Observing Local Homeless Guy

[Destination Unknown]

I've been watching one of our local homeless guys for the last 2 years. He looks to be about 30.
Last year he just showed up and spent all of his time sleeping on benches or the ground. Whenever you saw him, which was about every day, he was sleeping.
This year he changed his routine. He spends quite a bit of his time walking non stop around the block spinning his hand in a circle. When he stands still, he rocks side to side. Got me thinking recently that he's probably on the scale.
My wife has given him snacks on occasion, but I've mostly stayed in the background. I'm not the social type, and wouldn't know what to say anyway, or I'd go talk to him and find out how he got in that situation.
Would an autistic homeless guy want people talking to him anyway? If you have been homeless, did you want people talking to you, or did you want to be left alone?

 

[Ylva]

I'd want to be left alone. However, if there's a library sale or something, you can always buy him a two-cent novel. If he seems appreciative, consider giving him other cheap books. Nonperishable food might also be accepted with thanks, so long as there's a way to eat it without slamming the thing against a rock.

 

[BlueConundrum]

I was homeless for a year. I did my best to stay out of plain sight. I (generally speaking) hate it when strangers approach me, especially if it's because they have observed something about my appearance or mannerisms and feel the need to make a comment. That is almost never a good thing. Of course, there are times when you have a shared moment with someone and it's okay.

An offer for food or water or a gift card might be appreciated. Or like the post above me says, a book!

 

[gonzerd]

There's only one way to know really, and that's to go up to him and say hi. I don't talk to people on streets that often, but I do have conversations with homeless people every now and then. Last time was a week ago, an old lady who suffered from epilepsy. In my experience they usually don't mind having a chat, but don't be mad if he's not interested. Might be because he doesn't want to talk, might be because he has something to do. This might seems strange perhaps, but it does take a lot of work being homeless. They do have places to get to, appointments to keep. One dude I'd have a smoke with from time to time would always go to a supermarket at a specific time so he could collect the left-over bread from the slicing machine and then share it with other homeless people (and ducks). Soup kitchens might only serve between certain hours, shelters only have limited beds, so if they arrive too late they don't have a place to sleep, or to go with the drug addict stereotype, they might need to get to a methadone clinic at a certain time to get their dose.
A lot of them do have mental issues. Sometimes these are at the base of their homelessness, other times they've come after, are the result of it, of malnourishment, abuse, living on the street. Others have chosen to live that way. It's as diverse a community as any.

When it comes to giving food: I don't know what the weather's like over there, but it's getting colder here, so something heated is usually very much appreciated. This doesn't have to cost anything too. There are pizza/burger places who have promotions, giving two for the price of one or so. Sometimes people'd decline the offer because they'd have to throw it away anyway, but why not accept it and give it to the first homeless person you'd come across? Warm gloves can be a much coveted item too.