Do You Ever Give Money To Panhandlers

[BC_MoM]

No, never. They all have a equal chance of getting a job if they really wanted one, in my opinion. I feel sorry for them, but I'm not going to encourage them being poor and homeless. If they want money to live, they can work for it. There's something out there for everyone.

My teacher used to give them sandwhiches or salads, etc. if she ever found one bothering her for money. She never gave them money.

[K9soul]

No, never. They all have a equal chance of getting a job if they really wanted one, in my opinion. I feel sorry for them, but I'm not going to encourage them being poor and homeless. If they want money to live, they can work for it. There's something out there for everyone.

That is a very broad statement and not always true at all.

Personally I never see them here where I live although there are probably more in the Twin Cities, but if I were to help someone I'd probably buy them food rather than hand them money. It would really depend on the situation and my gut instinct at the time.

[Vela]

Well that's not entirely true, many peole end up homeless through a seris of unfortunate events, many have mental illnesses, and most places won't hire you if you look homeless, which they are, and have no home address. It's not easy for someone who has nothing nice to get to a job interveiw presentable to obtain a job, and honestly, without a home address, chances of getting hired are almost nil. There are some cheaters and not truly homless peopel who panhandle, but there are also some truly needy people out there who need help. I give what I can when I can when I see them in need. Sometimes money, sometimes food, I once gave 50 dollars to a man in a wheelchair who had no legs and two kids with him. If he was not really in need that is not my problem, he appeared to be so I gave what I could. He cried and thanked me, so I will be happy enough with that. I don't need to try to figure out who is truly in need an who isn't, someone else can sort that out, but if by doing what i can when i can, if I can help even one person who really needs it, then that's good enough for me.

[CathyBogart]

No, never. They all have a equal chance of getting a job if they really wanted one, in my opinion. I feel sorry for them, but I'm not going to encourage them being poor and homeless. If they want money to live, they can work for it. There's something out there for everyone.

Yep, because if you have no home to shower in, you can sure find another way to clean up and look presentable for a job interview. Easy.

If you have nowhere to feel safe at night, you can find another way to get a good night's sleep and be able to focus.

If you have to spend a good chunk of your day scraping together enough to survive another day you can just generate a few extra hours to go job hunting.

If you can't afford nice clothes, you can just what...steal some to wear to an interview?

If you don't have a phone, you can just figure out a way for prospective employers to contact you.

If people turn up their nose at the very sight of you, it's HARD TO GET A JOB. Chat with some homeless folks sometime, talk to them about their job-hunting endeavours. It's like climbing an avalanche, and while some people manage to do it, some are never going to manage it and for some people it will take years of effort.

People always go on abot how "mommyhood" is a full-time job, but most people don't seem to realize that when you have nothing, SURVIVING is a much more challenging full-time job.

[JenBKR]

but most people don't seem to realize that when you have nothing, SURVIVING is a much more challenging full-time job.

YES so true.....I am really surprised at some of the responses here, I have to say

[bckrazy]

In my experience, I have known kids who ran away and were homeless for a short while. This could be completely different in other cities, but in almost any big city in Cali, there are tons of homeless shelters. They feed them, clothe them, set them up for job interviews, etc.. and not in ratty clothing, in nice clothing!

I think it's just as sad to think of homeless people as hopeless as it is to think of them as lazy.

I know from personal experience with really close friends, that there IS a system to fall back on in this country (in most areas). It isn't perfect. But much of the time the fact is, it's easier to sit around and ask for money than it is to get up and get clothing & food, become free of drugs, and add to society. I really feel for people who are briefly in a bad time in their lives, and I understand that. But to actually LIVE for an extended period of time on the street, means something to me. It means this person either needs mental help, or is doing drugs/alcohol, because shelters do not tolerate druggies and won't hand out money.

[carole]

In NZ we have a good enough welfare system IMO to make sure most people are not totally going without, i do however appreciate there are certain circumstances that no matter what, people do end up living on the streets, however having said that we have young ones who just do not like the rules at home, up and leave and become homeless, IMO they are choosing this lifestyle,and my empathy is somewhat not to easy to give in these situations,but again each individual situation is different and we should not always be so quick to judge, one never knows when the shoe might be on the other foot as we say here, in other words when you yourself could face being just that homeless, it can happen to anyone from any walk of life, i think if we keep that in mind one can always find a few cents to spare to help those less well off than ourselves.

