Panhandling and being hit up for money in Austin

[MiaMia411]

City needs to come in with a big van , pick them all up, and drop them off far far far away in an undisclosed location.

[Tralfaz]

Originally Posted by petro

Downtown they will follow you and approach you for money—then get irritated when you say no. It's pretty frustrating. There have been several times when I've been walking through downtown at night with a female friend and had a panhandler follow us and get too close to my friend, forcing me to switch places and tell them to get lost

Kinda why I like having my CHL. You never know when you'll come across one that's mentally ill and decides to flip out on you.

[ScoPro]

Originally Posted by MiaMia411

City needs to come in with a big van , pick them all up, and drop them off far far far away in an undisclosed location.

The CoA wants these people here.

Compassion & all that.

[eileenkeeney]

Originally Posted by Jimmyp25

as soon as you reach the first offramp on the outskirts of austin. they're there waiting. They don't bother me. Theres a whole party of them on wells

I talk to this group, often, when I am waiting for the bus outside HEB.
They all seem rather nice and polite, and not aggressive. There is an area near there where they camp.
I have given them food, but never money, unless the money was in return for work.
I once hired one to mow my lawn (big mistake, it was about halfway through the job I realized he was not completely sober, and had alcohol in the container he was drinking from).

Personally I wish that people would stop giving them money. They are NOT lacking enough for food, as they often waste the food they do buy, leaving the left overs at the bus stop, and filling up (to a state of overflow) the trash can at the bus stop.

People should instead give the money to the places that feed, cloth, and house (during extreme weather) the homeless.

I am also in favor of public areas that allow the homeless to camp. No one should be without a place they can just lay down and sleep. Having such camp grounds close enough to major cities, that the campers have access to city resources, makes sense to me.
I would rather see my tax dollars used to maintain sanitation facilities at free camp grounds, than spent providing apartments (section 8 HUD) to a select few. I would rather several people be provided with sanitation facilities than one family given a free 3 bedroom apartment. The money would go further.

I used to give money to pan handlers. But then when many places started preventing me from feeding the wildlife (such as ducks in ponds), I decided the same rules should apply to pan handlers.
But I will donate to organizations that help wildlife, and organizations that help the homeless.

[Moonlady]

Originally Posted by eileenkeeney

I talk to this group, often, when I am waiting for the bus outside HEB.
They all seem rather nice and polite, and not aggressive. There is an area near there where they camp.
I have given them food, but never money, unless the money was in return for work.
I once hired one to mow my lawn (big mistake, it was about halfway through the job I realized he was not completely sober, and had alcohol in the container he was drinking from).

Personally I wish that people would stop giving them money. They are NOT lacking enough for food, as they often waste the food they do buy, leaving the left overs at the bus stop, and filling up (to a state of overflow) the trash can at the bus stop.

People should instead give the money to the places that feed, cloth, and house (during extreme weather) the homeless.

I am also in favor of public areas that allow the homeless to camp. No one should be without a place they can just lay down and sleep. Having such camp grounds close enough to major cities, that the campers have access to city resources, makes sense to me.
I would rather see my tax dollars used to maintain sanitation facilities at free camp grounds, than spent providing apartments (section 8 HUD) to a select few. I would rather several people be provided with sanitation facilities than one family given a free 3 bedroom apartment. The money would go further.

I used to give money to pan handlers. But then when many places started preventing me from feeding the wildlife (such as ducks in ponds), I decided the same rules should apply to pan handlers.
But I will donate to organizations that help wildlife, and organizations that help the homeless.

What a great analogy! I rarely give money to panhandlers but I support charities like Mobile Loves and Fishes that help the homeless. Giving them money on the street is only enabling them not helping them.

[Atxroads]

Originally Posted by MiaMia411

City needs to come in with a big van , pick them all up, and drop them off far far far away in an undisclosed location.

How far away? Fort Hood? Auschwitz? Siberia?

Appalling.

[MiaMia411]

Originally Posted by Atxroads

How far away? Fort Hood? Auschwitz? Siberia?

Appalling.

Anywhere, i dont care but if you are so worried then why aren't you housing them?

[Tralfaz]

Originally Posted by Atxroads

How far away? Fort Hood? Auschwitz? Siberia?

Santa Monica.

Look Glenn We're Saved! - Video Clips - South Park Studios

[petro]

A significant portion of the homeless are mentally ill. Since state facilities were closed in the 1980's, people who would have benefited from institutionalization, are now rendered homeless. In most instances, these people really don't have any alternatives. Of course, that's only one segment of the homeless. There's also the drifters, addicts, and just good people who are down on their luck. I wish there were more options for these people to get help.