I agree with you i dont believe that all those people that sell the big issue are homeless. I used to buy it but then i realized i would offer help in the soup kitchens and help that way rather than give money to some of those fakes.

not wishing to apear racist, but there's a polish family who sell b.i. in the town. it seems the poles are not only taking our jobs from people willing to work, but also taking jobs away from our homeless too. i'd buy it from the homeless if i thought it'd help. but there are so many empty flats and run down houses that the government could make fit for people to live in, why should i? again i'll apear racist, but when i see a person selling big issue i think they are trying to get out of a bad situation. when i see the polish woman i think of begging. charity begins at home. we should sort out our own people before helping out immigrants. they drain the benefit system and the nhs. they ruin the job market because they are prepares to work for next to nothing. my mum was an immigrant and she abused the system here, i'll freely admit that. it's still wrong.

some people are professional beggars, they need no help from the BI. there was a watchdog (or similar) programme that tailed this one guy to and from his 4-bed house, wife and kids to his begging patch - he earned something stupid like £22k p/a just through begging.

As with anything there is always room for abuse and those willing to abuse.