Panhandlers: It Never Ends. (submitted for your amusement)

[Warren Sear]

Back in the day my father noted that he'd never seen a poor person short of beer and smokes. After one of his visits here and a cruise through one of Vegas' seedier streets, I suggested he add pitbull to his list.

...and a cell phone.

 

[Warren Sear]

True story.

Several years ago we were in NOLA walking down Bourbon Street. One of the panhandlers who was sitting down on the sidewalk was a young woman in her early twenties. She was holding up a sign that read "Need money for weed!"

I didn't give her money. I was shocked. I have seen many panhandlers in my day, but none with a sign like this one. To this day I regret my mistake. If she had that much chutzpah, she deserved some $$$.

Bill

Wait; you would knowingly give money to someone to fund their drug problem?

 

[venomballistics]

It's taken to the internet as well.
A social network platform called Nextdoor is rank with a new breed of panhandler.
You get a sad sack story of being homeless and trying to keep a roof over their heads while their dog ran away in the midst of bailing their son out of a coma.
6 pages of drama later .... a link to a GoFundMe.
Cursory investigation leads to user joining less than two weeks ago, and often a fake address and a fake identity.

 

[nicky4968]

I have been told by a higher power to feed the hungry and clothe the naked.
I also am well informed that people have often guested angels unaware.
I can’t take it with me, so just do the best I can.

 

[Greyman50]

Have learned to just tell any and all of them,” sorry I don’t have any cash only credit card or debit card”…..

 

[Sistema1927]

I have been told by a higher power to feed the hungry and clothe the naked.
I also am well informed that people have often guested angels unaware.
I can’t take it with me, so just do the best I can.

There is also the need to be good stewards of what we possess. Meeting real needs, yes. Feeding addictions and allowing people to continue being irresponsible, no.

 

[Moo Moo]

There's a couple of things covered here that I'm trying to put into context. We have homeless here in Australia, but it's nowhere near as large as in other parts of the world. We have plenty of soup kitchens and refuges so there is no real reason to be living on the street or going hungry. Factors I think about:-

Homeless v/s Beggars/Panhandlers
Reason for living on the street - mental health, alcohol and drug addiction. A lot of homeless have pet dogs and they aren't allowed in refuges. And whilst we have a generous welfare / social security system, some of these people can't manage their money or it's all spent on their addictions.

Issues of entitlement - I've worked undercover at a lunchtime soup kitchen looking for a few "customers" with outstanding matters. There was many complaints about the "take away" meals being offered for their evening dinner. Apparently sausage rolls and meat pies weren't good enough for some. This one particular place would not turn anyone away (unless intoxicated, etc). So you could get people in business suits coming in for the free lunch. I know it's bad to judge people, but you can become very cynical of the charity system being taken advantage of. I remember one occasion serving some ladies doing it tough, but then later running into them at the local pub playing on the poker machines.

Some people just choose to live on the streets or out of a car. A friend of mine finds housing for the homeless and poor. Again, issues of entitlement can come in. She's had homeless clients decline welfare accommodation because the floors are carpeted and they want floor boards.

My mother (who does volunteer work at a local church op shop) always says "Charity begins at home" and "there's nothing colder than charity".

For me, they have to smell of urine before I believe they are actually homeless.

Just my random thoughts on the matter.

 

[BC38]

Happened to me around lunchtime while shopping.

I was going into on of the local stores when I saw a LARGE black with heavy crome trim GMC pickup pull in. Naturally, a nice truck will call attention to itself as it did with me.

The driver parked and got out. He had jeans with the holes in them and changed shirts to a dirty white t-shirt and put on a ball cap in nasty shape.

I went in the store and when I came out this guy was approaching people and telling everyone he was down on his luck and had hungry kids and so forth and asked for some money. No one seemed to be taking pity on him.

He came up to me and gave me his tale of woe with the most pitiful look on his face. I responded by pointed at his truck and asked "If you are so down on your luck, why are you driving that? Sell it and you'll have plenty of money."

He looked at me and snarled with an f-bomb and walked away.

Moral: Don't feel sorry for scammers no matter who they are or say they are.

Yeah, these people who prey on the good nature of the average person really TICK me off.

