Panhandlers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there a way to move people along doing this? What is the law? Or do we need a law (examples from other jurisdictions)?

It's protected in Fairfax County as freedom of expression.

https://www.ffxnow.com/2023/09/29/fairfax-county-funds-survey-of-people-who-engage-in-panhandling/

Note that Fairfax County is spending $75,000 to find out what these people want. It might be money, but no one knows.

[Anonymous]

It's our recurring concerned DCUM anti panhandler thread again. Same old arguments.

[Anonymous]

I always give a dollar to anyone who asks. I can easily afford it and I would want the same if I was in need. Grown adults don't need your judgment they need your empathy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always give a dollar to anyone who asks. I can easily afford it and I would want the same if I was in need. Grown adults don't need your judgment they need your empathy.

I take PayPal. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always give a dollar to anyone who asks. I can easily afford it and I would want the same if I was in need. Grown adults don't need your judgment they need your empathy.

You're part of the problem. Our taxes pay to help them out. Now we have panhandlers on every street corner. And they use the money for drugs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always give a dollar to anyone who asks. I can easily afford it and I would want the same if I was in need. Grown adults don't need your judgment they need your empathy.

You're part of the problem. Our taxes pay to help them out. Now we have panhandlers on every street corner. And they use the money for drugs.

You have no actual knowledge of what any specific panhandler does or does not spend that money on. In fact, that is specifically the mindset that I want to purposefully avoid in myself. I think it is a nasty and ignorant assumption to judge a stranger like that in need. What problem? Another human asking for charity is a problem for you? How so? You can make up a bunch of scary stories but in the end you are just searching for justification of your baseless assumptions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always give a dollar to anyone who asks. I can easily afford it and I would want the same if I was in need. Grown adults don't need your judgment they need your empathy.

I take PayPal. Thanks.

Go stand on that sidewalk all day long asking for a dollar and I promise I will even give it to you.

[Anonymous]

One place where there needs to be police enforcement (in this case by the US Park Police) is where individuals panhandle in the very narrow median in Rock Creek Parkway north of the Kennedy Center. The center island is barely 3 feet wide, and it could be tragic if the panhandler stumbles off the median when traffic is going through. It's also distracting to drivers. The police often wait nearby at Virginia Avenue to manage the lane change, and they need to remove the roadway panhandlers before a bad accident happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:how would you know if they have vouchers? most poor people in DC don't; there are thousands on the wait list. Also, voucherholders are highly incentivized to get a job: under DC's participation in HUD's Moving to Work program, they only have to recertify their income every two years. If their income goes down they can recertify and reduce their rent, but if it goes up they don't have to report and their rent doesn't change until the next recertification. That plus the EITC and the high minimum wage are good work incentives...but there are certainly people who are panhandling instead, for lots of reasons. They probably aren't standing out in the cold for fun...if nobody gave them money, they would stop.

You don't know what you are talking about, 5,000 PSH vouchers have been added in Ward 3. There are no requirements for job training or education. They prioritize addicts, the mentally ill and convicts ("returning citizens"). Educate yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there a way to move people along doing this? What is the law? Or do we need a law (examples from other jurisdictions)?

No you can't. Activist groups have even prevented businesses from removing homeless people camping on their outdoor patios.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always give a dollar to anyone who asks. I can easily afford it and I would want the same if I was in need. Grown adults don't need your judgment they need your empathy.

You're part of the problem. Our taxes pay to help them out. Now we have panhandlers on every street corner. And they use the money for drugs.

I agree. I don't need to be taxed on my walk home, thanks .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there a way to move people along doing this? What is the law? Or do we need a law (examples from other jurisdictions)?

It used to be they were considered "bums" and run out of town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always give a dollar to anyone who asks. I can easily afford it and I would want the same if I was in need. Grown adults don't need your judgment they need your empathy.

You're part of the problem. Our taxes pay to help them out. Now we have panhandlers on every street corner. And they use the money for drugs.

You have no actual knowledge of what any specific panhandler does or does not spend that money on. In fact, that is specifically the mindset that I want to purposefully avoid in myself. I think it is a nasty and ignorant assumption to judge a stranger like that in need. What problem? Another human asking for charity is a problem for you? How so? You can make up a bunch of scary stories but in the end you are just searching for justification of your baseless assumptions.

Some make $500 per day cash on a corner in my town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always give a dollar to anyone who asks. I can easily afford it and I would want the same if I was in need. Grown adults don't need your judgment they need your empathy.

You're part of the problem. Our taxes pay to help them out. Now we have panhandlers on every street corner. And they use the money for drugs.

Would you give money if someone who didn't "look" homeless or like an addict approached you and explained that they lost their phone and wallet?
This has happened to people I know. No money, no phone, too far from home to walk. They had to ask strangers for money to take the subway.

[Anonymous]

I'm shocked how many people I see give panhandlers money at intersections across DC. They wouldn't be there if they didn't get money out of it. My biggest complaint is when they stand in the road or on tiny curbs. Its very dangerous and causes problems with traffic.