Local panhandlers/suspended belief system

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are posting this because you are too damn boojie to help our your fellow man. I give “these folks” money every time I see them because the social safety net does not exist and does not help those most in need. At the end of the day, it’s on them whether the money went toward a “good and noble” or was shot Up and snorted.

You’re not helping people by giving them money directly. Homeless organizations and police don’t want the public giving money to panhandlers and advise against it in all circumstances. They want those in need to come through them, to access the social services they truly need and that will help them for more than two hours.

I’m the OP from above.

If someone is hungry or has mental health issues they cannot access the organizations to get help. What’s wrong with giving someone a buck or ten like I do every week? I grew up poor and now have money. I know how it is. Y’all some cheap assed folks.

I give directly to charities -- A Wider Circle, Manna Food Bank, and DC Diaper Bank. They can provide services more efficiently than just direct cash handouts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are posting this because you are too damn boojie to help our your fellow man. I give “these folks” money every time I see them because the social safety net does not exist and does not help those most in need. At the end of the day, it’s on them whether the money went toward a “good and noble” or was shot Up and snorted.

You’re not helping people by giving them money directly. Homeless organizations and police don’t want the public giving money to panhandlers and advise against it in all circumstances. They want those in need to come through them, to access the social services they truly need and that will help them for more than two hours.

I’m the OP from above.

If someone is hungry or has mental health issues they cannot access the organizations to get help. What’s wrong with giving someone a buck or ten like I do every week? I grew up poor and now have money. I know how it is. Y’all some cheap assed folks.

Oh dear lord. Their "mental issues" don't seem to prevent them from showing up at the same intersection on a consistent basis begging for handouts. You are either extremely naive or just plain stoooopid.

[Anonymous]

A friend commented to be about these panhandlers the other day. She saw different ones at several different places and realized that the signs appeared to have been created by the same people. Then, it hit her that these were not just needy people.

If you feel like you need to give something to these people, then keep some unperishable food in your car and some bottles of water to hand them. If they are truly hungry, that could help. Other than that, you might be supporting a drug habit.

Other than that, give to your local shelter/food pantry. Even there, you will find a scammer or two, but it much more likely it will get to a needy person.

John Stossel did a piece for television a few years ago. He sat out with a hat on the street and collected @$90.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A friend commented to be about these panhandlers the other day. She saw different ones at several different places and realized that the signs appeared to have been created by the same people. Then, it hit her that these were not just needy people.

If you feel like you need to give something to these people, then keep some unperishable food in your car and some bottles of water to hand them. If they are truly hungry, that could help. Other than that, you might be supporting a drug habit.

Other than that, give to your local shelter/food pantry. Even there, you will find a scammer or two, but it much more likely it will get to a needy person.

John Stossel did a piece for television a few years ago. He sat out with a hat on the street and collected @$90.

I saw a lot of young girls in NY last visit with similar signs. Obviouslt someone is pumping them. To give money is to support a whole lot of evil.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A friend commented to be about these panhandlers the other day. She saw different ones at several different places and realized that the signs appeared to have been created by the same people. Then, it hit her that these were not just needy people.

If you feel like you need to give something to these people, then keep some unperishable food in your car and some bottles of water to hand them. If they are truly hungry, that could help. Other than that, you might be supporting a drug habit.

Other than that, give to your local shelter/food pantry. Even there, you will find a scammer or two, but it much more likely it will get to a needy person.

John Stossel did a piece for television a few years ago. He sat out with a hat on the street and collected @$90.

I saw a lot of young girls in NY last visit with similar signs. Obviouslt someone is pumping them. To give money is to support a whole lot of evil.

Pumping or pimping?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are posting this because you are too damn boojie to help our your fellow man. I give “these folks” money every time I see them because the social safety net does not exist and does not help those most in need. At the end of the day, it’s on them whether the money went toward a “good and noble” or was shot Up and snorted.

You’re not helping people by giving them money directly. Homeless organizations and police don’t want the public giving money to panhandlers and advise against it in all circumstances. They want those in need to come through them, to access the social services they truly need and that will help them for more than two hours.

I’m the OP from above.

If someone is hungry or has mental health issues they cannot access the organizations to get help. What’s wrong with giving someone a buck or ten like I do every week? I grew up poor and now have money. I know how it is. Y’all some cheap assed folks.

Why can’t they access the free services provided by the local government with my tax dollars? Giving someone a fiver does nothing to get them help. They aren’t going to pay for a psych consult with that money. They need appropriate help, not money.

[Anonymous]

I’m in a social work field; I manage a charity. If I get approached by a panhandler, I hand out my generic business card that has several numbers to call for direct help. I’ve never received a call back and I could truly provide immediate help within an hour.

[Anonymous]

Panhandlers are interesting.