We've all seen TV expose's over the last 30-40 years that show how grifters make more money begging for change than they would if they took an honest job. It is also a sad truth that cash given to street beggars more often than not gets spent on drugs or alcohol - the last thing that they actually need. The main reason this is a self-perpetuating problem, is that there is no one holding them accountable for what they do with the "help" they receive.

The MSM seems to want to push the narrative that America is SUCH a horribly biased society, and that the average Joe isn't interested in helping the poor. According to them, most of us are still incredibly insensitive to plight of the poor and needy. Especially of those who fit into some minority group, But at the same time, it has been documented that corner beggars are making a really good living - by simply making themselves appear to be destitute. This is definitely a 1st world issue.

IMO, the main reason this problem even exists is that there is no accountability. In the past most benevolent giving and help for the destitute (charity) was funneled through faith-based organizations. Way back when, that assistance came with some accountability mechanisms for those receiving the help. Charity wasn't simply handed out "no questions asked". To receive help, the recipients had to show that they were at least TRYING to improve their circumstances.

But in the last half century or so the GOVERNMENT has replaced community faith-based organizations as the main source of help for people in need. Unfortunately, government agencies don't seem to even recognize the CONCEPT of linking accountability to receiving assistance. People receiving assistance are not only not REQUIRED to show that they are trying to improve their lot in life, they aren't even ENCOURAGED to try to better themselves and get off the dole.

This is inherent in the nature of a government program. Because the more people who need the GOVERNMENT support, the easier it is for the government bureaucracies supplying that support to justify their existence. So, the more people who NEED them, the more money they get allocated to their programs, and the more their power grows. So the incentive for them is to sign up as many people as possible, and keep them on the dole as long as possible. And that doesn't even consider the "buy a vote" angle for giving people handouts.

All that is to say that I NEVER give cash to street corner beggars. I'll offer to buy them a meal - though 9 times out of 10 that offer is declined - or I'll refer them to the local UGM shelter or whatever - but I'll never give them cash.

Not even pocket change.

 

[shovelhead]

Late 2019 and into the spring of 2022 I’d see the same guy at the same intersection from around four to eight P.M. every day I worked on my way home. Cardboard sign and would work the intersection from the median.

Problem with this scenario was that within one and a half miles of his spot was four large shopping centers, several strip malls, many small job shops, several gas stations, an RV dealer, car dealership and a hospital and many had signs out front saying “help wanted”. And within five to six hundred feet from his outpost was a MDOT Park and Ride. Many times I thought about staking out the lot and seeing what this guy drove to and from his “job”.

And as a P.S. three different LE agencies had that intersection in their jurisdiction, I’d have to assume that they all ignored him when going through it.

 

[BC38]

Late 2019 and into the spring of 2022 I’d see the same guy at the same intersection from around four to eight P.M. every day I worked on my way home. Cardboard sign and would work the intersection from the median.

Problem with this scenario was that within one and a half miles of his spot was four large shopping centers, several strip malls, many small job shops, several gas stations, an RV dealer, car dealership and a hospital and many had signs out front saying “help wanted”. And within five to six hundred feet from his outpost was a MDOT Park and Ride. Many times I thought about staking out the lot and seeing what this guy drove to and from his “job”.

And as a P.S. three different LE agencies had that intersection in their jurisdiction, I’d have to assume that they all ignored him when going through it.

Yeah, his scam doesn't create enough of a problem to warrant local LEO's doing anything about it. They have bigger fish to fry than a panhandler.

 

[Brian Parrish]

Benevolence Committee

My church created a benevolence committee to deal with requests for rent and utilities help. The pastor does not have authority to give away the church's money to panhandlers, but that committee does up to its budget limit. Consisting of one financial team member/treasurer, who can disburse funds, and two other members, usually Deacons, they listen to the story and decide yea or nay. This takes all the pressure off pastor. There is a catch, you have to sit through a sermon and then talk to the committee afterward. Just like at the shelter, everybody has to sit through a sermon to get a bowl of soup.

I never saw the committee turn anybody away, but you may not be surprised to learn that very few people have ever taken advantage of the opportunity. There always is some dire reason they cannot come back in two or three days even to ask for hundreds of dollars of help. One lady stopped me before Sunday morning service, and I told her she had come to the right place at the right time. When I explained the process to her, she told me she would not stay because she had to hit as many churches as she could that day as quickly as possible.

