Homeless people

[Stretch]

There are way too many homeless people and panhandlers in downtown Richmond.

I was at Subway a few weeks ago with my roommate, and while we were ordering, I noticed that there was a 30ish slightly overweight guy talking to the cashier. I didn't really pay attention to what he was mumbling until I got to the register.

Homeless Guy: "Hey man I jus' want suttin' to eat...I'm jus' tryin' to get some food..."

Cashier: <steadfastly ignoring him>

Me: "Uh, I had the sweet onion chicken teriyaki."

Cashier: "$6.60"

HG <turning to me>: "Hey fams, do you have any change?"

Me: "...sorry."

HG <slightly hostile>: "Oh, you're payin' with a credit card?"

Me <slightly awkward>: "Yeah"

HG: "Can you buy me a sandwich?"

Me: "...sorry, no."

Cashier <to me, while giving HG look of dath>: "Do you want a drink?"

Me: "No thanks. Have a good night."

The above sequence happens again with my roommate. Said homeless guy looks at us angrily, and shuffles out.

I used to feel for homeless, until I moved here. Seeing the same people at the same intersection with the same sign month after month has pretty much left me to the point where they're just part of the scenery. Then again, they're better than the ones who loiter around drinking 40s a block north from my apartment.

[Artha]

The only guy I give money to is the one with the fucked up arm from getting shot 13 times, who was denied social security and worker's comp who's only trying to get a $5 pizza from Little Ceasars.

And I only give him money sometimes.

[Lomoriond]

I was wandering through downtown Portland the other day and some stereotypical homeless guy (who looked and smelled like he'd spent the last six months doing nothing but jacking off into an ashtray while sipping a beer in a porta-potty) came up next to me and started talking to me, and I admit I wasn't even listening to him... I just shrugged and kept walking the way I was... I've heard the same wrap 2,000 times, you have no reason to be talking to me except to beg for money and it's not worth pulling my headphones out to listen to!

I stopped off at the mall to grab some lunch, and the same guy suddenly came and sat down at my table and said "I thought you said you didn't have any money" (Funny that I remember saying absolutely nothing at all) and CONTINUED to sit there and berate me about how much of a prick I was for "hating him for being pitiful" until security finally came and removed him.

Now, I'm understanding that their life isn't exactly easy and I don't hate homeless people as much as I just don't care (it's the laissez-faire functionalist in me)... but that's my biggest problem with homeless people...

It's one thing to beg for money (you gotta do what you gotta do) but it's people like this who reaffirm my belief that the majority of these people are nothing but lazy ass human waste who should be rounded up and sent off to work-farms (not so much laissez-faire at that point)

That said... I know there are plenty of homeless people who DON'T harass people outside of a humble "spare some change?" and I don't mind them.

[Stretch]

Have you seen that one homeless couple that panhandle off the 76B exit onto Belvidere?

They've had the same sign since I moved in last July.

"No job. Two kids. Rent two months late. Please help."

[Artha]

I've only seen one homeless couple, and they were on Grace St by the Nanci Raygun. The girl asked me for change in a sentence where every word started with P. I told her I approved of her alliteration but didn't have any change.

[Skeeter]

I'd give this guy money.

http://home.nc.rr.com/edeyo/ninjas_killed.jpg

[Drisco]

I dont live in a big city but there are homeless people even around our Town. I'm not a fan of them at all. I know some people are down on their luck and are having a hard time in life, but there is a main diffrence between down on your luck, lazy and alcholic/drug addict. When I see people I can usually read them pretty well, so when I see homeless people If I think they are down on their luck I will usually give them a good amount of money (5-10$). But if I see a cracked out person that smells of booze I will ethier ignore them, tell them I have no money or give them pennies and dimes.

Its all about what I think of the person.

AHAHAHAH LMAO Skeeter

[Warriorbird]

I sometimes pass out 40s.

[Drisco]

Heh My biggest ever was a 50$ to a Young girl with a little girl.

[TheEschaton]

I used to volunteer about 20 hours in a homeless shelter. not handing out food, but "counseling" guests through the myriad problems they said they had.

