your take on panhandlers/homeless

[james.hendrickson]

Storm, the homeless aren't going to become housed until their personal financial situations improve. Saving money is a great way to get that started.

[StormRichards]

Storm, the homeless aren't going to become housed until their personal financial situations improve. Saving money is a great way to get that started.

James, you couldn't be more wrong about this particular topic.

[james.hendrickson]

James, you couldn't be more wrong about this particular topic.

I often am wrong. Can you please say more about where my thinking is incorrect?

[StormRichards]

I often am wrong. Can you please say more about where my thinking is incorrect?

My apology for not elaborating more in my last post. Soccer shuttle duties pulled me away.

Where do you propose a homeless person save their money? Without an address, they aren't likely to have a bank account. How much money do you think would be safe for them to keep on them?

Even if they had a safe way to save money, the fact of the matter is that they aren't likely to do so.

Their best chance of getting off the streets is by going to the shelters sober and trying to get into a halfway housing type of program. Getting the help they need for either their addiction or mental illness. A process that is unlikely to occur when people are handing them $5 they can waste on booze/drugs.

[TexasHusker]

Here is the problem: We middle/upper middle income Americans have decided that everyone can and should be like us, and if they are not, they do not deserve our compassion.

To the Generational Homeless, there exists no concept of saving money, obtaining an education, or living in a fine home. That isn't a world that they can even remotely fathom.

I had to go to city court on Friday to pay a traffic fine, and the courtroom was filled with blacks and Hispanics - all poor. Each would approach the bench, pleading guilty to driving without insurance, or a headlamp out. The fines ranged from a minimum of $300 to above $2,000. These people have zero hope of paying these fines. Most will end up in jail serving time, with their kids then taken away by CPS, and the cycle just continues.

Begging is a part of life for the homeless. While my giving a few dollars here and there has no chance of lifting them out of their poverty, if it helps them get a meal or a pack of cigarettes to salve their condition for a few minutes of their life, I think it is a worthwhile endeavor.

[StormRichards]

Here is the problem: We middle/upper middle income Americans have decided that everyone can and should be like us, and if they are not, they do not deserve our compassion.

To the Generational Homeless, there exists no concept of saving money, obtaining an education, or living in a fine home. That isn't a world that they can even remotely fathom.

I had to go to city court on Friday to pay a traffic fine, and the courtroom was filled with blacks and Hispanics - all poor. Each would approach the bench, pleading guilty to driving without insurance, or a headlamp out. The fines ranged from a minimum of $300 to above $2,000. These people have zero hope of paying these fines. Most will end up in jail serving time, with their kids then taken away by CPS, and the cycle just continues.

Begging is a part of life for the homeless. While my giving a few dollars here and there has no chance of lifting them out of their poverty, if it helps them get a meal or a pack of cigarettes to salve their condition for a few minutes of their life, I think it is a worthwhile endeavor.

So those of us that choose not to give cash directly to the homeless lack compassion for their situation?

I would argue that we have more compassion by giving to charities that help the homeless rather than money for a bottle of cheap wine and a pack of cancer sticks.

[TexasHusker]

So those of us that choose not to give cash directly to the homeless lack compassion for their situation?

I would argue that we have more compassion by giving to charities that help the homeless rather than money for a bottle of cheap wine and a pack of cancer sticks.

Argue away.

I'm for giving to charities that help the homeless, too. And they need more than a few dollars.

[StormRichards]

On the topic of homeless and mental illness

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/rachel-dolezal-is-nearly-homeless-on-food-stamps-and-still-white/ar-AAnpKcp?li=BBnbfcL

[kork13]

My opinion of the homelessness problem... It's going to take something revolutionary to make a meaningful difference. For example, Norway (or Sweden? one of those cold northern places in Europe) established an entire town pairing homeless with elderly folks. They live, work, and are cared for/treated together, and they work for eachother. Not saying that's what would fix it for the U.S., simply saying that's the kind of "totally different" that we need. But that sort of solution (or any real solution) requires a significant investment, and an even more significant workforce of healthcare providers & social workers. Is our country willing/able to prioritize this particular problem? I honestly doubt it. It's a problem of education, mental health, motivation/willingness to work, opportunity for jobs, access to care, all of which is exacerbated by drug/alcohol use/abuse (which is confounding to me...why blow what cash you have on booze instead of food, clothing, or other basic needs)

