Panhandling as an Income Stream

[Steve Boyd]

I ignore them, they leave me alone. There's loads of them where I live so you stop feeling cold about it after a while.

I donate a couple of hundred bucks good causes a year so I feel OK about ignoring them

[billseremak]

I don't want to be too hard on Christians in my prior post. I have a family of faux Christians and have tried to get help from churches without success or their understanding. There are many individual Christians that sincerely and actively practice their religion.

[Clint Cora]

One of our local TV news stations here in Toronto interviewed a few panhandlers and they all claimed that they do not want to be there on the streets. It was various circumstances that resulted in them being there and panhandling was a way to survive.

The city of Toronto is considering making it illegal to panhandle. Don't know if it would do much good handing a panhandler a ticket.

[superfoodist]

If you feel bad, buy them an apple or something.. If you're feeling a little more generous, get them a salad or something similar from a nearby fast food spot. That way you're helping them out, but not giving them money they could use for drugs.

[billseremak]

superfoodist, I explained drugs in my post. I am on the verge of being homeless and I can assure you that landlords and surgeons don't take food as payment. Do you believe it's ok to be homeless and in pain as long as I have enough food to stay alive? It is a shame you try to stop drug use which is futile and as a result those who aren't on drugs can't get your help. You have the opportunity talk to someone who has been homeless and has to panhandle. You are wasting an opportunity to gain understanding by ignoring what I wrote. I understand it protects your psyche to create reasons not to help.

Cognitive dissonance is when someone tries to make 2 aspects of their personality mesh when they really don't. For example: 1. You see yourself as a caring and thoughtful person. 2. You don't give any real help to those in need. Those 2 ideas don't work together in your mind. You create the idea that there is a reason not to help. (there on drugs, they want to be homeless, etc.) It may not be true but now you are a good person even though you don't help. You will notice that the people who are most mentally happy are masters at cognitive dissonance.

[rawxstasy]

Originally Posted by billseremak

superfoodist, I am physically disabled, which is less handicapping than being mentally disabled. I explained drugs in my post. I am on the verge of being homeless and I can assure you that landlords and surgeons don't take food as payment. Do you believe it's ok to be homeless and in pain because I can't afford surgery as long as I have enough food to stay alive. Is ignorance bliss?

Did you get my private message?

[Fred Tracy]

Hmm, it really just depends on my mood. Whether or not they use the money for good is not my business. My intentions in giving it is all it matters to me.

That being said, one time I give someone some change in the mall and found them later at the arcade. That was pretty annoying.

[Harmonium]

billseremak, do you think there is a way to genuinely tell who deserves help and who doesn't so much?

[danthony]

Did you ask her if she 'missed' her bus?

[billseremak]

Originally Posted by Harmonium

billseremak, do you think there is a way to genuinely tell who deserves help and who doesn't so much?

Good question. Everyone in the position of panhandling has made mistakes, that is why they are there. So the real question is "do we not help anyone who makes mistakes?" If they answer is yes than we don't help anyone. (keep in mind though that many people that don't help have made mistakes in their life but they came at times where those mistakes can be overcome. In my case I had health problems after a bankruptcy so I had no safety net.) Those who are poor when they make a mistake or get a health problem end up panhandling. If you are middle class and employed when you make a mistake you are just fine.

So in the strictest sense no one "deserves" help. I think however follow Jesus and have compassion for everyone on the street knowing that a FEW will use that compassion for drugs and alcohol but that MOST of the time someone will be helped. I think telling the difference at a quick glance is impossible.

[Brutha]

Fact: About 10% of homeless are on drugs. 10% are mentally ill.

Where did you get your fact?

[ChrisGinsburg]

Originally Posted by Brutha

Where did you get your fact?

Probably from the Factotorium.

I'd like to re-post what I mentioned in another thread as it applies equally here.

On another tone, the whole parasite argument is the ultimate irony. As a society, culture and as a species we are the most damaging parasite this earth has ever seen. People seemingly become angered when they see homeless or other people more obviously being parasitic because they are unable to confront their own parasitic tendencies within. You can't search for meaning in your life without at some point being confronted with the fact that your existence and participation in the way modern society operates is more detrimental than helpful to life itself.

[billseremak]

Originally Posted by Brutha

Where did you get your fact?

I've stayed a week at Salvation Army and been at many 1 day homeless shelters.

[superfoodist]

@billseremak, Sorry, I haven't checked back on this thread until just now when I saw you PM'd me.

Let me say that I completely understand what you are saying, but just as you have your perspective - I also have mine.

My perspective, whether seen as right or wrong, is coming from the mind of a person who cleans a bunch of different places in downtown Chicago. Every night at work, me and my crew are moving all around the city, and day, after day, after day, I get approached by people asking for change.

I can't even begin to explain how many people that I've helped, or have seen helped, that have showed absolutely NO gratitude WHATSOEVER to the person helping.

