Panhandling as an Income Stream

[JPX]

I am on a two-week business trip to Reno, Nevada and I got taken by a panhandler this week.

I arrived Monday night and was walking around the casino district downtown trying to find a place to eat when an older lady approached me with a story about how she needed $17 to complete her bus fare to Memphis, TN -- and she said that the bus was leaving in less than half an hour, so she was desperate because if the bus left her she would have to sleep on the street all night.

My initial thought was to give her a couple of bucks and send her on her way, but then the softy lightworker in me came out and handed her a crisp $20 bill, since I usually blow more than that on less important things.

Well, guess who I ran into last night. The same lady, with the same story, and even the same timeline. She needed $17 to catch the bus to Memphis that was leaving in less than 30 minutes. I could not believe it. The only thing I could tell her was "you got me once, but not twice", and then this sweet little grandmother proceeded to yell at me telling me to go check with the bus station if I didn't believe her.

I used to live in Reno before, and I knew this city had a big homeless problem, but I guess as a resident you go from the parking garages to the casinos and really don't notice the people on the streets that much. But this week as a visitor I have been taken back by the large number of panhandlers on the streets all over town. It seems like everywhere I go someone is asking for money.

That lady took me for $20 on Monday night, and during the week I handed out a few more dollars to other people on the streets, but after finding her again last night, I feel like a complete fool. My mother always thought me that "sharing is caring", but I'm having second thoughts about sharing or caring in this town.

I still want to serve the greater good, make a difference, and change the world, but I'm not sure handing out money on the street is the way to do it.

How do you all deal with panhandlers? Do you ignore them, always give to them, or analyze their situation and story before giving them anything?

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by JPX

How do you all deal with panhandlers? Do you ignore them, always give to them, or analyze their situation and story before giving them anything?

There are two ways of handling the situation... one, you can say that you have no money with you and go on your merry way...

...or two, you can give the money knowing full well that may be taken for "hit" but feeling that you care enough about people to take that chance...

A boost to the self-esteem is worth more than twenty bucks any day of the year...

.

[ticktockclok]

You're not helping anyone by giving them money. Most of them will go blow it off on drugs.

[Lychee]

Ignore them. You don't know what's going to happen to your money. It makes more sense to donate your money to a formal organization which is likely to treat your money with respect so it will be put to use.

[Mayo]

F... them, give them if you have and your willing it will return 20X back... someday...

I personally don't regard pandhandlers as useful part of society, even the most disabled person can work.. if you really want to help people then give money to non-profit centers that teach challenged(physically, mentally or psychologically) to learn a craft and work for their money.

I will certainly put few thousand dollars in the next years to help few of this centers.

[Lynn 007]

I do not give cash to any panhandlers, homeless people, squeegee kids and haven't in years and do not have an ouce of guilt by not doing so. I will not hesitate to drop off a coffee or a meal to someone, leave new socks or a sweater in the winter but I will not give cash.

I have to agree with Mayo if anyone WANTS to work they will find a way.

My standard reply is "No, sorry - not today"

[Elenny]

My little sister was a panhandler in Las Vegas for a while. At 17 she got pregnant and ran away with her boyfriend. They ended up in Vegas staying at cheap motels, and as her belly grew, they figured out that she could make more money panhandling on the strip for a few hours than getting a real job.

Their goal was to make $100 per day, which was a enough for them to pay their motel room, eat, and even do a little gambling. After the baby was born she returned home (thank God) and her boyfriend ended up in prison (no big surprise there), but she speaks now (7 years later) about how he manipulated her into flirting for cash, and how men would just drop $20 bills in her hand without even asking questions.

I know. Shameful. That's not something we're particularly proud of as a family, but something she speaks of as a humbling and life-changing experience now.

[Michelle]

You gave the woman a gift. Why not just feel joy in the fact that gave her something? Try to give with no strings attached.

[Gene]

Originally Posted by JPX

I am on a two-week business trip to Reno, Nevada and I got taken by a panhandler this week.