Personally, I give only sparingly to beggars. If I have food readily on hand (like snacks or restaurant leftovers), I'll give somebody that if I see someone on the corner. I'll fill up somebody's car with gas, or even sit them down in a restaurant, give the waitress $20, and tell her to feed the guy. But I almost never give cash. As stated, I don't trust cash to be used to help them -- especially if I smell cigarettes/booze on them, or if they're acting like they're high or coming off a high (or subsequent low).

Otherwise, I just give money to a charity that I know (as one part of its mission) helps people who are willing and wanting to help themselves, and provides for housing, basic needs, education, and job placement. I'm not an expert in social work, but there are alot of people much better able to have success in it than me giving handouts to the corner homeless guy.

[QuarterMillionMan]

I'm with Storm on this issue. I never give money to beggars. People giving money to beggars enables the beggar's behaviors which will perpetuate more of the same behavior. It is just like feeding stray cats. If you leave food out for the cats, ineviatably the cat will return for more food. Same thing with the beggar. He will return to the same street corner waiting for you to come along and hand him another $1 or $2.

[Fishindude77]

One thing about living rural, you just don't see much of this.
Seems pretty foreign to me when I see these people on the streets in large metro areas. Would probably be better off giving them something to eat or drink, than money.

[disneysteve]

People giving money to beggars enables the beggar's behaviors which will perpetuate more of the same behavior.

I was going to say the same thing. I fail to see how giving money to a beggar helps the beggar. I realize that if he uses it to buy a burger, then it keeps him from being hungry for a few hours, but I mean big picture help. And if he uses it to buy cigarettes or alcohol or drugs, it's actually worsening his situation. I certainly don't want to contribute to his demise.

Clearly, this isn't a discussion that is going to change anyone's mind. If you believe in giving money to beggars and it makes you feel like you are doing something beneficial, that's your business. If you believe in not giving money to beggars because you feel you are doing something harmful by doing so, that's also your business.

We've probably beaten this topic to death but if anyone else has anything useful to add, feel free to do so.

[bjl584]

Storm and Texas, let's keep it civil and on topic.

I will close this thread if the childish arguing continues.

Thanks

[cornfieldj]

...

I don't go out of my way to give cash to all panhandlers. I agree with DS that it certainly makes more sense to allot $$ each month to charities that help the homeless. However, if I happen to have a few bucks and am approached by a homeless person, if I can brighten and maybe help their day by giving to them I will certainly do so.

I've given money to panhandlers in NYC, and I've also turned down requests for money. I do give to charities that help. But sometimes I recall a phrase from the Talmud: If a man has to ask, you should give it to him.

I have a disabled son. I hope he will be in a sheltered situation his whole life. He really needs 24 hours of care each day. But I occasionally see people panhandling who are developmentally disabled and able to get by better than my son could. I *always* give them money. The safety nets for some people are just not there, or are too hard for them to find.

[~bs]

One thing about living rural, you just don't see much of this.
Seems pretty foreign to me when I see these people on the streets in large metro areas. Would probably be better off giving them something to eat or drink, than money.

It's proboably because the support system is non-existent in rural areas, transportation is harder without a cheap, good bus or train system, also probably harder to find shelter. Honestly, I wish the homeless didn't gravitate so much to urban areas, but there is a good reason for it.

Like I mentioned earlier, the support network for homeless in terms of giving them basic meals and drink, as well as food pantries giving them canned/packaged foods is extensive in urban areas. A lot of them don't want food because they're not really hungry/starving! I've seen them turn down offers to pay for meals for them, even though they said they're "hungry". In fact, if you were so inclined, and didn't want to pay for your 3 squares like a regular member of society, you can stand in the food lines, and get free meals too. There's no income verification system. Not ethical, but just saying.