From my experience, most people on Chicago streets will ask you for change. If you say no, or "I don't have any", you USUALLY get one of two responses;

1.) They give you a dirty look and walk away
or
2.) a.] They ask for a cigarette once they find out you wont give them change
b.] When you say no to the cigarette, or "I don't smoke", they look at you with disgust, as if they are entitled to your money, or your cigarettes, and proceed to walk away.

Almost NO people that I've helped/seen helped during my 2 years so far on this job, have been genuine. I've seen people give homeless people change when I arrive to the job, only to come out of the job seeing them high on who knows what.

THIS is why, If I'm going to give a homeless person something, I will give them food/water, and nothing else. I'm not going to risk my hard earned money to the chance that they will go off and buy drugs or liquor, and, at least in my area, that chance is quite high.

I understand there are genuine ones who do actually need money, but even people who have seemed the most genuine, have asked me for money - then asked me AGAIN 3 days later when I came back to the job.

Being the person who earns MY money, I don't think it's right of you to criticize me for doing MY part to help people. I could just as easily NEVER give people food/water either, would that be better?

I understand you're in a difficult position, but that doesn't mean that I can just go tossing money to all homeless people everywhere, because unfortunately, with the state the world is in - I'm almost positive it would do more harm then good, considering the ratio of alcoholic/druggie homeless people to genuine homeless people who REALLY lost their homes, and are living an honest life - are quite extreme.

Hope that helps you understand where I'm coming from a little bit more.

[billseremak]

superfoodist

Panhandlers in Chicago are not as you described. My business was in the suburbs and I did some business in the city. I have also been homeless ion DuPage County. You can volunteer at DuPage PADS is committed to end homelessness in DuPage County Illinois and see that your contention about being on drugs/alcohol is demented. They run 1 day shelters in a different cities in DuPage depending on the day of the week. The real ratio is 1 to 10 not 10 to 1. You are polluting the world with your ignorance.

As far as give to EVERY homeless person, I understand that. But only 1 in 200 people do give. Another big mistake you are making is giving to the rude or pushy panhandlers. Personally I have never ASKED for money verbally. I have a sign and if they give they give. I suggest you give to panhandlers who have signs rather than ones that come up to you and are pushy.

Also in CA you can go to a store in almost any city and buy pot and still less than 10% are on drugs. There is no way even 10% are on drugs or alcohol in Chicago. NUTS.

By your logic no one should get help if there is any chance they could spend money on drugs. Therefor we must eliminate food stamps because people sell them for drugs. Social security disability should be eliminated because they could buy drugs. ETC. My God, people on drugs will be on them until they decide not to be and nothing you give them or don't give them will stop them.

But you should continue to give food because it makes YOU feel better.

[billseremak]

Before you read on quickly ask yourself "what percentage of the poor are on drugs." ***write that number down.***

Before you read on quickly ask yourself "what percentage of the poor are on drugs." ***write that number down.***Before you read on quickly ask yourself "what percentage of the poor are on drugs." ***write that number down.***Before you read on quickly ask yourself "what percentage of the poor are on drugs." ***write that number down.***


Before you read on quickly ask yourself "what percentage of the poor are on drugs." ***write that number down.***Before you read on quickly ask yourself "what percentage of the poor are on drugs." ***write that number down.***Before you read on quickly ask yourself "what percentage of the poor are on drugs." ***write that number down.***Before you read on quickly ask yourself "what percentage of the poor are on drugs." ***write that number down.***


The state of Florida recently began testing welfare recipients. The general population tests positive 6% of the time. However, welfare recipients tested positive 2.5% of the time and refused to take the test 2% of the time.

Below is a link to one news article.

Welfare drug testing in Florida has surprising results : News : ConnectTriStates.com

You will find studies/reports that say 1/2 of the homeless are on drugs but if they were actually tested you would see those figures are nonsense. I must conclude that there is an agenda behind the deception that homeless are on drugs. I'm afraid people try to exaggerate the problem to get more funding for their cause.

My guess is 10% max of homeless are on drugs. And even if it were 50% why would anyone not help the poor because some of the poor might be on drugs. You would be letting the non drug addicts suffer and the drug addicts would still be addicts.

[superfoodist]

Not to seem like an <3<3<3<3<3<3<3 (but i'm totally going to), I stopped reading half way down your first post. Your statistics and opinions hold no weight on what I experience in real life, therefore I'm going to just continue doing what I have been.. Keeping people alive with food, without the chance
of them doing drugs with my money.

[Lauxa]

When I feel like giving, I carry a roll of dollar coins. I press them into the panhandler's hand and give them a smile as well. I figure the human contact, the gift of being cared for, is as important as the money. People also like getting the dollar coins because they are a little unusual. The money is only a token to express the caring.

[Shift]

Sorry to hear about your situation, billseremak.

I have to say, I'm a bit surprised by the tone of your words. Ex.

You are polluting the world with your ignorance.

Right, wrong, or somewhere in between, superfoodist is giving out food. Would the world be a better place if he handed out nothing?

In my own life, I'm thankful for everything I receive... even if I want something else more. Food doesn't pay the rent but it does save you from having to buy food which means more money for rent.

Do you have a computer or are you using the library?