How do you all deal with panhandlers? Do you ignore them, always give to them, or analyze their situation and story before giving them anything?

I almost never give to panhandlers. I have talked to a number of them through the years. Many of them will speak honestly about their life situation when engaged in conversation. I have concluded that for many of them it is a business or a trade as surely as a lawyer or doctor has a trade.

I give when I want to give and I decline when I do not wish to give. I am more likely to give to the Salvation Army or a local charity where I believe the money will be used to help people who are really in need. I volunteer time and resources to a charity that helps people.

I do not feel all that put out by the people who use their story as an income generation device. I just say no in a calm voice when asked on the street and keep on walking.

[Gene]

Originally Posted by Shamou

There are two ways of handling the situation... one, you can say that you have no money with you and go on your merry way...

...or two, you can give the money knowing full well that may be taken for "hit" but feeling that you care enough about people to take that chance...

A boost to the self-esteem is worth more than twenty bucks any day of the year...

.

...or I can smile and keep on walking without judging the panhandler. It is what they do, why would I expect anything else?

Now my behavior is my choice and my responsibility! <Grin>

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by Gene

...or I can smile and keep on walking without judging the panhandler. It is what they do, why would I expect anything else?

Now my behavior is my choice and my responsibility! <Grin>

Great response Gene... <big Grin>

.

[poetrythug]

I believe in supporting activities I would like to see more of. I give to street / subway musicians all the time. I rarely give to panhandlers. I don't feel guilty about this, although sometimes when I see a panhandler and don't give, I resolve to do something else as an act of kindness to make up for it.

[ahimel]

I don't have any answers for you, because I have none for myself. I can only tell you my thoughts, and I don't know how much those are worth. Especially because I haven't faced this problem in years - I don't carry cash, and so it doesn't matter whether I have sympathy or not. (Most panhandlers don't take Visa. )

Most people could work if they wanted to. I believe this because I've come to see money-making as a result of providing value. And I believe that everyone has something valuable within them. And it's certainly true that you can't give enough money to all the panhandlers in the world to make their lives better - you'd go broke long before. (At least, I'm assuming. If you have that much money, why are you whining to me?) So in most cases, I'd have to agree with the majority of posts on this forum - your money would be better spent on Salvation Army, or Goodwill, or whatever organization you choose that will help these people put their lives back together, instead of perpetuating this lifestyle.

But that doesn't mean you should necessarily ignore them or feel no compassion for them. They're still people, and loving them doesn't mean that you have to give them money. (Trust me - I'm still trying to explain this to my brother. Or my husband. ) If you don't wish to contribute, practice saying, "I'm sorry, no. But I wish you well." until you can do it in front of a real panhandler. Look them in the eye - acknowledge them as an important being worthy of courtesy - and then honor them with the same refusal you'd give a friend who'd asked a favor, or a coworker who needed help.

What I mostly do is give food to those people whose signs say, "Will work for food" or "Anything helps". I usually have a Snickers or an apple leftover from my lunch sitting in my car, and I'll hand it to them as I wait at the stoplight. I give if I feel like it, and don't if I don't. Perhaps if I can continue to grow in compassion I'll find a wiser course.

In addition to what you're going to do about future panhandlers, you need to decide what happened in Nevada with this panhandler. There's two ways it can go: either you got cheated, and lost $20, OR you willingly gave up $20, fully aware that it might not go to the cause you expected, but willing to take the risk to help another person. If you have resentment in your heart, then you got taken. If you have love in your heart, then you helped. It may not have helped as much as you'd hoped, but that doesn't change the fact that you are the kind of person who was willing to help. And that's what matters here, isn't it? What kind of person are you?

Because even if the get-back-to-Memphis story wasn't true, isn't she still worthy of pity? Is hers a life you'd envy? Talking to strangers just to try to make a living? Being ignored by most of society, and actively abused by some of it? Growing more and more certain every day that most people are bastards? I'm guessing, offhand, that she doesn't live in a mansion. In 115-degree weather, she may not have A/C. She certainly doesn't have the opportunities to purchase growth-oriented audiobooks and spend her time online trying to find a path to joy. So she lied to you... she still needed the $20. You did good.

