Don’t judge. It’s difficult to get a job or find a place to live without a cell phone. Just because they have cellphones doesn’t mean they are irresponsible and aren’t destitute.
I had an aunt who truly believed that all people begging on street corners wanted to live that way. I have been a volunteer on crisis switchboards that ended up trying to help homeless vets and homeless mentally ill folks, so I know that there are as many reasons for homelessness as there are homeless people, but I have given up trying to explain that to people who think the way my aunt did….
Recognizing usefulness per CalLadyQED in getting jobs, housing—one shelter here requires a call between noon and five if you want to stay—childcare, etc., the local community health network worked with a provider to give cheap flip phones and a few minutes per month to those with incomes less than $600 per month.
With people trying everywhere to scam the gullible.. the homeless get tarnished with the same brush. I am sure there are legitimate folk down on their luck and could use a hand up.. but the majority are too lazy to do a days work if offered In my opinion..
Trouble is there is no easy way to tell the scammers from the truly down-and-out.
A while back a local tv station ran a series of news articles (must have been sweeps week) about street corner panhandlers and followed them at the end of the day back to their cars to nice apartments and houses. Others went back to their tents under the bridge. See, that’s the problem. You can’t tell the difference between the truly needy and the lazy.
There was a guy in town that used to stand with a sign by the interstate, at the exit to the Mall. People would give him money, but they never saw him walk across the street at 5:00 or 5:30 and hop into a brand new SUV and drive off! If they knew that they would have told him to get lost. :)
I saw a street person with a phone once, someone in a shop had run an extension cord to the door so the man (dirty, smelly, with plastic bags) could recharge his cheap phone. The shop keeper explained that the phone was used to call for help when the man was too sick or hurt to move or to find room in a shelter, or receive sms to tell him what kitchen were open etc. We have some very cheap phone offers (just 4 or 5 euros a month). So it doesn’t come as a surprise to me to see street people with phones.
Darn those lucky homeless people with their Obamaphones….(Maybe we can send those lazy bums back to Europe.. set up a wall along the Eastern seaboard. That should fix all our problems.).And sure, there are some actual scammers who beg for a living – still no reason to go with the cheap stereotype to what, show people that charity is for suckers?
To assume that those who are begging are trying to get beer money or that their phones are not needed are judgmental and mostly trying to rationalize their own lack of compassion..Suggestion for those worried about cash going for booze — buy a stack of gift cards to Subway (or other place less unhealthy than McDonalds), but make sure it is enough to cover a full meal, and give them out as needed.
In January a guy hit me up outside a Subway for cash. He said he was from out of town and he had run out of gas. It was about 2 degrees out so I gave him a five. About a week later the same guy gave me the exact same story in the parking lot of the grocery store around the corner from the Subway. I told him I didn’t have any cash and drove off. A couple of weeks later the same guy gave me the same story again in the same parking lot. I told him he needed to either switch locations or remember who he had already talked to, because he had fed me that lie three times now. I didn’t see him again after that.
Yeah, I had to go to Angel Ministries for food. I paid for it, at a greatly reduced price, and 95% of it was very good. Unfortunately the greedy people on the board running Angel Ministries dipped their fingers into the pot and got caught..,…and the price of this capture was our source of good food, But to point I felt bad driving my ’05 focus to get this food, I even felt bad in the ’98 Saturn because it was still in good shape. And there was no reason for me to feel bad.
More than once someone has seen in the big city near me (Baltimore) a big, expensive car coming by to pick up a panhandler at the end of the “workday.” Someone once followed one of these cars to the apparent resident of the occupants, a big, expensive condo near the harbor. You can’t tell me that’s all the goodness of someone’s heart.
You don’t have to give to them but you shouldn’t judge them either. Life can be very fickle and a person really may still have things left over from when they were not so down and Out. It is humiliating to lack something vital, for instance, one time this happened to me. when we still had phone boxes, I needed about 50 cents to be able to call some one I knew, because I had run out of gas and needed a ride home. I stood near the store and asked several people for the 50 cents I needed. And ashamed, because I was an adult, not an irresponsible kid, and had thought I had enough. People just ignored me but eventually a woman gave me the coins I needed, and as I was walking away, someone came out of the store looking around, someone must have told him there was a beggar outside his store. Point of the story is that sometimes we just find ourselves in a bad space even as an adult, and It would be nice if people would not assume the worst.
CalLadyQED almost 8 years ago
Don’t judge. It’s difficult to get a job or find a place to live without a cell phone. Just because they have cellphones doesn’t mean they are irresponsible and aren’t destitute.
38lowell almost 8 years ago
Another comment on America.No crutches, wheelchairs.Youth on youth!Where’s their dog?Is someone else on all the other corners?
