This is why I avoid panhandlers and many of the "homeless" in Chicago (Time: house, neighborhoods)

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by mel2000

Apparently there are several here who think that Chicago has a wonderful and accessible safetynet program that will make all the problems for the homeless go away. Nothing could be further from the truth. Unlike most states, Illinois does not provide welfare assistance for an under 55 indigent with no dependents. And it offers only $100./month to those over 55. Nor does it provide much in the way of shelter or non-emergency medical care and prescription services. Fortunately, food can be the least of their problems - if they can get to one of the struggling food bank charities.

Three other points:
1.) Many of the posters here are too naive to risk having any interaction with the homeless at all, and should just ignore them and keep walking.

2.) The assault episode is less about the homeless than about the foolishness of riling a total stranger.

3.) I suspect the homeless get attacked far more often than they attack others.

Well, you're just wrong about this. Chicago does have more shelter beds in place than actually get used on any given night. No, we don't have the proper safety nets in place to help people avoid homelessness in the FIRST PLACE, but once they are homeless, there are beds and food available that exceed demand. Many avoid these shelters, however, because of the various rules they would have to follow to stay there--rules that are perfectly reasonable.

[xenourtv]

Originally Posted by mel2000

Apparently there are several here who think that Chicago has a wonderful and accessible safetynet program that will make all the problems for the homeless go away. Nothing could be further from the truth. Unlike most states, Illinois does not provide welfare assistance for an under 55 indigent with no dependents. And it offers only $100./month to those over 55. Nor does it provide much in the way of shelter or non-emergency medical care and prescription services. Fortunately, food can be the least of their problems - if they can get to one of the struggling food bank charities.

Three other points:
1.) Many of the posters here are too naive to risk having any interaction with the homeless at all, and should just ignore them and keep walking.

2.) The assault episode is less about the homeless than about the foolishness of riling a total stranger.

3.) I suspect the homeless get attacked far more often than they attack others.

I definitely agree with everything you said. The newcomers who come here are so naive that they think they are entitled and are condescending towards most of the people who they think are beneath them.

I think the victim was a naive yuppie, obnoxious, and felt everything revolved around them. I can assure you after this incident if they happen to get through it, will change their mentality and think twice about what they say to other people, probably for the better. You live and learn.

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by xenourtv

I definitely agree with everything you said. The newcomers who come here are so naive that they think they are entitled and are condescending towards most of the people who they think are beneath them.

I think the victim was a naive yuppie, obnoxious, and felt everything revolved around them. I can assure you after this incident if they happen to get through it, will change their mentality and think twice about what they say to other people, probably for the better. You live and learn.

I think whatever the victim may have said she is in a coma from which she may not recover, and has lost 14 teeth. Pretty harsh punishment for an callous remark. Judging her seems to be far more obnoxious than anything she may have said to the panhandler harassing her.

I just say sorry and move away quickly.

[d-iron]

Originally Posted by xenourtv

I definitely agree with everything you said. The newcomers who come here are so naive that they think they are entitled and are condescending towards most of the people who they think are beneath them.

I think the victim was a naive yuppie, obnoxious, and felt everything revolved around them. I can assure you after this incident if they happen to get through it, will change their mentality and think twice about what they say to other people, probably for the better. You live and learn.

Are you freaking insane I wish I was there stomp that low life crack head on his a#$ A yo get a freaking clue

[Audreya]

Originally Posted by stan4

Wow. When I bought this homeless dude some food and bottled water, he got mad b/c it wasn't cash.

A friend of mine was beaten up by two homeless dudes b/c he didn't have any change to give them.

He probably wanted money for crack

[Audreya]

My dad owned his own business and instead of just giving them money he offered them a job in his wherehouse and told them it would be hard work but good pay. Not one homeless guy took him up on his offer. We live in phoenix, az. Homeless people out here are mostly drug addicts.

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by d-iron

Are you freaking insane I wish I was there stomp that low life crack head on his a#$ A yo get a freaking clue

That was my reaction too. You expressed yourself more elequently.

I checked for an update on the victim and as of 8/28 she is still in a coma, with severe head injuries. Oh and rather than being a yuppie, she is a restaurant worker who has no health insurance.

[Huckleberry3911948]

this was not panhandling this was strong arm robbery and assault. it was not "an unfortunate incident". it was a crime and a life altering event for the birthday girl. problem is nowadays all the bad guys like to wear victim badges. does not matter if you are sleeping on the street, the decendant of a slave, came from a home where drug addiction and sexual abuse occurred, or got PTSD in viet nam,
you are responsible for the people you hurt.
we bring you no fault car accident no fault divorce no fault illiteracy no fault stock meltdown no fault deficit spending and now no fault crime.

[d-iron]

Originally Posted by Audreya

He probably wanted money for crack

I've been arourd those types before they will kill you for their next fix they prey on easy targets. If I ever see that dude on the streets I will be tempted to take a bat to his head for real.

[Costa Rica Chica]

Originally Posted by Huckleberry3911948

this was not panhandling this was strong arm robbery and assault. it was not "an unfortunate incident". it was a crime and a life altering event for the birthday girl.

I think this is the point. The attackers had a laundry list of past crimes, some of them violent. These are not your average pan-handlers, but violent people who should be in jail. Keeping this in mind, I don't think it's correct to make sweeping generalizations about all or most panhandlers because the vast majority of them are probably not violent. We have no idea what situations led them to have to do this, nor what options they have in life or what they are going to do with the change we give them. Maybe they will use it to buy liquor, drugs, etc. or maybe they will go into McDonalds and get a hamburger. (2 homeless people, a man and a woman, went into a McDonalds yesterday in the Loop where I was eating with my son, and they were both promptly escorted out. I was going to buy them both a meal, and another woman came to help pay too and in the end McDonalds just gave us a burger each for them and didn't charge, but they were not allowed to eat inside.)