[jwz]

Okay. So you give her $20. Whether it's used on drugs, alcohol or actually food/shelter, the money won't last for very long.

In my opinion, the best you could do for this person is to help her getting on with her life. Getting a job, rehab, treatment or what ever.

Care-centers takes care of those things, so I think that the money should be placed there instead.

I know its an old and well known saying, but "why give the hungry man a fish every day when you can learn him the art of fishing?".

Sorry about my bad english, I am a native greenlandic. I hope you get my point.

-Jan

[Mike Estep]

One thing that has not been mentioned about this issue so far is the possible danger involved in talking to a stranger.

I know people who out of compassion or guilt tried to accomodate people they have never met and the situation turned out to be a disaster. The panhandler situation is similar to picking up hitchhikers. But either scenario is not always the intelligent thing to do.

A friend of mine once picked up an elderly male hitchhiker while it was raining. The hitchhiker was on crutches. Once inside the vehicle, the hitchiker pulled a gun and kidnapped my friend making him drive many hours to the destination the hitchhiker wanted to go. My friend was fortunate that he wasn't killed.

If you truly want to help strangers that ask for money, tell them to contact local authorities, churches, or organizations that are trained to help people in need.

People who are not properly trained to deal with situations of those in need are taking what may be a foolish risk when catering to strangers that ask for money.

Mike Estep
_________________________________________________

Mike Estep.com - Common Sense Outside the Box

[Nelson]

Just give them the money.

1) Chances are, they need it more than you, or else they wouldn't be BEGGING for it.

2) If the person wasn't actually homeless but was a "pro panhandler" then I say they earned the money. Anyone who puts the time, effort and audacity into becoming a professional beggar deserves to be compensated. I consider it the same as helping an aspiring actor or musician.

3) If they are "pros" then the guilt and shame lies with them not with you. You should feel great about sharing your wealth, not guilty for contributing to their delinquency.

Which attitude is worse for society?

a) Trying to help all people in need whether they need it or not - thus causing the minority of scammers to live a little more luxuriosly

b) An attitude that is uncompassionate of other people's troubles because they are capable of success -Thus punishing the majority of people in need for the actions of one con-artist.

[Matthew Shea]

I never give to panhandlers. It just promotes a less-than-respectable way of making money. Instead, I give to and volunteer for charitable causes, such as MCREST, a homeless shelter structured to give people a fighting chance to get back on their feet. We should also be supporting better access to mental health care. The reason most homeless got there is because they have mental illnesses or other problems that don't enable them to hold a decent job and they often don't have family around to see that they're cared for.

[madgeylou]

sometimes i'll give a few bucks, sometimes i keep walking. i always look them in the eye and say "good morning" or "howya doin today," just as i do with anyone who addresses me.

the homeless people in my neighborhood are really nice -- they keep an eye on the streets and i have seen them walking people's dogs, picking up things people drop, and even chasing away a few mean teenagers from an older woman walking down the street.

i think very few people choose to be homeless. most either have mental health issues, addiction problems, or even just a run of really bad luck that ended with them losing their jobs, families, and homes.

i have a lot of compassion for someone who ends up on the streets. so i give a few bucks, a cup of coffee, or at least a smile and a "good morning." they're people like everyone else.

as far as "getting taken," it's the same argument with welfare. is it worth it to help some people who take advantage so that you can help more people who really need help? i think so.

i got into a fight with a random guy in a bar about this one time. he said he wasnt going to be gullible and have someone take him for a ride. the fight ended when i slammed my beer down on the bar and said, "i'd rather be gullible than be a dick!"

so that's the choice you have to make -- do you help and maybe sometimes get taken advantage of? or do you just throw their hands up and say "get a job"? i prefer the former, by far.

[Dan.Linehan]

There are myriad social services available for people in need paid for by our taxes. There's no need to give to panhandlers.