Argythree almost 8 years ago
I had an aunt who truly believed that all people begging on street corners wanted to live that way. I have been a volunteer on crisis switchboards that ended up trying to help homeless vets and homeless mentally ill folks, so I know that there are as many reasons for homelessness as there are homeless people, but I have given up trying to explain that to people who think the way my aunt did….
GJ almost 8 years ago
Recognizing usefulness per CalLadyQED in getting jobs, housing—one shelter here requires a call between noon and five if you want to stay—childcare, etc., the local community health network worked with a provider to give cheap flip phones and a few minutes per month to those with incomes less than $600 per month.
Alberta Oil Premium Member almost 8 years ago
With people trying everywhere to scam the gullible.. the homeless get tarnished with the same brush. I am sure there are legitimate folk down on their luck and could use a hand up.. but the majority are too lazy to do a days work if offered In my opinion..
Retired Dude almost 8 years ago
Trouble is there is no easy way to tell the scammers from the truly down-and-out.
A while back a local tv station ran a series of news articles (must have been sweeps week) about street corner panhandlers and followed them at the end of the day back to their cars to nice apartments and houses. Others went back to their tents under the bridge. See, that’s the problem. You can’t tell the difference between the truly needy and the lazy.
Saturday's Child almost 8 years ago
There was a guy in town that used to stand with a sign by the interstate, at the exit to the Mall. People would give him money, but they never saw him walk across the street at 5:00 or 5:30 and hop into a brand new SUV and drive off! If they knew that they would have told him to get lost. :)
cabalonrye almost 8 years ago
I saw a street person with a phone once, someone in a shop had run an extension cord to the door so the man (dirty, smelly, with plastic bags) could recharge his cheap phone. The shop keeper explained that the phone was used to call for help when the man was too sick or hurt to move or to find room in a shelter, or receive sms to tell him what kitchen were open etc. We have some very cheap phone offers (just 4 or 5 euros a month). So it doesn’t come as a surprise to me to see street people with phones.
MeGoNow Premium Member almost 8 years ago
It’s the detail shop. Their cars ready.
Dirty Dragon almost 8 years ago
Darn those lucky homeless people with their Obamaphones….(Maybe we can send those lazy bums back to Europe.. set up a wall along the Eastern seaboard. That should fix all our problems.).And sure, there are some actual scammers who beg for a living – still no reason to go with the cheap stereotype to what, show people that charity is for suckers?
DD Wiz Premium Member almost 8 years ago
To assume that those who are begging are trying to get beer money or that their phones are not needed are judgmental and mostly trying to rationalize their own lack of compassion..Suggestion for those worried about cash going for booze — buy a stack of gift cards to Subway (or other place less unhealthy than McDonalds), but make sure it is enough to cover a full meal, and give them out as needed.
neatslob Premium Member almost 8 years ago
In January a guy hit me up outside a Subway for cash. He said he was from out of town and he had run out of gas. It was about 2 degrees out so I gave him a five. About a week later the same guy gave me the exact same story in the parking lot of the grocery store around the corner from the Subway. I told him I didn’t have any cash and drove off. A couple of weeks later the same guy gave me the same story again in the same parking lot. I told him he needed to either switch locations or remember who he had already talked to, because he had fed me that lie three times now. I didn’t see him again after that.
Quabaculta almost 8 years ago
Yeah, I had to go to Angel Ministries for food. I paid for it, at a greatly reduced price, and 95% of it was very good. Unfortunately the greedy people on the board running Angel Ministries dipped their fingers into the pot and got caught..,…and the price of this capture was our source of good food, But to point I felt bad driving my ’05 focus to get this food, I even felt bad in the ’98 Saturn because it was still in good shape. And there was no reason for me to feel bad.
Maizing almost 8 years ago
“My own personal belief is that if someone is asking for money like that, then they need it.”I feel the same way. It is not for me to judge.
Triviaguy almost 8 years ago
Oh really? Check this out.
K M almost 8 years ago
More than once someone has seen in the big city near me (Baltimore) a big, expensive car coming by to pick up a panhandler at the end of the “workday.” Someone once followed one of these cars to the apparent resident of the occupants, a big, expensive condo near the harbor. You can’t tell me that’s all the goodness of someone’s heart.
pam Miner almost 8 years ago
You don’t have to give to them but you shouldn’t judge them either. Life can be very fickle and a person really may still have things left over from when they were not so down and Out. It is humiliating to lack something vital, for instance, one time this happened to me. when we still had phone boxes, I needed about 50 cents to be able to call some one I knew, because I had run out of gas and needed a ride home. I stood near the store and asked several people for the 50 cents I needed. And ashamed, because I was an adult, not an irresponsible kid, and had thought I had enough. People just ignored me but eventually a woman gave me the coins I needed, and as I was walking away, someone came out of the store looking around, someone must have told him there was a beggar outside his store. Point of the story is that sometimes we just find ourselves in a bad space even as an adult, and It would be nice if people would not assume the worst.