nowadays, a lot of people are able to pretend to be someone they're not. It is very much dangerous to let a stranger inside your house especially in the middle of the night.

Hi. dragon54u. That is nice of you that you have a generous heart to see about this woman. Most people are not like this at all. Knowing me, I would have contacted the homeless shelter and tell them my situation. Surely the organization would know whom to contact and how to. It is very sad that the police will not help homeless people. It is a shame. What if one day they would become homeless themselves? Surely they could have made a way to see that this woman gets the assistance that she needs. I mean, she has been like this for a very long time. You have talked to her and she has told you the same story for the last three years and no one at the police department cared enough to talk to her??? This is so sad. I pray that God will help this woman. We have homeless people that live in my hometown too. I saw a man recently picking trash out of the trash can. After he chose what he wanted, he replaced all of the other trash back into the trash can so neatly. My husband said that he has even seen a man digging in the trash can outside in our front yard. This is a very sad situation and I can't believe that the Law Enforcement does not see homeless people as a great concern. Waiting for them to start trouble is just absurd. Most of the homeless people are not troublemakers, they are just hungry and they want a safe and a clean place to stay. Jesus, help them!

I've only had an incident like that once in the 59 years I've been a city dweller. A man came to my door and asked for a quarter (for a cup of coffee, I think). I laughed because I'd just been asking myself what I'd do if that happened. I tried to apologize and gave him the quarter. This was over 50 years ago in a different city and has not happened since. If it happened now, like you, I'd call the police. Panhandling is illegal here.

i would likely not ask her in if i was alone. i might ask her to back up and toss a few bucks out the door real fast and relock it. i would tell her sorry, i just dont trust who i dont know and leave it at that. these days anything can happen. even in broad daylight, much less night. its possible they wont help her at shelters as they know something you dont about her.

I would also feel bad if I'm in your situation but we can't just entertain strangers specially at night. I understand your concern about that woman and there's nothing wrong in helping others but we have no way of knowing what could happen if you let her in. It would be better if you call the proper authorities that takes care of homeless people so that they can take care of her.