[Andrew Brunelle]

Funny story, I was in a McDonald's and a guy approached me in there asking me for five or ten dollars for gas, even telling me he would take me outside and show them to me. He said that they were en route to some faraway place, maybe 50 miles away, and just needed enough gas to get by. So I gave him ten dollars. I felt like I had done a good deed. Then about a year later, in the same place, right outside my college campus, he comes up to me and feeds me the same story. It was then I realized that it was all an act. I mean, if you need money, there is no use in lying about why you need it. From now on, I will not give money to people who attempt to get it in a deceitful way. I should have went to go see his fake family that one day. That would have been something.

[Liara Covert]

Much like a few earlier threads, I smile, or offer food rather than money to homeless, panhandlers or other struggling people. At times, I have given a bit of change, but I usually find other ways to help people. I feel good about making efforts and sending positive thoughts their way.

[VetTechJess]

there should be a new standard of giving when asked my a homeless person or someone panhandling when they ask for money---

---hand them an envelope full of job applications!!!!!

soon they will get the hint and if they dont wanna work, then theyll know that you wont give them anything but job applications and then leave you alone in the future...

but at best case scenario, the said panhandler may fill out those job applications and find a decent paying job and you may be the turning point that gets them off their lazy asses and into being a good productive member of society...

what do you think??

[Interpreneur]

I give every time I can. Whatever they do with the money is their problem. I was homeless for a brief time a long time ago, and even though I never asked anyone for money on the street, I wish someone would have thrown a few bucks my way at least for a Big Mac or something.

Some people might say that I'm enabling them, but I feel grateful that unless I screw up really really bad, I will never have to ask anyone for money again. My life is much better than theirs, and I would hate to be the one that denies someone a plate of food when they really need the money and I don't.

Plus I don't get asked for money that often. Maybe just 2 or 3 times per month at the most.

So if out of 100 people 99 trick me and one person actually buys food or formula for a baby, I'm satisfied. But that's just me.

[ginkgo]

Actually you were not taken. The same day repeated itself. You were not supposed to remember the day before since it was the same day as the next day but you did.

Actually experts say never give them money since it will go toward drugs, alcohol or smokes. They say to give money to groups that help people like that. I say that is is OK to give them food instead of money.

[Billy]

I don't mind giving money to people or charities that really need it, but the first thing that comes to my mind when I'm approached by a panhandler is if I was in your situation would you do the same for me? Nine out of ten I would say no.

[Scin]

Beggars are little more than a blight on society, regardless of their intentions. Usually they are either insane or professional beggars. For the rest, I look at it how I look at my own situation: what would I do if I was homeless and destitute?

The answer: work. Even if not at a job, work. Put effort into improving my situation.

Begging is nothing more than a stopgap solution. Giving money to shelters is more productive than giving to beggars.

I may come off as cold-hearted, but to my mind, it's more cold-hearted to give someone a handout. The person who does so is crippling the receiver by reinforcing the psychological behavior pattern of no-work = money. People who may have started begging out of desperation start doing it out of habit.

[VetTechJess]

Originally Posted by Scin

Beggars are little more than a blight on society, regardless of their intentions. Usually they are either insane or professional beggars. For the rest, I look at it how I look at my own situation: what would I do if I was homeless and destitute?

The answer: work. Even if not at a job, work. Put effort into improving my situation.

Begging is nothing more than a stopgap solution. Giving money to shelters is more productive than giving to beggars.

I may come off as cold-hearted, but to my mind, it's more cold-hearted to give someone a handout. The person who does so is crippling the receiver by reinforcing the psychological behavior pattern of no-work = money. People who may have started begging out of desperation start doing it out of habit.

its completely understood. I have the same or similiar viewpoint..(I would give them an envelope full of job applications...)

that old saying is right...."give a person a fish feed them for a day, teach that person to fish and feed them for a lifetime..."

[billseremak]

Yes I drive a Lexus

These are the facts. I will try to clear up some misunderstandings.