That said in the interest of full disclosure: many, if not most, of the homeless people I know are in the same place they've been because: A) there are inadequate social services to help them back on their feet (most places provide a meal, and maybe, MAYBE a bed to sleep in, which is enough to keep you alive), B) no one GIVES them enough money other than to meet basic needs (even if they were all "honest" panhandlers, not looking for booze or a way to get high), and C) most of them distrust the social system so much so as to not be all to eager to plug themselves back in the rat race that put them on the street initially.

-TheE-

[Jazuela]

I never give money to panhandlers. But I've bought a bag of apples for a guy who claimed he was living out of his car after he lost his job and got evicted for not having rent money, and was hungry. And when I'm downtown, sometimes I'll bring a bag of empty soda cans and give the bag to a panhandler - let him do a little work, gives him a little dignity for earning the money instead of just begging for a handout. No cheap bag either, a trash bag of cans comes to around $3 in return money, takes less than 10 minutes.

There's also a system at several shops downtown, where you can buy credits. The credits are then given out to the homeless who can only use them at the shops that sell them. That way they can buy coffee or a sandwich, or fruit, juice, etc...but they can't buy booze because the package stores aren't part of the program. They also can't be cashed in at any of those stores for money, they can -only- be traded for product. I sometimes buy a few bucks worth of those credits.

There used to be a guy in Harvard Square who hung out in his wheelchair. He was genuinely disabled, but he collected disability and wasn't truly homeless. He'd get out his big plate and ask for money to support the local "wheelchair basketball" team. But - there was no wheelchair basketball team. He raked in some nice bucks on that scam, heh. Probably made around $50 a day just sitting there hanging out listening to the musicians and asking for money. And back in the early 1980's, 50 bucks a day was a decent wage.

[Artha]

Honestly, these guys are living in the streets and they're not a haircut and a shower away from a respectable job...why wouldn't you want to give them booze money?

[Marl]

I make em dance or sing a song for a buck.
I love the look on their face when they ask "Got some change?" and I reply
"Sure but you have to work for it."

Although since moving away from Atlanta I haven't seen many shows for a buck :(

[Jenisi]

Heh, watching South Park now haven't seen this episode but it's about homeless people. Kyle gives some homeless guy 20 bucks and then they flock to sit in front of everyone's yards and beg for change.

[RichardCranium]

I sometimes pass out 40s.




Heh My biggest ever was a 50$ to a Young girl with a little girl.

This wins everything. I'm sorry that I don't have anything else to add to the conversation.

[Khariz]

every time I visit chicago, the beggers hit me like a heat seeking missle. I don't give money, but I'll buy em a sandwich.

[Kranar]

The weirdest aspect of living in Seattle were the bums.

It's like there are two faces to the city... there's the facade suburban area that looks incredibly clich&#233; and phony, or there's the city which is loaded with litter, trash, and homeless people.

It was funny seeing random bums talking to each other on the bus, both of them having entirely seperate conversations.

[Bobmuhthol]

That's funny, because the weirdest aspect of visiting Toronto was the bums. Different strokes for different nationalities.

[Kranar]

There's bums in Toronto for sure.

A lot of bums actually come to Toronto from the U.S.

[Artha]

I think if I was a bum I'd migrate south where it's warm.

[Kranar]

Good point.

Most bums come here, I'd imagine, for the free health care.

[Augie]

I did mystery shopping a couple years ago and one assignment I had to do was do shops at Burger King. I had to do 104 shops in a 2 week period. There was no way in hell I was going to eat all that food. I had to go buy stuff and I'd get reimbused for it.

Burger King was definitely the King of the streets during those two weeks cause I was passin out bags of whoppers and fries and sodas like they were candy.

I usually don't give money cause I am pretty sure most of the time it's a scam. There was this guy once on the side of the road with a "Will Work for Food" sign and my dad was going to see if he could help do some painting in the garage. My dad said he'd feed him, give him some extra clothes, and even some money. The guy responded that he made over $300 bucks per day to do nothin but stand there.

The only time I can actually even remember giving money to a homeless guy was when I saw one that had a sign which read "Why Lie? I need a beer!" I gave him 10 bucks.

