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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The panhandlers are in the grocery stores here in DC area, too. I’ve seen them and been approached in multiple stores. They often have a piece of paper with a script written on it! I also see many-a-cellphones on these able-bodied 20 something panhandlers in nice clothes and shoes. There are plenty of scams going on in rings, too.

This happened to me on the corner of Pennsylvania Ave and Minnesota Ave. as a teen waiting for the bus home a panhandler asked for money and people were giving him dollars. Then a phone rang. His phone. I didn’t even have a phone at the time myself so I asked for my money back and so did everybody else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

NP. I don’t see how this is a “flex” at all.

[Anonymous]

Yes. It is. Would it make a difference if it were a able-bodied 20s aged female?

[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.

What a strange take. No one should expect a fast food job to give them all those things. It should be used to take care of yourself in a basic sense, food and basic shelter, as the individual works their way into another field or mgmt. minimum wage is not meant to make you middle class.

[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.

What a strange take. No one should expect a fast food job to give them all those things. It should be used to take care of yourself in a basic sense, food and basic shelter, as the individual works their way into another field or mgmt. minimum wage is not meant to make you middle class.

Progressives view all jobs as equal. Unless it's a government job; Then you need a degree from a prestigious Ivy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you wouldn't survive in Denver. There's a panhandler on every street & I've even gotten panhandled while inside the grocery store shopping. A
seemingly capable young white male asked me if I could help him buy groceries, while he had a cart full of food that he could not pay for.



This is lite work here in DC.

I was in Denver several years ago and yeah … hordes, colonies of white crusties. I actually called CPS (which I have never done in my life) because a really strung-out looking girl had a newborn with her on the streets.

[Anonymous]

There is nothing wrong with good honest work in any kind of job.

Panhandling should be illegal.

[Anonymous]

Didn’t Alexandria just legalize panhandling?

[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?

What does “maybe he’s adjudicated” mean? I’ve never seen the word “adjudicated” used in this way. What exactly do you mean here?

This usage--
"Adjudicated delinquent: A youth who has been found by a judge in juvenile court to have committed a violation of the criminal law, that is, a delinquent act."

More succinct definition: younger convicted criminal

So is this common usage today? This is the first I’ve ever seen it. Is it a regional expression?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is nothing wrong with good honest work in any kind of job.

Panhandling should be illegal.

Hey, panhandling is work! I would find it much harder to ask for money than to do my job.

[Anonymous]

The money is here for panhandling, its working for all of them. I see them count their stacks of cash all the time since I pass what I call "professional panhandlers" twice a day. They work 8 hours shifts just like a real job and get money constantly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Didn’t Alexandria just legalize panhandling?

They sure did! What does that tell you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are way overthinking this. All kinds of people end up panhandling for all kinds of reasons.

I know a family that panhandles for rent money every month. Mom about 60 and adult daughters in the thirties. White. Neatly dressed. No missing teeth or other signs of addiction. There’s no substance abuse that I know of. They claim they make $1800 in about four days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is nothing wrong with good honest work in any kind of job.

Panhandling should be illegal.

Panhandling is free speech.

Lobbying is Panhandling. Lots of lobbyists on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you wouldn't survive in Denver. There's a panhandler on every street & I've even gotten panhandled while inside the grocery store shopping. A
seemingly capable young white male asked me if I could help him buy groceries, while he had a cart full of food that he could not pay for.



This is lite work here in DC.

Come to NOVA they ARE on every street corner and countless times I've been hustled inside a store no need to travel to denver!