My "Story": I owned a company for 10 years. I once owned a house. I made $12,000 in 2000 and $240,000 in 2006 and lost $600,000 and my house in 2008-2009. I went bankrupt and within a year became disabled. I still have my 2002 Lexus ES300 with 200,000 miles that I pray every day keeps running. My short term disability is running out and I don't know how long it will take to get social security. I estimate my SS benefit will be $900-$1200 a month. P.S. at $903+ a month you become ineligible for food stamps. Now try to pay rent, electric, medical, etc on $910 - Especially the medical of someone who takes 3 drugs and needs a chiropractor 3 times a week just so I don't step in front of a train to stop the pain. The chiropractor knocks down the pain just enough to keep living a miserable life. ***And finally try to start raising enough money for that surgery that can get you out of this mess and back to work.***

A fact people can't believe: There are no shelters you can stay in more than on week if you don't have a job. If you are disabled and get long term disability there is a 6 month-3 year waiting list for assistance. Yes the stupidity of the system is you can only get shelter if you have a job, but if you have an income you can probably afford housing. Salvation Army allows you to stay for 1 week and that is the only one I know of and I have called at least 3 dozen shelters in Orange County.

Fact: I panhandle in a wheelchair. Fact I CAN WALK about the distance of a handicap parking space to the electric cart in a store. I can't stand more than a few minutes on a corner so I must use a wheelchair. Fact: I average $14 an hour. I am in a lot of pain and can't work a regular schedule. If you are willing to hire me based on the reality of the situation I will gladly work for you. I need to make $14+ an hour. I can only work about 3 days a week because of the pain in my legs, hips, and spine. I can't tell you in advance what 3 days they will be. I need to be able to go home when the pain gets too bad so I will be able to work 3-9 hours a day - I can't tell you in advance how long it will take for the pain to be too bad for me to continue.

Fact: About 10% of homeless are on drugs. 10% are mentally ill. People try to believe the reverse is true for the same reason most people don't accept 1 in 6 people live in poverty,that 15.1% get food stamps, and the real unemployment rate is about 20% if you count the underemployed and those who can no longer collect unemployment. Blocking out reality is necessary for the psyche of the wealthy or middle class. They don't want to believe they can walk by a person in need and not help them. They don't see themselves that way.

If you tell yourself that you would help if they knew the homeless wouldn't spend money on drugs, alcohol, etc let me assure you that you are wrong - you really wouldn't help. Before I added "Medical records shown on request" to "Disabled, need money" I would have about 7 people an hour give me money. After I still average 7 people an hour giving me money. The difference is the average gift went from $1.25 a person to $2 a person. You see - people who give when they are not sure give more when they are but people who don't give never give even if you think you would.

Disabled people don't fake it. That would be stupid. If I weren't in a wheelchair I could probably make twice as much because more people would see me and I could run between lanes.

Don't go up to a beggar and say "have you been saved" as if the only reason they are in this situation is because they haven't. Fact: the homeless are MUCH MORE religious than the public in general. If you ever went to a food kitchen you would find a majority of them pray before the meal. Their are people who say "God bless you" and mean it and then there are those who say it like they are angry and want to hit you over the head with a club - and we can tell the difference. Muslims are more genuine God blessers than Christians. P.S. I'm a devote Catholic.

Evangeical's / born agains give the least. You will average 1 person an hour in front of a megachurch - I have tried. (There are exceptions to some of the things I say here. For example my most loyal friend is an evangelical / born again. - Laurie"

Don't give beggars food. Many try. I could explain poor economics and drugs but anyone who is sentient already knows this and it's not worth my time to try to explain it in detail. The short version is you get $200 in food stamps in CA. Other people give additional money. Between selling their food stamps and the additional money they can be constantly drugged if they want and your not stopping any drug use at all by giving them food.

Don't give to aggressive people. These guys probably do make $30/hour if they can chase you down and may be scammers and if they are for real they'll still get $29/hr. Better to give to the meek panhandler. Most people don't have the the character to stand up to the aggressive guy and will not usually go toward a beggar who does not approach them. Try this - next time you see a person waving the subway sign or going out of business sign hand them a 20 if you REALLY want them to work. Again those who already give will do this, but those of you who think you would give if only they weren't crazy or on drug really won't no matter what you think you would do.

