Panhandlers in DC who look like random, able-bodied late 20s aged men - is this a thing now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LOL @ PP trying to shame you for this observation. My husband won't give money to a panhandler unless they're missing 2+ limbs. I remember in 2013 I lived in Columbia Heights and a kid in a private school uniform asked me for money (well, he actually told me: "give me $2 for the train"). I reflexively laughed in his face, which was not the reaction he thought he was going to get. But gmafb. Absolutely not.

But also: I used to pass this really disheveled older guy who staked out the Sbux on my way to work with a sign about how he was a disabled vet. (Always scratched my head a bit because there's probably nowhere in the world with more resources for disabled vets than this area, but he wasn't aggressive or anything so I just observed and kept it moving.) This was at 16th & K - big touristy area and he got a lot of donations from people from Minnesota or Idaho trying to prove they support our forgotten troops in the shadow of the White House. One day a different hobo was in his tree box and they were having a screaming fight - THIS IS MY CORNER! I'LL KILL YOU IF YOU DON'T GET OUT OF MY TERRITORY! - so even if they look the part it's probably still a scam. Stay woke!

None of this is the flex you think it is.

[Anonymous]

I haven’t noticed this; all the panhandlers I see on daily are visibly unkempt with issues (substance, mental or both)

[Anonymous]

"Returning citizen" ex-cons are a priority group for PSH vouchers in Ward 3, we provide a nice apartment, utilities, services, EBT and free healthcare, but, they gotta hustle for the drug money still.

[Anonymous]

There’re medians where they will bang on your car windows if you don’t acknowledge them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At least he didn’t stick a gun in your ribs and rob you.

Given that he stepped out of the shadows and requested my money it is now occuring to me maybe he was robbing me? OMG, hilarious. But Ive seen this before in the 90s..it's so weird when some dude who clearly is able to work is asking students and women walking by for money. Like we are just...suckers. Just ew.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Returning citizen" ex-cons are a priority group for PSH vouchers in Ward 3, we provide a nice apartment, utilities, services, EBT and free healthcare, but, they gotta hustle for the drug money still.

Ward 3 needs to be more welcoming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least he didn’t stick a gun in your ribs and rob you.

Given that he stepped out of the shadows and requested my money it is now occuring to me maybe he was robbing me? OMG, hilarious. But Ive seen this before in the 90s..it's so weird when some dude who clearly is able to work is asking students and women walking by for money. Like we are just...suckers. Just ew.

+1

True, I think they p@ss off more people that way. I remember people knocking on the door of my decrepit apartment in the 90's - as if all white students have money - no dumbarse, it is exactly the opposite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Come to Berkeley, CA. So many rich college aged guys who ran away from their rich homes to reject their parents and believe they are doing something productive to panhandle and be homeless. They aren’t even addicts.

I was going to say this. Going out west is always a reminder of the multiracial nature of panhandling. The crusties!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A few nights ago I was walking home at night and a man stepped out from the shadows by a Tenleytown fast food joint and asked for money. What struck me was he looked able-bodied, well spoken, dressed for the weather, good jacket, boots. Basically a presentably fit young man I wouldn't normally look twice at. I walked right on by - no way I stop and engage -and then I thought--the guy is literally standing next to a place where he could put in a job application. Instead, he's asking me who works, for my money. I mean, WHY IS HE PANHANDLING? And then I thought, OK, maybe he's adjudicated and has had trouble getting a job, though I know there have been massive changes in recent years about the legality of asking for criminal history on job applications (curious where DC is on this). So then IF he is adjudicated and that's why he's devoting his health, intelligence and skills to something so basic and awful- I questioned the quality of DC city services of putting released prisoners (we seem to have oh so many on early release) to gainful skills rather than alternative economy. Lots of questions! It reminded me a lot of the 90s when doorways seemed to be full of these guys with a semi-belligerent hand out. Haven't seen this in a while though. It was a really bad throwback and I'm hoping a one-of. But I'm doubtful given all the other trends.
Insights? What is happening?

And what do you think working at said fast food establishment would afford this man? A nice two bedroom apartment in a safe neighborhood in DC? Enough groceries to last a week? A vacation here or there? Eventual home ownership? Nope. A job no longer gives a certain demographic especially in this generation, a sense of pride and purpose because they still CANNOT AFFORD ANYTHING. A job likely affords YOU these things but not the people you are seeing on the street. I don't have a solution but know that this problem is not going to be solved by complaining on this website.

