Panhandlers

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:It's amazing how many people here think it couldn't possibly be them. You should listen to how some of these people got to living on the street. And how some have gotten off the streets.

80% of the chronically homeless and panhandlers have serious mental illness and/or substance abuse problems.

I'm not sure if you're agreeing with me or not. The point is that serious mental illness can develop in any of us. As can substance abuse problems. A job loss, a family tragedy, divorce, etc.

No substance abuse problems don’t just happen. One must start taking drugs or drink too much first.

That can start with prescription pain killers and develop into a dependency. Or seemingly healthy drinking that grows out of control.

Of course we need to work on avoiding it, but we're all human and might slip. There but for...

I went through major open heart surgery last year and specifically avoided opioids the entire time, including in the ICU. When my teen has his wisdom teeth out last year, we said no opioids.

There are options.

Congrats - and good choice, I intend to try the same if confronted with it. Although wisdom teeth shouldn't need opioids - why would they even offer.

What will you do if you have unbearable pain that leaves you bedridden without relief? Tough it out? Chronic pain from a car crash? Cancer? You don't actually know what you'll do.

you’re right I don’t and I hope I never do. And you would not believe how they are pushed at every turn by doctors who are so afraid of a patient being in the slightest amount of pain.

Yes, dental surgeons will RX your kids for opioid pain killers unless you specifically tell them not to.

So maybe someone less educated about the risks or in more pain takes that step. And maybe the straighten up and break free. Or maybe they don't. My point is it could very well be one of us out there some day. We just don't know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My boyfriend has homeless camped behind his workplace.

His workplace supplies: access to the water hose, access to the grinding wheel (to sharpen their tools and axe) and power to charge their electronics.

Most have solar charging setups.

He also has the phone numbers of family members in case of emergency.

Almost all of his homeless are on social security disability and they are younger.

Sharpen their axe?! Is this an RPG?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t typically give cash to people asking for it on the street, though I do give to local charities that aim to help provide housing and services in D.C. But I can’t understand this attitude that (a) somehow those of us who are fortunate enough not to need to beg for money are the victims of other people’s poverty or (b) people who choose to give a few dollars to someone are causing problems for the rest of us.

It shouldn’t be too difficult for you to grasp why it’s a problem. Most of the panhandlers in my town are not homeless and appear to be able bodied younger people that should be able to work for a living. I am sympathetic to people falling on hard times, but these folks have realized that they can make a lucrative living by panhandling. Whereas a few years ago you would see only one or two, they are now at every intersection in my town, and that is down to people like you giving them money. You think that you're helping the homeless, but I’m willing to bet most of your dollars are going to people that live very comfortable existences.

I'm the PP you're responding to, and in your rush to tell me that I'm making the problem worse, you apparently missed the part where I said I don't give to panhandlers but give to local charities. I still completely disagree with you about the nature of this situation, and the idea that anyone is living a "very comfortable existence" begging on the street is ridiculous on its face.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My boyfriend has homeless camped behind his workplace.

His workplace supplies: access to the water hose, access to the grinding wheel (to sharpen their tools and axe) and power to charge their electronics.

Most have solar charging setups.

He also has the phone numbers of family members in case of emergency.

Almost all of his homeless are on social security disability and they are younger.

WTH do they need tools and axes for? Doesn’t someone at his workplace with half a brain recognize how dangerous and stupid this?

[Anonymous]

To do daily labor jobs, landscaping, etc

Duh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To do daily labor jobs, landscaping, etc

Duh.

Yeah I bet that’s it. I bet the homeless camp cleans out all day, every day, because its residents are working so hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My boyfriend has homeless camped behind his workplace.

His workplace supplies: access to the water hose, access to the grinding wheel (to sharpen their tools and axe) and power to charge their electronics.

Most have solar charging setups.

He also has the phone numbers of family members in case of emergency.

Almost all of his homeless are on social security disability and they are younger.

WTH do they need tools and axes for? Doesn’t someone at his workplace with half a brain recognize how dangerous and stupid this?

They’re useful for breaking into garages and sheds on the alleys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To do daily labor jobs, landscaping, etc

Duh.

Yeah I bet that’s it. I bet the homeless camp cleans out all day, every day, because its residents are working so hard.

A lot of homeless people work.
I don't think people understand how difficult it is to save enough money to pay for housing. I don't live in DC but I live in a high COL city. Even renting a room in a house can cost 1000/month and often people are asking for a few months rent upfront. When you don't have anywhere to live, you have to shell out money to do things like take a shower or store your belongings. It's near impossible to save a few thousand dollars to set up the most basic living arrangement, unless you're lucky enough to have somewhere safe where you can sleep every night for a few months, leave your things during the day, use the shower and kitchen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To do daily labor jobs, landscaping, etc

Duh.

Yeah I bet that’s it. I bet the homeless camp cleans out all day, every day, because its residents are working so hard.

A lot of homeless people work.
I don't think people understand how difficult it is to save enough money to pay for housing. I don't live in DC but I live in a high COL city. Even renting a room in a house can cost 1000/month and often people are asking for a few months rent upfront. When you don't have anywhere to live, you have to shell out money to do things like take a shower or store your belongings. It's near impossible to save a few thousand dollars to set up the most basic living arrangement, unless you're lucky enough to have somewhere safe where you can sleep every night for a few months, leave your things during the day, use the shower and kitchen.

I don’t think these are the people who are problem panhandlers. The aggressive panhandlers tend to work one location for a long time.

[Anonymous]

I’m mostly happy I don’t have to do it. Or be so low to choose that as a way to get money.