I live in an enclosed porch with no heat, no air conditioner, and the Internet. Even that costs me $400/month in Orange County.

The "I don't want to give to the mentally ill." What is wrong with you? The mentally ill need more help because they are mentally ill not less.

Charities are a joke: I already explained shelters in the beginning. Let me give you one example. I called The Dayle McIntosh Center in Orange County that claims "Disability Resources and Advocacy". For 2 weeks they never called me back. I had to go down to their center and protest with a sign for 3 hours before someone came out and I squeezed a part for my wheelchair out of them. They have 2 offices with staff for "Housing Assistance". But there is no actually money/assistance for someone who does not have a job. Yet I know they pay at least 2 salaries to manage this department. Charities collect money to pay the people who work for the charity. Trust me your money is much more likely to actually make it to a poor person if you hand it to them directly. The one exception is the Salvation Army.

A special response to the ignorant Mike Estep who wrote: "If you truly want to help strangers that ask for money, tell them to contact local authorities, churches, or organizations that are trained to help people in need." 1000 people will pass me and not be ignorant and call the authorities, then that one person will call and make my miserable life just a little more horrible by being pushed away by the police. I've emailed about 2 dozen churches asking for help and not one emailed me back. I have already told you my megachurch panhandling experience. I've also explained how "organizations" really work.

Dan.Linehan - I hope you learn something and I dare you to get me help. I desperately need a Orthopedic Surgeon to talk to for free. Just see if you can find one who will talk to me for 30 minutes for free. Mission impossible. I dare you to find one of those those "myriad of services" that will give me shelter between my short term disability and social security. According to you the "myriad of services" should make that one easy.

VetTecJess says: "---hand them an envelope full of job applications!" My response: "@ick."

Scin said: "I may come off as cold-hearted, but to my mind, it's more cold-hearted to give someone a handout." Reply: "Did you just say that with a straight face?"

Thank you to anyone who has helped me by giving me money. You have the intelligence to realize you can't pay for rent and health care with food.

[Criseyde]

Just a note, this thread is from 2007.

[rawxstasy]

Originally Posted by Criseyde

Just a note, this thread is from 2007.

I usually get annoyed when people respond to old threads but I think this is timely since our economic situation in this country has grown much worse.

billseremak

I sympathize with you. I am not homeless and am making a good salary as a nurse. However, I was trying to help my niece find shelter in Madison, WI. She does not drink, do drugs - she has an infant and a two year old and just needed help.

I found the homeless shelters and housing assistance here incredibly frustrating.

1. There is a minimum of a year wait for low income housing. ( most won't even take you on a waiting list - the list is too long !! )

2. I was willing to help my niece with rent payments and we were given a list of 30 landlords who were "flexible" We called all 30. Not one responded to our messages. We responded to other apartments that were affordable and not on this list and were told that her cash assistance with backup from me ( I was willing to cosign the lease) was not "a reliable source of income".

3. In desperation, I called 3 homeless shelters in the Madison area. I was told they were all full and even if she could stay there - it was only overnight and she and the kids would have to hit the streets during the day. ( I was told that the homeless in Madison spend their days in the basement of the Capital building - how ironic )

4. The last day before she would have to move out of her motel I found an efficiency apartment for $465 a month. Its a room about as big as my kitchen, has some cabinets, sink, stove and there's a bathroom. That's for her, boyfriend and an infant and a 2 year old. The people that live there are mostly young families, most work, and the cops like to stop by there often to see what kind of trouble they can stir up.

Two weeks ago she got yet another list of so called flexible landlords. I laughed when she showed it to me.

Actually WI is one of the top states for assistance for the poor - I can't imagine what it must be like for you.

My plan next year is to buy a house to rent to my niece and her family. I have seen that they are responsible and she has just started working and the boyfriend has his own little computer repair business going so hopefully it will work out. Government assistance is a joke.