[Anonymous]

$400 -$500 per day can be made at the right location panhandling

We no longer give anything but my father in law would always give two twenty dollar bills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Returning citizen" ex-cons are a priority group for PSH vouchers in Ward 3, we provide a nice apartment, utilities, services, EBT and free healthcare, but, they gotta hustle for the drug money still.

Why are able bodied men given all of this stuff for free? Can't they work construction?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A few nights ago I was walking home at night and a man stepped out from the shadows by a Tenleytown fast food joint and asked for money. What struck me was he looked able-bodied, well spoken, dressed for the weather, good jacket, boots. Basically a presentably fit young man I wouldn't normally look twice at. I walked right on by - no way I stop and engage -and then I thought--the guy is literally standing next to a place where he could put in a job application. Instead, he's asking me who works, for my money. I mean, WHY IS HE PANHANDLING? And then I thought, OK, maybe he's adjudicated and has had trouble getting a job, though I know there have been massive changes in recent years about the legality of asking for criminal history on job applications (curious where DC is on this). So then IF he is adjudicated and that's why he's devoting his health, intelligence and skills to something so basic and awful- I questioned the quality of DC city services of putting released prisoners (we seem to have oh so many on early release) to gainful skills rather than alternative economy. Lots of questions! It reminded me a lot of the 90s when doorways seemed to be full of these guys with a semi-belligerent hand out. Haven't seen this in a while though. It was a really bad throwback and I'm hoping a one-of. But I'm doubtful given all the other trends.
Insights? What is happening?

And what do you think working at said fast food establishment would afford this man? A nice two bedroom apartment in a safe neighborhood in DC? Enough groceries to last a week? A vacation here or there? Eventual home ownership? Nope. A job no longer gives a certain demographic especially in this generation, a sense of pride and purpose because they still CANNOT AFFORD ANYTHING. A job likely affords YOU these things but not the people you are seeing on the street. I don't have a solution but know that this problem is not going to be solved by complaining on this website.

+1
People see no point in working a crappy job for 40 hours per week when they're still likely to be homeless or sharing a one bedroom with ten other guys. Might as well panhandle and have more free time. Or take their chances and steal something they can flip, and make more money in five minutes than they would in a month working at Burger King. Hell, what's the point of schlepping to and from any job that only pays enough for you eat, sleep and have a few hours off for chores on the weekend?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A few nights ago I was walking home at night and a man stepped out from the shadows by a Tenleytown fast food joint and asked for money. What struck me was he looked able-bodied, well spoken, dressed for the weather, good jacket, boots. Basically a presentably fit young man I wouldn't normally look twice at. I walked right on by - no way I stop and engage -and then I thought--the guy is literally standing next to a place where he could put in a job application. Instead, he's asking me who works, for my money. I mean, WHY IS HE PANHANDLING? And then I thought, OK, maybe he's adjudicated and has had trouble getting a job, though I know there have been massive changes in recent years about the legality of asking for criminal history on job applications (curious where DC is on this). So then IF he is adjudicated and that's why he's devoting his health, intelligence and skills to something so basic and awful- I questioned the quality of DC city services of putting released prisoners (we seem to have oh so many on early release) to gainful skills rather than alternative economy. Lots of questions! It reminded me a lot of the 90s when doorways seemed to be full of these guys with a semi-belligerent hand out. Haven't seen this in a while though. It was a really bad throwback and I'm hoping a one-of. But I'm doubtful given all the other trends.
Insights? What is happening?

And what do you think working at said fast food establishment would afford this man? A nice two bedroom apartment in a safe neighborhood in DC? Enough groceries to last a week? A vacation here or there? Eventual home ownership? Nope. A job no longer gives a certain demographic especially in this generation, a sense of pride and purpose because they still CANNOT AFFORD ANYTHING. A job likely affords YOU these things but not the people you are seeing on the street. I don't have a solution but know that this problem is not going to be solved by complaining on this website.

