'AITA for refusing to let a near stranger stay at my home even though they have nowhere else to go?'

A Reddit user recently opened up about their internal conflict after refusing to let a near stranger stay at their home.

The person asking for help was dealing with several difficulties, and the Redditor felt torn by the pressure of being told they were the only one who could provide support. The situation became more complex as conflicting details emerged, leaving the Redditor feeling uneasy about the entire ordeal.

OP expresses guilt over not letting a person they barely know stay in their house

A Reddit user, known as ScratcherOfButt, posted to reflect on their decision to turn down a request from someone they barely knew to stay at their home. The original poster (OP) explained they had met the individual two weeks ago at a social event and exchanged numbers.

Over lunch, the person shared their struggles, including not having been "paid in six weeks." Moved by sympathy, the OP offered to cover the meal. Later, the individual revealed they had lost their job. While the OP assumed the person was supported by their parents, who lived nearby, they also mentioned dealing with mental health issues and family difficulties.

A week ago, the person asked if they could stay with the OP in an emergency, but the OP declined, explaining, "I told them no, explaining my home is my safe space and that I’ve had issues with people violating my boundaries before. They seemed to understand and didn’t push further."

However, the situation took a turn when the person said they had been kicked out, their landlord had changed the locks, and they also had a major fight with their parents, leading to the police being called. The OP recounted, "Now, they’re texting me from a park, saying they haven’t eaten in two days and have nowhere to go."

The OP tried to suggest other solutions, asking if the person had reached out to any friends or acquaintances. The post continued, "I asked if they had reached out to other friends or acquaintances, but they said those people either live with roommates or their parents and can’t take them in. I suggested they call our city’s eviction helpline or look into shelters, but they said they haven’t had any luck with those options."

The person then began pressuring the OP, claiming, “You’re the only person who can help me,” and making the OP feel guilty.

The OP expressed their discomfort, saying, "I feel terrible about their situation, and I wish I could do something to help, but I also feel strongly about protecting my boundaries. I’ve only known them for two weeks, and letting them stay at my place would make me uncomfortable, especially given how chaotic their life seems right now."

The OP also shared concerns about inconsistencies in the person’s story: "I have a gut feeling that some of what they’re telling me isn’t adding up. For example, they’ve given me conflicting timelines about when exactly they got evicted. On different days, they’ve said the landlord or super changed the locks, but the details don’t seem consistent. It makes me wonder if there’s more to the story that they’re not being honest about, which only adds to my discomfort."

The OP had suggested mental health services and city resources, but the person reported those options hadn’t helped. They continued to insist, saying, “If you don’t help, I don’t know what’s going to happen to me,” which made the OP feel even more guilty.

The post ended with the OP questioning if they were wrong: "Am I the a**hole for holding firm on my boundary and not letting them stay at my place? I feel heartless, but I also don’t think I’m equipped to deal with this situation. Am I wrong here?"

Redditors suggest OP block barely known person's number

After hearing the Original Poster’s situation on Reddit, several Redditors have commented "NTA," suggesting that the OP may be getting scammed.

One user wrote, "NTA. You are being scammed here. Cut off contact." 

Another person suggested, "NTA There are homeless shelters available for situations like this persons. DO NOT LET THEM IN YOUR HOUSE. And BLOCK their phone number It's a scam!!" 

One Redditor wrote, "Trickle truthing, mental health issues, can't hold a job, family won't take them in. This is a walking red flag. Block and move on. Getting this person out will be more painful than a root canal if you let them in your door. NTA." 

A comment said, "Block and move on. Hopefully they don't know where you live. NTA." 

One speaker shared, "NTA! Where wld they be if they hadn't met you. This is a very bizarre situation, being a stranger just 2 weeks ago and now you're the only person that can help? Very strange and very coincidental... stay strong, consider blocking if you need too to protect your mental health."

Another commented, "NTA. I had a friend take complete advantage of me during a “homeless” stint. He moved into my home and took complete advantage of my kindness. Never again. While their situation is unfortunate, it is NOT your responsibility."

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