Panhandlers

[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.

Same. And if i can’t afford it to say as much. We know the names of most of the homeless people in our block, minus the ones that are legit unsafe/too far gone to communicate with. I also give them fruit, water, and electrolyte tablets in the summer, hand warmers in the winter. Not every day, but when I can. It could easily be you or I in those circumstances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From my daily commute, I now recognize the Vienna-Falls Church “regulars”: the overweight mid 30s woman in leggings and a baseball cap w/ ponytail at Nutley St/Pan Am medians who seems to be the ringleader and partnered with an ever changing male. They coordinate their breaks and schedules. Then a few miles down by Unique it’s the grizzled rail thin limping man with a sign who waves and sits atop an overturned grocery cart.

Next time you see the curbside panhandlers, notice the overflowing trash, empty water bottles, food wrappers all around and along the median strips and falling into the sewer drain.

There’s also an abandoned homeless/panhandler shopping cart facing Gallows Road just down from Unique. Had been covered with a trash bag tarp that’s blown off. Contents are now wet blankets and full target grocery bags. It’s been there for two weeks.

This is vastly different from city homeless persons who are very clearly unclean, hungry and look disheveled.

Or not. Some of them look just fine, more than lucid, and capable of going into the place they are sitting/staking in front of and getting a job. Those that don't look capable, you should call 311 and tell them they said they were hungry and get them a wellness check. If I were unclean, hungry and disheveled in the street I would want a wellness check-not one dollar.

[Anonymous]

Would you rather they steal or turn tricks?

I give them money. If they purchase drugs or alcohol, so be it.

They are working by standing outside all day. Obviously something is very wrong with them.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would you rather they steal or turn tricks?

I give them money. If they purchase drugs or alcohol, so be it.

They are working by standing outside all day. Obviously something is very wrong with them.

+1

[Anonymous]

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 your helping the homeless, but I’m willing to bet most of your dollars are going to people that live very comfortable existences.

[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 your helping the homeless, but I’m willing to bet most of your dollars are going to people that live very comfortable existences.

Look I don’t know what anyone’s situation is and you don’t either but it doesn’t take a social scientist to know that housing costs have gone way up the last few years and homelessness has too so I’m not going to assume the reason you are seeing more panhandlers is because all of sudden people realized it’s a great way to earn a living.

[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 your helping the homeless, but I’m willing to bet most of your dollars are going to people that live very comfortable existences.

The one thing in common for all anti-panhandler rants are the ignorant assumptions made about strangers by a hostile observer with a bias. I can concoct negative assumptions about anyone I meet, panhandling or not. But that would really just say more about me than the person I am judging. What is “comfortable” about standing outside in the heat and cold in traffic and facing ridicule all day? Comfortable living? What a joke.

[Anonymous]

I used to donate. But now there are zillions of help wanted signs everywhere. If they want a money they should go apply.

[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.

Same. And if i can’t afford it to say as much. We know the names of most of the homeless people in our block, minus the ones that are legit unsafe/too far gone to communicate with. I also give them fruit, water, and electrolyte tablets in the summer, hand warmers in the winter. Not every day, but when I can. It could easily be you or I in those circumstances.

I would hope not! Id hope that society would commit me to a decent facility if I did not have the wherewithall to accept/seek shelter myself. What is a hand warmer going to do in the weather we've had this past week? You should put your energy into encouraging DC Council to legislate better facilities and involuntary holds, not passing out hand warmers. My god, I have no doubt you are a humane person but it's odd you can't see how inhumane it is to be ok with chronic homelessness.

[Anonymous]

For all of those who give directly to panhandlers, you are enablers. Give directly to a charity who will provide food and shelter not continue to enable these panhandlers to buy drugs, alcohol, or not contribute to society by not working.

You feel good about yourself after giving a few bucks so why not walk by the soup kitchen or shelter and give a few bucks to them to buy more food. Stop enabling!!

[Anonymous]

The problem is there’s no term for panhandler-givers.

Begees?

Anyway the worst begees are the ones who give money out their car windows. Having people begging on medians is dangerous and distracting.

AND YES I INCLUDE ANY FIREMEN WITH A BOOT, kids with buckets, whatever.

The road is not a good place to solicit money.

There is a guy who fully set up some kind of water store/begging situation on Military Road at Georgia. That is already a tricky intersection. It’s just another sign of the city’s decline that they allow an illegal business in the median there. It’s also a big middle finger to all the nearby businesses complying with the law.

[Anonymous]

Who even carries cash any more these days? Even if you wanted to give to a panhandler, what are you give them? Advice?

I haven't had a single bill in my wallet in 6 months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who even carries cash any more these days? Even if you wanted to give to a panhandler, what are you give them? Advice?

I haven't had a single bill in my wallet in 6 months.

Me either

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For all of those who give directly to panhandlers, you are enablers. Give directly to a charity who will provide food and shelter not continue to enable these panhandlers to buy drugs, alcohol, or not contribute to society by not working.

You feel good about yourself after giving a few bucks so why not walk by the soup kitchen or shelter and give a few bucks to them to buy more food. Stop enabling!!

+1000

$5 given to a shelter or soup kitchen will do MUCH more good than $5 given to some streetcorner panhandlers, many of whom are scammers, grifters, addicts etc.