Reply to Panhandlers in DC who look like random, able-bodied late 20s aged men

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

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]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?[/quote]

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.  [/quote]

+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?[/quote]

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! [/quote]

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