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When you see a Homeless person, Do you give to them or ignore them?
If so, why do you give to them?
Do you think you made a change?
If not, why do you not give to them?
Do you think that they will just go buy drugs or alcohol?
Go!
Sitting at the local Fred Meyer (I-205 and Mill Plain Blvd. Vancouver, WA) a pretty nice and new Ford Escort comes into the parking lot and heads to the far side of the lot. Guy climbs out with a lunch box, milk crate and a damn cardboard sign!
That day I refused to give to them that beg on the highway or off ramps...ANY of them....I give to local charities only now.
Or those times when you know the money is for food or gas...
One time I was approached at a local 7-11 by an older female for food. I took her in and bought her what she wanted and she was so happy. I wish now that I'd bought her a gift card for $50...She wasn't scamming, she really was hungry....
A second time guy asked me for gas, we were at the local Walmart gas station. I gave them $25 in gas by paying for it myself.. I knew where it was going.
I never give money but I do offer food or water. One time I gave a homeless man water and another time some tacos. They were thankful for the free meal.
When you see a Homeless person, Do you give to them or ignore them?
If so, why do you give to them?
Do you think you made a change?
If not, why do you not give to them?
Do you think that they will just go buy drugs or alcohol?
Go!
I never give to these professional leeches
One guy has been at the same intersection near me for over 5 years
Panhandlers are getting more aggressive, I almost had to reach fo my gun when some alcohol bad breath idiot got in my face. I'm glad one of our cops saw him and acted
Sitting at the local Fred Meyer (I-205 and Mill Plain Blvd. Vancouver, WA) a pretty nice and new Ford Escort comes into the parking lot and heads to the far side of the lot. Guy climbs out with a lunch box, milk crate and a damn cardboard sign!
That day I refused to give to them that beg on the highway or off ramps...ANY of them....I give to local charities only now.
Or those times when you know the money is for food or gas...
One time I was approached at a local 7-11 by an older female for food. I took her in and bought her what she wanted and she was so happy. I wish now that I'd bought her a gift card for $50...She wasn't scamming, she really was hungry....
A second time guy asked me for gas, we were at the local Walmart gas station. I gave them $25 in gas by paying for it myself.. I knew where it was going.
Well this is a weird coincidence. I was just chatting to a friend on the phone about beggars, here in Vancouver, B.C.
I mentioned that years ago, there used to be a beggar, quite convincing in his look. I never gave anything to him, since, like you, I want to KNOW where my money is going.
Well, one day I see him, get up, walk to a car, his car. I didn't even have a car at the time. Made me so mad that some people are so morally bereft.
Very rare that I give money. Those you see at corners with signs are usually 'career panhandlers' who have been doing it for a long time. There is also a 'panhandling organization' in Portland where kids are hired in groups and a driver delivers them downtown to drop them off to scatter around the streets to beg (a very little known secret here but we witnessed it).
I know a guy living in his van who's been panhandling for years, and his money goes to weed. All he wants to do is live in his van and get high. Another person I know, a young woman, does it for quick money that she doesn't have to pay taxes on. I think it's all shameful.
I don't doubt that there are a few panhandlers that use their money wisely because they are on hard times. Unfortunately, the majority makes them look bad.
Sitting at the local Fred Meyer (I-205 and Mill Plain Blvd. Vancouver, WA) a pretty nice and new Ford Escort comes into the parking lot and heads to the far side of the lot. Guy climbs out with a lunch box, milk crate and a damn cardboard sign!
That day I refused to give to them that beg on the highway or off ramps...ANY of them....I give to local charities only now.
I read your post after I entered mine. I'm in Portland, and I know what you mean.
When you see a Homeless person, Do you give to them or ignore them?
If so, why do you give to them?
Do you think you made a change?
If not, why do you not give to them?
Do you think that they will just go buy drugs or alcohol?
Go!
I will give money sometimes, but most of the time I will stop and get a burger for them or something similar. Right now I have been giving money to a legless man in a wheelchair. I have real pity on him. I also spend a bit of time talking with him(Steven) and getting to know his situation.This is another thing I do, if someone I feel needs help I will give to that individual only for a given time.
When you see a Homeless person, Do you give to them or ignore them?
If so, why do you give to them?
Do you think you made a change?
If not, why do you not give to them?
Do you think that they will just go buy drugs or alcohol?
Go!
I must look like a homeless person, when I'm wearing my "beater" clothes, because several times, do-gooders have approached me on the street or at parking lots and asked if I have a place to stay that night or if I need a couple of bucks for food. Some of them have been insistent and followed me around. They must have a daily quota of people that they help.
This tells me that if "professional" homeless people put on the right appearance and act, at the right places, they don't even have to solicit contributions. The help will come to them from the "diggers" (a 1960s name for those who went to places frequented by hippies and showered them with money or food, showing a vicarious envy of them).
I’m from San Francisco, so believe me - I have seen and heard it all too! And like I said, it’s a rare occasion when I actually hand cash to anyone on the streets. I’m not stupid or naive, but I also don’t sit in judgment of anyone or act like I’m so much better than them. I’ve struggled with addiction and mental illness myself, and fully acknowledge that it’s my born privileges that have kept me from ending up like them.
If they want help the resources exist, and I fully support funding more services to attack this problem from its roots. In the meantime, however, I won’t fault someone for wanting to get through the night... and if I were sleeping on a cold street, I’d also probably choose a beer over a burger. That’s all I’m saying here.
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