In 45 years of helping, we only ever got a thank you note from one person, and she has become a dear, dear friend.

 

[BC38]

My church created a benevolence committee to deal with requests for rent and utilities help. The pastor does not have authority to give away the church's money to panhandlers, but that committee does up to its budget limit. Consisting of one financial team member/treasurer, who can disburse funds, and two other members, usually Deacons, they listen to the story and decide yea or nay. This takes all the pressure off pastor. There is a catch, you have to sit through a sermon and then talk to the committee afterward. Just like at the shelter, everybody has to sit through a sermon to get a bowl of soup.

I never saw the committee turn anybody away, but you may not be surprised to learn that very few people have ever taken advantage of the opportunity. There always is some dire reason they cannot come back in two or three days even to ask for hundreds of dollars of help. One lady stopped me before Sunday morning service, and I told her she had come to the right place at the right time. When I explained the process to her, she told me she would not stay because she had to hit as many churches as she could that day as quickly as possible.

In 45 years of helping, we only ever got a thank you note from one person, and she has become a dear, dear friend.

My point exactly. If the handout comes with any requirements from the recipient, the answer is usually "no thanks"...

Grifters are looking for "help" that comes with "no strings attached". Makes you really wonder how much they really "need" the help - as opposed to how many of them are just trying to make their living by taking advantage of people's good nature and generosity...

 

[shovelhead]

“IMO, the main reason this problem even exists is that there is no accountability. In the past most benevolent giving and help for the destitute (charity) was funneled through faith-based organizations. Way back when, that assistance came with some accountability mechanisms for those receiving the help. Charity wasn't simply handed out "no questions asked". To receive help, the recipients had to show that they were at least TRYING to improve their circumstances.”

Because in today’s society it is considered demeaning to require anyone to make a change in their behavior?

 

[BC38]

“IMO, the main reason this problem even exists is that there is no accountability. In the past most benevolent giving and help for the destitute (charity) was funneled through faith-based organizations. Way back when, that assistance came with some accountability mechanisms for those receiving the help. Charity wasn't simply handed out "no questions asked". To receive help, the recipients had to show that they were at least TRYING to improve their circumstances.”

Because in today’s society it is considered demeaning to require anyone to make a change in their behavior?

Demeaning? Or intolerant? Or judgemental?

But that begs the question; should we (society) be "tolerant" of (i.e. SUBSIDIZE) their bad choices or lack of work ethic? Are we being too judgemental to expect them to make lifestyle changes? To choose something better than just subsistence?

Or is it really "compassionate" to just keep making it easier for them to wallow in their misery, by enabling them to continue doing what they've always done. Even though we know they will just keep and getting the same poor results they've always got?

 

[LVSteve]

IMO, the main reason this problem even exists is that there is no accountability. In the past most benevolent giving and help for the destitute (charity) was funneled through faith-based organizations. Way back when, that assistance came with some accountability mechanisms for those receiving the help. Charity wasn't simply handed out "no questions asked". To receive help, the recipients had to show that they were at least TRYING to improve their circumstances.

To make them accountable implies that their behavior will have to change. That is not seen as "inclusive" in this day and age. Worse, certain lawyers would jump on it as meeting the criterion of some form of _______ discrimination. Fill in the blank as you see fit with several of the banned topics in the rules shown above. Government cannot be seen to do that, but neither can it be seen to do nothing.

Then there is the issue that if you require accountability, you need an army of lurkers to do all the follow up. In the last couple of decades various UK administrations have flip-flopped multiple times on means testing for "benefits". I'm not just talking about the homeless here, but an increasing proportion of the population in many urban areas. Means testing goes away because it is seen as demeaning and discriminatory. Next thing you know means testing is back because of widespread fraud.

Give it a year or two, and means testing is gone again because the government can't/won't employ enough people to do it properly. "Can't" is because the civil service pay is so low so posts are never filled, and "won't" occurs when they have set some other cap on the total numbers of civil servants.

Don't even think of employing contractors. They tried that and they screwed the whole thing up worse than the civil servants did, mostly because the task is totally open ended and commercial concerns just don't operate that way.