[Miss X]

I generally don't give money to the random people sitting in shop doorways now. I used to all the time because I felt so guilty. Now, I always buy The Big Issue from the homeless people who sell it. They're working by selling the magazine and making a profit from it so I figure they deserve it.

The magazine is pretty good too, basically about the plight of homelessness but they have some great interviews and articles. :)

[Asha]

The magazine is pretty good too, basically about the plight of homelessness but they have some great interviews and articles. :)

You're right it really is a great magazine and a great idea to get the homeless doing something to get a few quid in their pocket that doesn't involve direct begging.
That being said, they're still fucked and selling a mag isn't going to make their problems go away, so I'll let them keep their issue after buying one earlier that week or whatever and just give them the money it would have cost.
Sometimes buy two sammichs at the shop instead of one and hand out some lunch to em.
I'll never give anything to those who do fuck all but sit there with a sign or a hand out. But those who at least try deserve some recognition from the rest of us.
I hope none of us here ever become desperate and suddenly have nothing to our name. It must utterly crush you.

[Gan]

I dont hand out money to the homeless, we actually have a big movement here in Houston to let the homeless know that instead of handing them money that we give to the different shelters/missions and they can go there to receive food, clothing, medical assistance, and a place to rest.

Another thing that pisses me off about beggars/panhandlers is that they will walk up to you, wearing an mp3 player and ask for money...

Or another thing I'm starting to notice is that the black panhandler typ guy who typically hangs out by the conveinence store I typically stop by enroute to work will ask me for money but not the black guy walking in/out of the door behind me. I even sat in my car and watched who the panhandler (he really looked like he had a home if you ask me) asked as the different customers came in and out the entrance to the store. They were all either white, female, or asian. He never ONCE asked another black man or woman during that time. WTF?

[Xaerve]

There used to be a guy in Harvard Square who hung out in his wheelchair. He was genuinely disabled, but he collected disability and wasn't truly homeless. He'd get out his big plate and ask for money to support the local "wheelchair basketball" team. But - there was no wheelchair basketball team. He raked in some nice bucks on that scam, heh. Probably made around $50 a day just sitting there hanging out listening to the musicians and asking for money. And back in the early 1980's, 50 bucks a day was a decent wage.

I saw him around the other day, same sign...

The homeless people around Cambridge are characters though--

"Have a heart, have a heart, have a heart."

Or the Chinese guy with the crazy instrument, or the woman with the single dreadlock down to her ass.

[CrystalTears]

Lately people have been hanging outside of CVR and asking for spare change. One woman who was latin asked me in Spanish for change. In Spanish I responded that I didn't have any but told her two blocks away was a soup kitchen and she could get a free meal. She smirked at me. I stopped helping the beggers at that entrance.

[Sean of the Thread]

This is the time of year they start migrating up north. Winters down here are usually pretty interesting.

[Xaerve]

ROFL -- My roommate just came back and told me the wheelchair guy was in the square! I was like man you gotta come read this thread :)

[TheEschaton]

Wait, is the wheelchair guy's name Kevin?

Kind of balding, 30-40ish white man?

-TheE-

[Xaerve]

Not sure on the name, but that fits his description, yes.

[TheEschaton]

Heh, I know him. :P

He's a regular guest at Pine Street.

-TheE-

[CrystalTears]

Wait a tick... how could you be talking about the same person when TheE is in Boston and Xaerve is referring to someone in Connecticut? Does this guy travel between the two states or something?

[Gan]

Maybe he's regional?

He's branched out his territory and works one part in the AM and one part in the PM. Or maybe he alternates days.

I wonder what his gross income is.

[CrystalTears]

Screw that. If he's able to travel a few hours between states, he's getting too much money. Quit giving it to him!

[TheEschaton]

errr, Xaerve was talking about someone Jazuela was talking about, in Harvard Square.

which is in Cambridge.

Which is part of Boston (functionally, at least).

-TheE-

[CrystalTears]

Ah okay, my bad. Was confused with Jazuela talking about an area not in Connecticut.

[Drew2]

We should all take after American Psycho and kill homeless people for fun.