You're joking... right? I started out single parent working poor and now take nice vacations. Are you serious about the above? It's like farce .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A few nights ago I was walking home at night and a man stepped out from the shadows by a Tenleytown fast food joint and asked for money. What struck me was he looked able-bodied, well spoken, dressed for the weather, good jacket, boots. Basically a presentably fit young man I wouldn't normally look twice at. I walked right on by - no way I stop and engage -and then I thought--the guy is literally standing next to a place where he could put in a job application. Instead, he's asking me who works, for my money. I mean, WHY IS HE PANHANDLING? And then I thought, OK, maybe he's adjudicated and has had trouble getting a job, though I know there have been massive changes in recent years about the legality of asking for criminal history on job applications (curious where DC is on this). So then IF he is adjudicated and that's why he's devoting his health, intelligence and skills to something so basic and awful- I questioned the quality of DC city services of putting released prisoners (we seem to have oh so many on early release) to gainful skills rather than alternative economy. Lots of questions! It reminded me a lot of the 90s when doorways seemed to be full of these guys with a semi-belligerent hand out. Haven't seen this in a while though. It was a really bad throwback and I'm hoping a one-of. But I'm doubtful given all the other trends.
Insights? What is happening?

And what do you think working at said fast food establishment would afford this man? A nice two bedroom apartment in a safe neighborhood in DC? Enough groceries to last a week? A vacation here or there? Eventual home ownership? Nope. A job no longer gives a certain demographic especially in this generation, a sense of pride and purpose because they still CANNOT AFFORD ANYTHING. A job likely affords YOU these things but not the people you are seeing on the street. I don't have a solution but know that this problem is not going to be solved by complaining on this website.

+1
People see no point in working a crappy job for 40 hours per week when they're still likely to be homeless or sharing a one bedroom with ten other guys. Might as well panhandle and have more free time. Or take their chances and steal something they can flip, and make more money in five minutes than they would in a month working at Burger King. Hell, what's the point of schlepping to and from any job that only pays enough for you eat, sleep and have a few hours off for chores on the weekend?

Wow. Blue collar workers can make over 100k in this area, but sure throw in the towel and ask women to work and hand you their money. Jesus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A few nights ago I was walking home at night and a man stepped out from the shadows by a Tenleytown fast food joint and asked for money. What struck me was he looked able-bodied, well spoken, dressed for the weather, good jacket, boots. Basically a presentably fit young man I wouldn't normally look twice at. I walked right on by - no way I stop and engage -and then I thought--the guy is literally standing next to a place where he could put in a job application. Instead, he's asking me who works, for my money. I mean, WHY IS HE PANHANDLING? And then I thought, OK, maybe he's adjudicated and has had trouble getting a job, though I know there have been massive changes in recent years about the legality of asking for criminal history on job applications (curious where DC is on this). So then IF he is adjudicated and that's why he's devoting his health, intelligence and skills to something so basic and awful- I questioned the quality of DC city services of putting released prisoners (we seem to have oh so many on early release) to gainful skills rather than alternative economy. Lots of questions! It reminded me a lot of the 90s when doorways seemed to be full of these guys with a semi-belligerent hand out. Haven't seen this in a while though. It was a really bad throwback and I'm hoping a one-of. But I'm doubtful given all the other trends.
Insights? What is happening?

And what do you think working at said fast food establishment would afford this man? A nice two bedroom apartment in a safe neighborhood in DC? Enough groceries to last a week? A vacation here or there? Eventual home ownership? Nope. A job no longer gives a certain demographic especially in this generation, a sense of pride and purpose because they still CANNOT AFFORD ANYTHING. A job likely affords YOU these things but not the people you are seeing on the street. I don't have a solution but know that this problem is not going to be solved by complaining on this website.

+1
People see no point in working a crappy job for 40 hours per week when they're still likely to be homeless or sharing a one bedroom with ten other guys. Might as well panhandle and have more free time. Or take their chances and steal something they can flip, and make more money in five minutes than they would in a month working at Burger King. Hell, what's the point of schlepping to and from any job that only pays enough for you eat, sleep and have a few hours off for chores on the weekend?

Wow. Blue collar workers can make over 100k in this area, but sure throw in the towel and ask women to work and hand you their money. Jesus.

Skilled trades, sure.

It's not totally a gendered issue either. Plenty of young women don't want to work either, it's just that they ask for money online.