Experience has shown that with means testing, the system gets so backed up that the poor people end up suffering malnutrition and being evicted for not paying rent. Now the people are homeless and the local authority is required to find them accommodation, quite often in hotels because landlords in the UK no longer want to play the UK equivalent of the "Section 8" game any more. Examples of people being shipped from London to Scotland just to get a roof over their heads are not unknown. Mind you, there is a general lack of housing stock (affordable or otherwise) in the SE of England to exacerbate the issue.

Rinse and repeat the cycle described above on a 6-8 year basis.

 

[BC38]

I is very bad in Reno, I hate to say.

Reno put up signs prohibiting pan handling at end of freeways and intersections.

They, don't work !!

Like all laws, they only work if they are enforced...

 

[BC38]

There was a guy on the corner with standard equipment, ragged cardboard sign. After he finished his shift he walked up the street and into his Cadillac Escalade and drove off.

Spotless white sneakers are a giveaway.

Yup. I always look at a beggar's shoes, attire, and grooming. If they look reasonably clean, and their clothing and footwear are in good repair, AFAIAC, that is a sure sign that they could just as easily be working instead of begging. They are just taking the path of least resistance.

 

[BC38]

When I first came to the church that I pastor, some 34 years ago, I soon discovered that the former pastor had been a "soft touch" and handed out cash indiscriminately to anyone who had a tale of woe. I often wondered if there were some hobo code chalk marks outside that read "suckers live here".

It is almost impossible to weed out the truly needy from the grifters, so I came up with a plan. I had been buying my gasoline at a store down the street, and made an arrangement with the manager. I put $50 in their care, and told them that if someone came in to the store with my business card and a request written on the back with my signature that they would honor it. "$5 gasoline", "A loaf of bread and gallon of milk", "Pack of diapers", etc.

Over the next six months, I handed out dozens of these cards. Not one of them was ever redeemed. They didn't want anything other than cash, and didn't care what lies they would have to tell to get it. I eventually pumped that $50 into my gas tank and shut down that failed experiment.

One more story with an important point: We had a special speaker on a cold winter Sunday night. He ran the city's largest homeless ministry. Before the service started, a woman came in and asked if we could help her with $18 worth of propane. She, husband, and infant child were in a motor home on the way to new work in Oklahoma. They had gas but no propane.

I told her that I didn't know where to buy propane on a Sunday night, but that our guest might. He came out to the foyer, and told her that he didn't know either, but he could call his friend who ran a family shelter where they could stay the night, and have a good breakfast before heading out the next morning. The lady said "My husband is too proud to stay in a shelter", to which my friend replied "But he isn't too proud to send you into a church to beg. What you need is a warm safe place for you and your baby to spend the night, and I have told you that we can provide that." She turned on her heels, and walked out in a huff.

The point is that often people think that they need one thing when they actually need something else.

Yeah, they conflate what they WANT with what they really NEED.
They'll tell you whatever lie they can dream up to get you to give them what they want. Offering them what they really need doesn't usually get such a warm reception. And their reaction to the offer usually tells you all you need to know...

 

[BC38]

My son and I were parking at a movie theatre just outside of Plano, Tx., a few years ago. Two teenagers - boy and girl - , I am assuming, walked up to us and asked for a few bucks for food. They said they had not eaten in days. They were scrawny and dirty and smelled like the back end of a cow. We said no money. But we would take them to a local Whataburger a block away and buy them whatever they wanted to eat. They both jumped at the free food and away we went. They said nothing but woofed done multiple burgers, fries, drinks and when done said thank you. My son and I missed the movie, but, we did not care. The hour with them was well worth it. Son and I have done this several times here in the Dallas metroplex.

Yes, I have spent money on probably less worthwhile folks, but, at least I can see the end result.

My two...

Blessings on you for doing that. I'm always willing to feed someone down on their luck. Unfortunately I haven't had many takers when I make the offer to buy food for them. The reaction I most often seem to get when I offer a meal is "gimme cash or BUG OFF".

 

[BC38]

I have been told by a higher power to feed the hungry and clothe the naked.
I also am well informed that people have often guested angels unaware.
I can’t take it with me, so just do the best I can.

Those are noble sentiments.

However, we also have a responsibility to be good stewards of the resources we have at our disposal.

Enabling someone to continue their destructive habits and lifestyle isn't really blessing them. It may make us feel good, but is it really in their best interests? I don't think so.

At least that is the way I see it, but that's JMO and YMMV.

Hopefully I haven't turned away any Angels who were put in my path...