JK JK JK JK.

But seriously, they creep me out.

[ElanthianSiren]

Homeless people don't freak me out, and I enjoy giving them a meal. In GR, I also used to sit and chat with them while they ate. Everybody has a story. I've never run into mp3 wearing homeless people or people unwilling to take some food. I'm not saying that doesn't happen, but it never was my experience in the midwest.

[Jorddyn]

Saw this on Fark, thought it was appropriate to this thread (http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBAF6IBU0F.html).



Connie doesn't like all the questions, especially about her unborn baby's 13-month gestation period.


Amusing article about a formerly homeless couple and their kids.

Alright, sad article (for the kids), but the writer is amusing.

Jorddyn

[Drew]

If I have a dollar on me, I give it to them. I don't have the time to go buy every homeless person food, so I just decided I'll give to them if I have and let God sort it out.

[Gan]

If I have a dollar on me, I give it to them. I don't have the time to go buy every homeless person food, so I just decided I'll give to them if I have and let God sort it out.

Actually, depending on your religious doctrine, and God fearing, then you would usually give the offering with no judgement attached. Since its not your place to sit in judgement of your fellow man. ;)

Thus one of the reasons why I contribute to shelters rather than dolling out money on the street.

[Stanley Burrell]

You need to ride the Staten Island Ferry.

That one guy off the Harlem River Drive who used to strike still-poses like Ponzzz's sister all day was the bomb diggity too.

And now, I shall pretty much unrelatedly post a picture of Ignignot's uncle Cliff, to whom I suppose is afflicted with homelessexuality.

On the Moon:

http://www.aquateencentral.com/epguide/images/screenshots/remooned/full/remooned012.jpg

Seriously though, Ed-o, you'se need to just keep your extremely stereotypical Tae Kwon Do lessons at heart and let your feet do the talking.

[Ignot]

I remember in Miami i was with my friend and his family in the Grove and some bum asked for money and my friends little brother yelled 'Run!" and started running. Then i guess the homeless guy reacted like a cat when something starts to run and he started to chase us screaming "Hey! HEY!"

Needless to say we all started running away and it was pretty scary.

On a side note, I would rather be around bums all day then the Hari Chrisna that live there. Some people from Miami can back that up im sure.

[Drew]

Actually, depending on your religious doctrine, and God fearing, then you would usually give the offering with no judgement attached. Since its not your place to sit in judgement of your fellow man. ;)



I've read this a couple times and I'm not exactly sure what you mean, that was the whole point of my post. I don't have the knowledge or ability to tell which one of them is a fake and which one really needs the money so I just give to all of them.

[Keller]

I thought all bums had moved to Santa Monica . . .

[Fallen]

Heh. One of my friends would hand out cards to the local Armed Forces recruiting station.

If I was so down on my luck, I would rejoin the service. You can join now up to what? Past 40 years of age? They WILL waiver you in unless you are a hardened criminal or have serious health defects.

[Warriorbird]

Sadly I think you have to have a high school diploma and be sane.

[Souzy]

Although it's sad to see anyone struggling and just walk away from it. There is assistance out there for those who really want to get off their feet. Living around the Boston area you see bums constantly and for the amount of cars they try to stop to get change from, I'm sure they make more a day than I would in a week. The ones that harrass you constantly for something do annoy the Hell out of me. That's when I tell them that I'm broke too, maybe they need to give me some change.

I don't like giving out money to them, but I would freely give them something to eat. Did that at a local Dunkin' Donuts when I ordered so much crap for the people at my apartment, looked over and saw some homeless man counting pennies trying to buy a small cup of coffee. So I paid for his coffee and bought him something to eat. I gave him no money though, cos who knows what he'll do with it. But, atleast he got something in his stomach!

[LMingrone]

Two quick stories:

When I was living in Boston there was this one bum I passed everyday in front of a Store24. I usually gave him whatever change I had. So I'm walking to the liquor store in a different part of town and see this "bum" again. He's walking right in front of me, and pulls out a money clip FILLED with big bills. He suddenly became non-retarded and could use the english language too.