There was a corner that I passed whenever I was coming or going from my house. There was a man who was on that corner, 8+ hours a day. Rain or shine, he was there with his sign. He was probably mid 50s

This man had commitment and work ethic - I always wondered why he chose this over a job. He obviously could show up and be 'on the job' very consistently.

Finally one day I asked him about it. He said getting jobs was hard because in the past he had an addiction and ended up in jail and with a criminal record. He said he had gotten work after that but every time he would kind of get it all together something would happen and he would end up losing the job, then losing his housing etc. then he would get depressed and drink again.

He said now he is his own boss and that this is the longest job he has had in a long time. He makes enough to get by, and just lives life quietly by himself. He is sober and as happy as he feels he has ever been> He told me he sees lots of regulars and feels almost like he has friends. He told me one lady brings him a coffee every morning on her way past, others wave or say hi and how he likes that part too. We now occasionally give him warm socks or gloves or his favorite chocolate bar and I try to always make eye contact and wave or say hi.

[Anonymous]

We have an organized group of people panhandling on our nearest corner. They take shifts and get a lunch break with food brought in by the manager. You have to sit at the Starbucks for a while before you realize just how many employees this guy has. Most people driving by don’t actually see the quantity of money being given nor realize that it’s overseen by a manager. It’s not really a scam to hold out your hand and it’s not really a tragedy to fleece the stupid. These things exist because each side gets something out of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Panhandlers are interesting.

There was a corner that I passed whenever I was coming or going from my house. There was a man who was on that corner, 8+ hours a day. Rain or shine, he was there with his sign. He was probably mid 50s

This man had commitment and work ethic - I always wondered why he chose this over a job. He obviously could show up and be 'on the job' very consistently.

Finally one day I asked him about it. He said getting jobs was hard because in the past he had an addiction and ended up in jail and with a criminal record. He said he had gotten work after that but every time he would kind of get it all together something would happen and he would end up losing the job, then losing his housing etc. then he would get depressed and drink again.

He said now he is his own boss and that this is the longest job he has had in a long time. He makes enough to get by, and just lives life quietly by himself. He is sober and as happy as he feels he has ever been> He told me he sees lots of regulars and feels almost like he has friends. He told me one lady brings him a coffee every morning on her way past, others wave or say hi and how he likes that part too. We now occasionally give him warm socks or gloves or his favorite chocolate bar and I try to always make eye contact and wave or say hi.

OP here. Interesting, yes. However this guy is not quite the same as an organized ring.
"Something happens". Interesting statement right there. A lot to unpack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have an organized group of people panhandling on our nearest corner. They take shifts and get a lunch break with food brought in by the manager. You have to sit at the Starbucks for a while before you realize just how many employees this guy has. Most people driving by don’t actually see the quantity of money being given nor realize that it’s overseen by a manager. It’s not really a scam to hold out your hand and it’s not really a tragedy to fleece the stupid. These things exist because each side gets something out of it.

OP here. Problem is, the folks in our neck of the woods often rap on windows, step out in the street, and otherwise create a hazard. In addition, when folks offer real help in the form of food, gift certificates to a food restaurant, etc. they get angry and nasty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have an organized group of people panhandling on our nearest corner. They take shifts and get a lunch break with food brought in by the manager. You have to sit at the Starbucks for a while before you realize just how many employees this guy has. Most people driving by don’t actually see the quantity of money being given nor realize that it’s overseen by a manager. It’s not really a scam to hold out your hand and it’s not really a tragedy to fleece the stupid. These things exist because each side gets something out of it.

+1

Some probably aren't fakers but I have seen a gold Mercedes drop off a pan handler in our area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have an organized group of people panhandling on our nearest corner. They take shifts and get a lunch break with food brought in by the manager. You have to sit at the Starbucks for a while before you realize just how many employees this guy has. Most people driving by don’t actually see the quantity of money being given nor realize that it’s overseen by a manager. It’s not really a scam to hold out your hand and it’s not really a tragedy to fleece the stupid. These things exist because each side gets something out of it.

+1

Some probably aren't fakers but I have seen a gold Mercedes drop off a pan handler in our area.

+2

I've seen them get in cars and drive away. One that has worked a median in MoCo for years I saw shopping with a child and another woman in a Giant food store. There is one that walks a median not too far from my house that has a cell phone. I snapped a photo of him while he was texting. They use hand signals to communicate. They take breaks and chat and compare notes and amounts collected. These people are indeed part of an organized operation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BC they are idiots and completely naive.

When I see these idiots throw money at the scammers I seriously want to egg their cars. How dumb can you be?

You have issues if someone’s kindness, regardless of how misled it may be, angers you this much. I feel really sorry for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BC they are idiots and completely naive.

When I see these idiots throw money at the scammers I seriously want to egg their cars. How dumb can you be?

You have issues if someone’s kindness, regardless of how misled it may be, angers you this much. I feel really sorry for you.

Dp- a “kind” woman from my old neighborhood used to throw her food scraps outside near our community park- for the animals. So of course, we had rats.