panhandlers

do you have panhandlers in your town?

do you give them money? why or why not?

Where I live now? Nope. When I lived in Richmond, oh hell yeah. I lived across the street from a 7-11 in the fan. They were everywhere between me and school and the 7-11 across the way.

I have a "no money" policy with panhandlers. I'll buy 'em a sammich. I'll MAKE 'em a sammich. I learned who was panhandling for FOOD and who was panhandling for beer or drugs that way lickity quick.

There were a couple I got to know pretty well, cuz they learned me like I learned them. "Yo, can I get some change to get some food." "Don't got any I can spare, want me to make you a PB&J tho?" If they say "YEAH!" they getta sammich. They cock and attitude, I won't ever do more than glare at them.

I made a lot of sammiches and bummed a lotta smokes. No problem. The non-druggie ones were happy to sit on my stoop and shoot the shit and eat a ~phossy made sammich or apple or whathave you and became friends.

~phos

Not around here I don't, but I've had plenty of experience dealing with them.

Some are pure scammers. Some are mentally ill and it's rough for them. A denver cop told me he's seen lots of homeless people have a few hundred on them.

I rarely give them shit. I've had them get pissed at start yelling. Most just walk away. I told one guy I'd buy him a burger since I was about to go in mcdonalds. He got pissed I wouldn't just give him a dollar.

I also got really drunk one night and walked a few miles home from my bar, normal thing for me to do. I decided to pan handle to see what it was like. First guy gave me a whole dollar. I felt special. I think I got a total of about $2.50, which wasn't bad for 11 at night.

I decided to pan handle to see what it was like. First guy gave me a whole dollar. I felt special. I think I got a total of about $2.50, which wasn't bad for 11 at night.

LOL

We have a problem with panhandlers here. I also do the food thing. And I agree that it is a good way to get to know who is legit. I once bought a man a sandwich and he said "thanks" then threw it in the trash. :eek:

No panhandlers here. I do encounter them on trips to larger cities. Sometimes I slip 'em a few bucks, sometimes I don't.

I usually don't give them money - I will give them fruit or a granola bar or something if I have one on me. There's also this one guy that sits between my office and the coffee shop I go to....so I either buy him something or give him a bit of change. He's there pretty often...and often all day. I feel bad for him, but have never really talked to him, though I'd be interested in his story.

I've known a lot of messed up people that were homeless, living out in the boonies here out of a van or truck. ALL of them had mental issues, and knowing them has given me a lot more sympathy. But, also, I'm in debt and don't have money to spare and there's a ton of homeless in the city I work in because we have a fairly mild climate compared to the rest of Canada.

never give them money
will give them food.

Being from NYC area--I have learned to just keep walking by the panhandlers (because there used to be so many of them--not as many now). Then when I bought my ex-boyfriend to NYC for the first time--he was giving money to every person who asked him. I remember getting into a fight with him about it, and his philosophy was that they needed it more then he did--even if it was to buy booze. I've been a little more lenient since.

I mostly give money to the ones I know....that I see everyday. There's one guy in the 14th St F,V downtown platform that I call Willie Nelson because he's always playing country music and he looks like Willie Nelson on crack. I buy him malt liquor sometimes, 22s and bring them to him. If not I give him a few bucks to go get one. He's my buddy.

There's a couple that are on the F train that I see everyday that I give money to, but outside my neighborhood, not so so much.

There's someone on every corner in Denver, flagging a sign to motorists. I heard that some make $100 a day!

I don't give them money:
a) because I'm only downtown in the middle of the night
b) because I never carry ANY cash.

There's someone on every corner in Denver, flagging a sign to motorists. I heard that some make $100 a day!

When I lived there, I lived on Colfax. I never thought it was all that bad. When I visisted six or so years later, it was horrible.

Well, this is Newport, Rhode Island....so I think panhandlers might be shot on sight....actually, I think I could put up with panhandlers over tourists.... :D Sorry....I encourage you all to visit my beautiful hometown....just remember this is NOT Disney World....you can NOT walk in the street!! :D

Seriously, when I used to live in Rochester, NY there were panhandlers downtown....none of them ever approached me. There was one woman, who it was rumored, actually had a lot of money. She was mentally ill, and when I'd be waiting for the bus, she would go by rummaging through trash cans for food. Until I moved to Rochester, I had led a pretty sheltered life. It was very disturbing to me.

don't really have them in the town I live in because it's a very small town,but the bigger towns I live near about 30 miles away (ocala & gainsville) have them.


yes I have given money to them many times.I don't know what got them to that point in life.I didn't live their life,and if they want to spend the money on beer or wine or whatever,that's up to them.

who knows ,if I were in their shoes I may be spending it on the same stuff.

I've been more fortunate in life maybe and don't have a mental illness or drinking problem,but as I say,I don't know what they may have lived through to get them to that place in their life,and what's that old saying...."there for but the grace of God go I".

There are a TON of them in NYC and NJ. Unfortunately, the sheer number has forced me to ignore all of them. I usually do what other people do, which is to look straight ahead and pretend you can't even see them.

The only exception is if the panhandler sings or does something on top of simply begging for money. I admire that they don't take charity for granted and expect something for nothing.

There are a TON of them in NYC and NJ. Unfortunately, the sheer number has forced me to ignore all of them. I usually do what other people do, which is to look straight ahead and pretend you can't even see them.

The only exception is if the panhandler sings or does something on top of simply begging for money. I admire that they don't take charity for granted and expect something for nothing.

Nope, there are no panhandlers in my town.