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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

And everyone applauded.



The government gives low income people cell phones because you need a phone to do anything now. They get a small amount of data paid for. Job applications require a phone number. Once you have that entry level fast food or retail job you need a phone because you are scheduled randomly.

[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?

Precisely why I keep enough single dollars on me in various pockets to be able to give away. No sense in losing your life because you don't have cash.

You are part of the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Stop being suckers. Stop giving money to panhandlers. I never give money to panhandlers. A legit street busker, sure. But not a panhandler. ESPECIALLY not some dude I've never seen before. And most of the homeless "regulars" I see in the neighborhood like Brother Bronson don't even ask for money and might decline if you offer to buy them a meal.

This. We only have pandhandlers because suxkers keep giving to them. Stop giving to pandhandlers and they will go way. When suckers give, it spreads by word of mouth among the homeless, and you just get more and more and more of them.

I’m all for helping the homeless, but giving to pandhandlers is not the way to do it. There are plenty of homeless shelters in the DMV that would benefit greatly from your time or donations, and the money will actually help those who need it rather than enabling alcohol/drug abuse.

Along those same lines, I wish counties throughout the DMV would post signs discouraging people from giving to panhandlers. Something like, “Don’t encourage panhandling. Visit xxx.va to find out how you can help your local homeless shelter.”

[Anonymous]

I get approached all the time in parking lots, inside grocery stores - Fairfax County, Virginia.

[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?

You all are so ignorant MOST of these panhandlers aren't even homeless. There is one in Annandale who has a condo in the same building as my relative!

[Anonymous]

This is why I don't give to panhandlers. I have a neighbor in my sfh neighborhood in the burbs who used to dress down and go to DC on the weekends and panhandle, he was super proud of the all the money he made which is how I know about it. Boggles my mind.

[Anonymous]

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

If it’s a woman named Elyse, and she’s more around 40, then yes. I assume she’s still around grifting. IYKYK or do a search on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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 .

I mean NOW in 2024. Do you think making minimum wage in DC you could afford what I’ve listed above? You can’t be serious.

You build towards it. You start out with roomates and that kind of thing. Is this a millenial thing--expecting to skip the building part? Even minimum wage has gone up since I started out.

Okay, you must be like, 85. I'm almost 50 with several advanced degrees and I feel for anyone under 30. You will likely NEVER be able to save for a downpayment on a house in a good neighborhood with decent schools. If having roommates until you are 45 works for you, then, yes, maybe. Do that until then and you MIGHT be able to afford a one bedroom condo in an okay neighborhood. You are old and delusional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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 .

I mean NOW in 2024. Do you think making minimum wage in DC you could afford what I’ve listed above? You can’t be serious.

You build towards it. You start out with roomates and that kind of thing. Is this a millenial thing--expecting to skip the building part? Even minimum wage has gone up since I started out.

Okay, you must be like, 85. I'm almost 50 with several advanced degrees and I feel for anyone under 30. You will likely NEVER be able to save for a downpayment on a house in a good neighborhood with decent schools. If having roommates until you are 45 works for you, then, yes, maybe. Do that until then and you MIGHT be able to afford a one bedroom condo in an okay neighborhood. You are old and delusional.

I'm 50 too and my first job in DC was making 25K and raising a kid on my own. I now own a home here and take nice vacations. I have exactly one advanced degree. The young people I know are all doing fine. Roomates, small flats whatever. They're fine and working towards productive lives. I am assuming you went into academia--lovely profession, in which yes, you get abused by the universities. I'd be bitter as well. Have you considered moving from DC / DMV with its absurdly high price points? There are lots of nice places to live in the states where you can work and not feel violated. I hate to break it to you, but young people who work hard still can 'make it' in this country. It may not be peaches and cream at the outset, but most of us can get there. You'd be surprised what someone who takes up a trade can earn, and the nice life they can finance in the burbs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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 .

I mean NOW in 2024. Do you think making minimum wage in DC you could afford what I’ve listed above? You can’t be serious.

You build towards it. You start out with roomates and that kind of thing. Is this a millenial thing--expecting to skip the building part? Even minimum wage has gone up since I started out.

Okay, you must be like, 85. I'm almost 50 with several advanced degrees and I feel for anyone under 30. You will likely NEVER be able to save for a downpayment on a house in a good neighborhood with decent schools. If having roommates until you are 45 works for you, then, yes, maybe. Do that until then and you MIGHT be able to afford a one bedroom condo in an okay neighborhood. You are old and delusional.

And sorry, a one bedroom in condo in NW DC (ie nice neighborhood) can be attained. Yes, someone who works can afford it. Are you just kind of horrible with finances? Or have you never looked at Zillow?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Stop being suckers. Stop giving money to panhandlers. I never give money to panhandlers. A legit street busker, sure. But not a panhandler. ESPECIALLY not some dude I've never seen before. And most of the homeless "regulars" I see in the neighborhood like Brother Bronson don't even ask for money and might decline if you offer to buy them a meal.

This. We only have pandhandlers because suxkers keep giving to them. Stop giving to pandhandlers and they will go way. When suckers give, it spreads by word of mouth among the homeless, and you just get more and more and more of them.

I’m all for helping the homeless, but giving to pandhandlers is not the way to do it. There are plenty of homeless shelters in the DMV that would benefit greatly from your time or donations, and the money will actually help those who need it rather than enabling alcohol/drug abuse.

Along those same lines, I wish counties throughout the DMV would post signs discouraging people from giving to panhandlers. Something like, “Don’t encourage panhandling. Visit xxx.va to find out how you can help your local homeless shelter.”

You mean like signs at the park that day don’t feed the ducks?

[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?

Precisely why I keep enough single dollars on me in various pockets to be able to give away. No sense in losing your life because you don't have cash.

You are part of the problem.

Huh? People can steal your phone, force you to give them the password at gunpoint, and use your bank / cash apps.

They don’t need your one dollar bill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

+10

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like you're being ageist, ableist, and misandrist with all the assumptions you're making.

You did a racism. You did an imperialism. You did a nationalism. You did a xenophobia. You did a white fragility. You did a weak apology. You did no growth. This makes it abundantly clear you don't understand the intersectional nature of the multiplicity of your offenses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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 .

I mean NOW in 2024. Do you think making minimum wage in DC you could afford what I’ve listed above? You can’t be serious.

You build towards it. You start out with roomates and that kind of thing. Is this a millenial thing--expecting to skip the building part? Even minimum wage has gone up since I started out.

Okay, you must be like, 85. I'm almost 50 with several advanced degrees and I feel for anyone under 30. You will likely NEVER be able to save for a downpayment on a house in a good neighborhood with decent schools. If having roommates until you are 45 works for you, then, yes, maybe. Do that until then and you MIGHT be able to afford a one bedroom condo in an okay neighborhood. You are old and delusional.

I'm almost 50, also with a handful of degrees, and all of my peers rent, many with roommates. It's much worse for younger people, but even GenXers are struggling! I own a small condo only because my down payment was a gift from family.