Do You Ever Give Money To Panhandlers

[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.

~

[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.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

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.

I disagree that the world is a land of equal opportunity. First of all, if that were the case, why would we need programs like affirmative action to help socially underprivaleged groups? Secondly, who is going to hire a bum off the street with no address and probably no references or clean clothes? Once you are in a position like that, it is very hard to change. People can become that way through poor choices, say a bad drug habit, but I find it seriously hard to judge people based on a few poor choices, probably that started when they were young.

I give money to panhandlers sometimes, depending on whether or not I have any cash. Like, last week I got an unexpected check in the mail and later that day some lady came up to me asking for bus fare- I figured I might as well believe her and share $2. Who knows, if I had made different choices in life or had a long string of bad luck, that could have been me.

[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.

[lizbud]

I'm probabyly a terrible person for thinking this but, I feel myself siding with
this church and not this young woman.Generosity does wear out.


Speaking of homeless

--------------------
Church tells Katrina mom it's time to go
--------------------

Palatine congregation wants woman, her 3 kids to move on; she says they
gave her to Dec. 31

By Richard Wronski
Tribune staff reporter

August 4, 2006

Moved by the plight of a single mother who appeared on Oprah Winfrey's
show last year to tell of losing her home to Hurricane Katrina, members
of a Palatine church invited her to live rent-free in their parsonage.

St. Paul United Church of Christ has hosted Keisha Moran, 23, and her
children since last September, providing them with the means for
starting a new life--including donations of clothing, furniture, food and even
a car. But the church now says it is time for Moran and her three
children--ages 5, 1 1/2 and 4 months--to leave and get on with life on their
own.

"Our commitment was to provide housing for you and to give you an
opportunity to become self-sufficient after the losses you experienced from
Hurricane Katrina," the church's Executive Council told Moran in a
letter. The council said that it is time for Moran to take "the next step"
by herself.

One problem: Moran doesn't want to go. She said she is being kicked out
prematurely and for no good reason.

"I have three little kids. They don't deserve to be put out on their
behinds," she said.

Moran's predicament is similar to that of other Katrina victims who
remain unprepared to fend for themselves, say experts who have counseled
evacuees.

Although many of them have pulled their lives together, getting jobs
and adjusting to a new way of life, there are just as many who have not,
said Pam Cordier, statewide coordinator of the Illinois Department of
Human Services Katrina crisis counseling program.

"We are finding many who are stuck in limbo," Cordier said. "While a
year seems like a long time, it really isn't when you've lost everything
you've owned--especially a single woman with three children."

The most recent tally shows about 6,570 Gulf Coast evacuees still
living in Illinois, said state and federal officials. That is down from
about 8,000 who relocated here during evacuation.

With federal funds, Illinois provided crisis counseling and resources
for evacuees.

Generosity wears out

In some cities, a phenomenon known as "Katrina fatigue" has been
identified.

"In Houston, the welcome mat is not only no longer out, it's been put
through the shredder," said Shari Julian, a professor in the Department
of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Texas in
Arlington.

Although enormous amounts of money and supplies were collected for
evacuees, usually little was done to address their long-term emotional and
psychological needs, Julian said.

"We were overwhelming them with all this stuff, but we didn't figure on
what's going to happen when all this largesse is gone," she said.

Moran acknowledges a debt of gratitude to those who have helped her,
but she feels deceived by the church. She says it assured her that she
would be allowed to live in the parsonage until Dec. 31. The church has
asked her to leave by Aug. 31.

Church officials said Moran knew last year that her status would be
reviewed in June. In a July 19 letter, they told her that the church
needed to remodel the parsonage so its pastor, Rev. Michelle McNamara, can
move back in.

"The implication . . . is that in some way, shape or form we're going
to evict or throw this poor, hopeless victim on the street," McNamara
said. "Nothing could be further from the truth."

Since Moran and her children arrived in Palatine, they have received an
outpouring of community support.

The "Oprah" segment featured a pregnant Moran, her children and
boyfriend Danny Thompson living in a tent in the parking lot of a discount
store in Bay St. Louis, Miss.

Local volunteers drove to Mississippi, found the family and brought
them to Palatine. Other volunteers painted and cleaned the yellow
parsonage on Palatine Road.

In addition to food, clothing and furniture, the family received
donations; about $3,000 was raised last fall at St. Paul's "Mardi Gras of
Hope."

Moran was an administrative aide in an office for about a month last
October, but said she left after her boss lost his job. Since then, Moran
said she has focused on her children, Kaejiah, 5; Keziah, 19 months;
and Kaedin, 4 months.

Thompson, the father of Keziah and Kaedin, does not live with Moran and
can't support them at this time, she said.

Moran said it would be impossible for her to raise the several thousand
dollars needed to pack and ship her belongings to Mississippi or to pay
the security deposit and rent on a new home. Her mother lives in a
Federal Emergency Management Agency trailer in Mississippi.

McNamara said hosting the family has been "an incredible blessing." But
the church community has provided all the help and resources it could
muster over the past 11 months to help Moran get on her feet. Day care
and job opportunities have been offered, McNamara said.

"I'm certain there are thousands of people in Illinois or anywhere
across the country who, if they were given the opportunity to live
rent-free in a home the entire year and have their needs met, would seize the
opportunity and change their life in such a way that the future would be
radically different," McNamara said.

Help is still available

Other agencies are willing to help Moran immediately, McNamara said.
The not-for-profit Women in Need Growing Stronger, or WINGS, has offered
Moran and her children housing for at least six months

"My heart is breaking because we have loved this woman and her children
for an entire year and have given everything we have," McNamara said.
"We've put our needs second in order to put her needs first."

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[JenBKR]

I'm probabyly a terrible person for thinking this but, I feel myself siding with
this church and not this young woman.Generosity does wear out.
----------

No, I agree with you. At some point, you have to tkae care of yourself and stop depending on other people. She doesn't really even sound all that grateful for everything they have done for her, instead she is complaining that they haven't done enough

[dukedogsmom]

Nope. Sure don't. I'll offer to buy them some food but that's it. No money for beer, ciggs or drugs will be given by me.