[lv4dogs]

I've been following this thread closely.

I have been there & done it, not that I am proud of it like I said before but each & every response affects me in some way. I'd love to reply to almost every post on this thread but I can't. Not only does it hurt (not all of it hurts though), but it would take too long. I want to say a BIG thank you to those of you that are not "bashing" the homeless in one way or another.

I don't like seeing homeless people with animals either, but I do understand it. It must be a very lonely life, and they probably need all the companionship they can get.

You couldn't be more right. As long as the animal is well cared for I have no problems with a homeless persona having a companion.


Here's a serious quote (with a little bit of humor at the end)
Don't judge a person until you walk a mile in their shoes; that way, you'll be a mile away, and you'll have their shoes - Frieda Norris.

[Cataholic]

WOW! Some of these responses are a bit surprising. I do like that saying, "there but for the grace of God, go I".

Some of these responses remind me of the argument you hear in domestic violence cases, and the battered woman (usually woman) situation. Maybe these women just like the abuse??? CAUSE, if they DIDN'T like it, they would have left the situation long ago, right?

Life just isn't that simple.

[BOBS DAD]

In my experience, I have known kids who ran away and were homeless for a short while. This could be completely different in other cities, but in almost any big city in Cali, there are tons of homeless shelters. They feed them, clothe them, set them up for job interviews, etc.. and not in ratty clothing, in nice clothing!

I think it's just as sad to think of homeless people as hopeless as it is to think of them as lazy.

I know from personal experience with really close friends, that there IS a system to fall back on in this country (in most areas). It isn't perfect. But much of the time the fact is, it's easier to sit around and ask for money than it is to get up and get clothing & food, become free of drugs, and add to society. I really feel for people who are briefly in a bad time in their lives, and I understand that. But to actually LIVE for an extended period of time on the street, means something to me. It means this person either needs mental help, or is doing drugs/alcohol, because shelters do not tolerate druggies and won't hand out money.

bc...
you speak from "your experience" which is certainly valuable. But you should also consider that at the tender age of 18, your experience is often somewhat limited. And yes, society often reaches out and makes a greater effort to turn around the lives of our young people who have gone astray. It only makes sense... for many reasons. First off, they haven't strayed too far from beaten path for too long to be considered "a lost cause". Secondly, it is in society's interest to correct a rightable wrong, given that a lifelong investment in social welfare and perhaps incarceration (jail) is far more expensive than wayward youth programs and job training.

But a middle aged man/woman, or a family displaced, dysfunctional and uneducated is another matter! And yes... oftentimes they "are mentally impaired as well" - this only makes matters worse and even less appealing to the established existing programs. I used to wish that "somebody" would take care of these people. I mean GOD, they are just difficult to even "see" let alone interact with. Then I grew older and saw more of life and realized "I am 'somebody'".

[K9soul]

The deinstitutionalization acts (I think in the 70s?) put a lot of mentally disabled and ill people onto the streets, the government would no longer pay for their uptake as long as they didn't seem an outright danger to society. My brain is a bit foggy but I remember my psych professor in college talking a lot about this, and how it ended up that a lot of the homeless that live in the streets and continue to do so for so long are often mentally ill and disabled. Of course not all, there is no blanket statement that can be said one way or the other in my opinion, but shelters and services often have limits on how long a person can use them, so mentally disabled are kinda SOL unless they are considered bad enough or dangerous enough to be in a mental ward..

Just a something to consider. My great uncle received a head wound in WWII and had been somewhat mentally disabled since then. If he hadn't had his mother around to house and take care of him he may have been one of those out on the streets.

Just one perspective on it: http://www.interactivist.net/housing...ization_1.html

[AbbyMom]

The deinstitutionalization acts (I think in the 70s?) put a lot of mentally disabled and ill people onto the streets, the government would no longer pay for their uptake as long as they didn't seem an outright danger to society.

