I must respond to Hawken Stocker (Letters, September 5). His letter was patronising and lacked any sense of reality.

I doubt someone who has experienced night after night on the street, people looking at them as if they are filth, no way of even cleaning themselves, the terror of being vulnerable and the hopelessness and despair that comes from being in the hideous cycle of homelessness would take kindly to a card giving them telephone numbers of organisations they already know won't truly be able to help.

Even if these organisations could help, it's a long process and a list of telephone numbers is simply not enough to get help getting rehoused and employed and certainly wouldn't give them a roof over their heads or the meal they so desperately need.

I also found the "paid tax, and earned money" suggestion from Mr Stocker very offensive.

Is he suggesting he has earned his money and paid tax so why should he give it away?

If so, this is completely arrogant.

Is he saying the homeless aren't taxpayers and therefore are a less deserving cause?

How does he suggest they pay tax? Does he have any idea how difficult it is to get a job with no residence?

I was also taken aback when Mr Stocker seemed to suggest charities all get taxpayer funding. In an ideal world, yes, but no charity I am involved in receives any kind of government funding.

It would be marvellous if it was as easy as you suggest for a homeless person to escape from their situation but the plain truth is it isn't.

We need affordable housing, more hostels, more funding, the council to give two hoots and more members of the public to really help. But these are things we haven't yet got.

Until we do, I am going to continue to give what I can spare to the homeless and hope they aren't drug or alcohol abusing but, to be honest, I'd rather take the chance and know I may have given them a meal for the evening, or even the week.

In such a terrible situation, is it really any wonder the homeless turn to substance abuse to try to keep themselves sane?

There is something you can do which doesn't involve money but is most probably going to give them more pleasure than the odd 20 pence.

Talk to them, let them feel part of the world.

Ten minutes of your time and caring costs nothing, contrary to what many think.

-Carol Dowson, Steyning