A year or two ago in my home town back in CT: They find the town's famous and only bum passed out in a local Subway. So someone calls the cops. They decide to pat the guy down after they wake him up. He has $15,000 in cash lined into his coat. I love "bums".

[Nieninque]

That being said, they're still fucked and selling a mag isn't going to make their problems go away,

They actually arent able to sell the Big Issue until they have taken some steps towards resolving their problems. They dont just let anyone sell the BI.

[Asha]

I didn't know that. I'm very glad to hear it.

[Gan]

Two quick stories:

When I was living in Boston there was this one bum I passed everyday in front of a Store24. I usually gave him whatever change I had. So I'm walking to the liquor store in a different part of town and see this "bum" again. He's walking right in front of me, and pulls out a money clip FILLED with big bills. He suddenly became non-retarded and could use the english language too.

A year or two ago in my home town back in CT: They find the town's famous and only bum passed out in a local Subway. So someone calls the cops. They decide to pat the guy down after they wake him up. He has $15,000 in cash lined into his coat. I love "bums".

This is the exact reason why I give to shelters instead of handing it out directly. Its hard not to judge, but when you see evidence of this first hand, it makes you feel angry inside.

[Nieninque]

Although it's sad to see anyone struggling and just walk away from it. There is assistance out there for those who really want to get off their feet.

Maybe the US is ahead of the UK on this then, but that isnt the case for people in the UK.

People find themselves homeless for a whole bunch of reasons and many just dont get supported back into housing - Housing departments are IMO looking for ways to get out of helping people, rather than ways to help them.

Men in particular are not going to be identified as being in "priority need" and therefore are not eligible for assistance in getting back into housing. So for men who arent able to work for some reason (whether that is because they [i]can't[/] or because they arent given the opportunity because they are homeless - vicious circle) they have huge hurdles in getting back into housing again. Some have the social/intellectual resources to be able to do something about it, others dont.

It's just not true to say everyone can do something about it, because many actually cant.

[DeV]

The assistance Sou speaks of is definitely in full effect in the states. First thing's first, if you wish for assistance in most major cities you need to have an address where you can be serviced and receive mail from the local and federal government assistance programs. Many homeless you'll find do not want to go through the necessary steps to get out of the situation they've found themselves in. I understand that living in a shelter is not an ideal situation, but neither is living and begging on the streets. It's also a fairly good place to start.

[Trouble]

Or the Chinese guy with the crazy instrument

LoL we have one of those guys who rotates the commuter train stops here in Arlington. At least he's passive about panhandling. I hate the ones that get in your face/etc. Although I gave two guys standing outside of my local 7-11 last night each a buck, but only because I had just come from happy hour and was in an unusually good mood.

We also have this one guy who's been working the corner of Fairfax Dr and Glebe RD for at least three years. Once in a while someone will sub in for him, but it's always the same spot, same sign, etc. He has a bent leg from some injury and walks up and down the median when the light is red. I get tempted to stalk him, to see if he really is homeless or not. I'm sure he gets some sort of disability for his leg.

[Kainen]

The assistance Sou speaks of is definitely in full effect in the states. First thing's first, if you wish for assistance in most major cities you need to have an address where you can be serviced and receive mail from the local and federal government assistance programs. Many homeless you'll find do not want to go through the necessary steps to get out of the situation they've found themselves in. I understand that living in a shelter is not an ideal situation, but neither is living and begging on the streets. It's also a fairly good place to start.

Believe it or not, a lot of churches will allow homeless people to use thier address for a short time to get mail from programs like this. Not to mention there are usually local programs in the area that can help them out with food, clothing and even housing, both temporary and permanent. I support a few local programs with food and/or money when I can. You just have to look for them and be willing to swallow your pride to ask for help.

[CrystalTears]

Some of them probably make more money begging on the street than they would if they got a paying job.

[Gan]

Here's an excellent place to look if you wish to support homeless shelters in Houston.

http://www.homelesshouston.org/hh/Default_EN.asp

Another prominent shelter is Star of Hope Missions. And women/mothers have many shelters available to them and the children with them.

[Nieninque]

Shelters in the UK are on a first come first served basis and are just for the night.