Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing.

I'm from Paris, where I've been immunized by years of having to literally step over gypsy women with decoratively dirty infants on Metro steps, sent there to beg by the gypsy "mafia". Begging and pick-pocketing is what they do professionally, and it's terrible for the kids who are dragooned into it and lose any chance at integrating into society.

Do not encourage beggars on highway dividers, it's extremely dangerous for them to stand there, and please do not enable those with children from doing the same. There are homeless shelters, there are women and children centers, there are food pantries, and even though none of these things are perfect, it's still safer than standing a hair's breadth from passing cars.

How do I get the info on all these resources and pass it to them? Maybe give them a brochure how to get help? I work for a living full time and have my own kids, so not really volunteering anywhere and have no idea how to help, and I know giving them money will only worsen the problem.

There was an article about the organized panhandling that was going on in DC areas and NYC. During morning rush hour, they’d be dropped off in a van and at the end of the day, get picked up. In the past, I’ve seen women (presumably mothers) with toddler children in a stroller and the kids would be docile and likely drugged to keep them still. Now it’s a whole “family”. They have this “sad” pathetic act. I think they’re gypsies.

Do NOT sustain this activity by giving money or the exploitation of children will continue.

Decades ago in NY there were deaf people that would come on the subway and give people pencils with little notes asking for money. They were everywhere — usually women and children and elderly and many people gave them money. Then a huge story broke — they were all effectively slave labor that had been brought over from certain Latin American companies. They were deaf and did not speak ASL (they spoke a different sign language). They were kept locked in a basement, their passports and ID were taken, and they were threatened/beaten to get more money. I think the whole thinly broke because some woman on the subway actually spoke the right kind of sign language and one of the people was brave enough to quickly sign to her what was going on. They all got special visa treatment to testify against the men who were holding them.
Women with children usually have the easiest time finding government shelter/housing and connecting with other benefits. Maybe someone pan handles short term until those benefits are in place. But more likely she’s being used by some man.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always feel worse when I see a homeless person with a dog.

There's a young homeless man in my hood with a dog always asking me for cash or toilitries. He was outed by the staff at my front desk. he receives $900.00 a month in benefits and chooses to live on the street. He's always asking to charge his phone in the lobby and he told the staff about his monthly checks
and yet he still is homeless.

How does someone pay rent and basic utilities for $900/mo?

Yeah, $900 is the monthly SSI payment for a disabled adult with no real work history. It’s really hard to find housing on that. I had a client years ago that was splitting a one bedroom with another disabled person — but the other person ended up attacking her and so she had to leave and could not find an apartment (including paying first and last and security deposit) on that monthly check. She was on a wait list for subsidized housing. The SSI amounts are great if you have 3-4 family members receiving them (hence the scams in some places where people get all their kids on SSI) but they are t sufficient for a single adult. We need higher subsidies and/or more things like rooming houses.

Nothing. This is a Gypsy scam. These are rich folks with cars and homes. This is their profession, They are professional beggers and each day is take your child to work day.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always feel worse when I see a homeless person with a dog.

There's a young homeless man in my hood with a dog always asking me for cash or toilitries. He was outed by the staff at my front desk. he receives $900.00 a month in benefits and chooses to live on the street. He's always asking to charge his phone in the lobby and he told the staff about his monthly checks
and yet he still is homeless.

How does someone pay rent and basic utilities for $900/mo?

Perhaps not in a major east coast city. Somewhere less expensive.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always feel worse when I see a homeless person with a dog.

There's a young homeless man in my hood with a dog always asking me for cash or toilitries. He was outed by the staff at my front desk. he receives $900.00 a month in benefits and chooses to live on the street. He's always asking to charge his phone in the lobby and he told the staff about his monthly checks
and yet he still is homeless.

How does someone pay rent and basic utilities for $900/mo?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a scam. There’s a welfare system. They are trying to play on your emotions.

Big time. Watch them all day and sometimes the kids get swapped out and at the end of another tough day they all get in their SUV and head home.

Oh. Yes! I fell for this and gave $20 later that day I saw same woman at different shopping center get out of a Mercedes. I was furious with myself for falling for this scam but I did call police.

Anonymous wrote:I always feel worse when I see a homeless person with a dog.

There's a young homeless man in my hood with a dog always asking me for cash or toilitries. He was outed by the staff at my front desk. he receives $900.00 a month in benefits and chooses to live on the street. He's always asking to charge his phone in the lobby and he told the staff about his monthly checks
and yet he still is homeless.

Anonymous wrote:The median beggars in NOVA frequently leave the piles of unopened drinks and snacks after their shift. They only want cash.

I consider median beggars and fake violinists an organized scam and I don’t give them anything or engage. I choose to give my money to churches and charities to assist the needy.

Leaving the unopened food donations is like saying F___ you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's a fake hispanic woman beggar with a baby and sign that rides the red line. Funny how baby is exact same age, weight and height 2.5 years ago.

Fake Hispanic, like a gypsy?

No, I meant fake prop " baby" who is same height and weight 2.5 years ago, and still fits in the swaddle carrier thing she wraps around her body.