Exactly right! My college friend was working for the State of Ohio during the Reagon administration with the institutions for the mentally disabled when the funds were cut. She transferred to another job, but those in the institutions...well they went out on the streets. Hundreds of them.

Most of them were schizophrenic and needed daily medications to cope. Without a support mechanism, they wouldn't take their meds.

Unless their families were willing to take on this daily burden, their mental illness overcame them ...most of them became homeless quickly and were reduced to panhandling.

These people are not runaways. They will never be able to hold a job.

I think they deserve our compassion. You may decide to withhold your change, but think...

...there but for the grace of God go I.

You don't have to be religious to understand that part of the difference between any Pet Talker and a panhandler is not necessarily under anyone's control. One does not choose to be mentally ill nor can one choose a caring family.

~

[Pembroke_Corgi]

If people turn up their nose at the very sight of you, it's HARD TO GET A JOB. Chat with some homeless folks sometime, talk to them about their job-hunting endeavours. It's like climbing an avalanche, and while some people manage to do it, some are never going to manage it and for some people it will take years of effort.

Exactly! In this economy, it's hard to find a job even if you are educated and have never had any problems. I can't imagine how hard it would be to face so many obastacles. Not only do you have to face logistics (no address, phone, or possibly recent job history) you have to face a stereotype that says you are lazy and worthless.

[gini]

Although I do give money to Panhandlers I come across weekly, I have found another way to contribute aside from cash to someone on the street.

We have an organization called Hope Net. They encourage you NOT to give money to people on the street - but to give them a voucher for their organization. Hope Net will then help them in the way they might need the most, a place to sleep, food, a chance to take a shower. Through our Rotary Club we are asked to provide food for them. Several times a year we collect cans of food and we are asked to provide pop top cans of tuna, or soup - healthy food that can be easily opened without a can opener. Peanut butter is another request. Whenever we have these drives, I find myself spending way more than a buck or two to a panhandler - by buying dozens of cans of food or jars of peanut butter. (there is an emphasis on nutrition).

Another organization probably not many know about is NEW DIRECTIONS. It is an organization and building on the Veterans Administration property - although it is not directly affiliated with any government organization.
They are actively searching out veterans every day in Los Angeles - by finding them under bridges, on corners, anywhere they live as a homeless person. Their mission is to rehabilitate the veteran by getting him or her off of drugs, alcohol and the ultimate goal is for the veteran to leave with
A. A JOB
B. AN APARTMENT
C. CLOTHING
D. $2,000 IN SAVINGS

They have an amazing success rate - because they don't back down - they are there every step of the way.

Just this week we had another drive - to provide those in rehabilitation with some basic stuff - soap - toothpaste - toothbrushes - deodorant - socks.
Again, you wouldn't believe the mound of these products that were brought in to donate to NEW DIRECTIONS. And our organization is just a middle class group of people - no one is wealthy. I think there is such a great response because we all know - our money is being well spent - not cash
for perhaps more booze.

On the premises they have a cooking school - and they have opened a diner on the grounds - serving great food at a reasonable price. They also do catering - and we found out how good they are - they gave us way too much food (which we paid for, of course). But we went back to them and told them their portions were too generous.

They also have an outstanding choir which you can hire - but all of the money goes back to help their buddies in re-hab.

What is perhaps most frightening of all is that there is a prediction that there will be a huge uptick in homeless once our men and women return from Iraq.
These men and women walk "in the front line" every day - never knowing when or where there will be another explosion or suicide bomber. So they are returning not only physically damaged, but also mentally damaged.

We are not prepared in any way to deal with the numbers of people that will be needing help badly.

[Lady's Human]

I don't give money directly to panhandlers, as the only one I ever see around home is about as homeless as I am. We do, however, give to the church, and our church supports a mission for the homeless that is taking root in our area. They advocate for the homeless, find them places to live, and work with other charities to get them jobs and treatment for whatever problems they might have.

The truly homeless around Central NY are fairly invisible. People were complaining about the homeless living by the river in downtown Binghamton, so the city council passed a law banning anyone from being by the river at night.