Holy Panhandling Batman! (health insurance, camp, storage)

[Phxspartan]

Since I've lived in Phoenix the most common ones I get are the "ran out of gas, need to get back to Tucson/other side of town etc".. "the clerk gave me the wrong bus pass" To question the legitimacy of the request, I will offer to go fill up the tank or go inside to get a new pass. The response is always "you can just give me the money, I'll go do it". Umm, no.

This is just my opinion of course, but I truly believe the ones who need help aren't holding signs up. They are the ones pushing the grocery cart full of everything they own. They are looking for the next spot to sleep, not the next car that drives by. I really get ticked at the "funny" signs, people with HEADPHONES IN THEIR EAR, and when they walk right up and put the sign in front of your windshield when you ignore them.

I've given people food before, just not money.

[Barbyshappy]

Don't worry those are in teams, they migrate like Caribou from state to state , season to season. In my area Southern California, they are literally in shifts, and in teams. Then when the heat comes down on them.They all disappear to Arizona and other states to chill out on the corners. I know this,because I actually asked one of them. Hopefully you don't have the various types as we do here. One months is people in wheelchairs and VETS with the little red, white and blue flags. Then the next you'd think it was a terrorist group; like alkayda or the bin laden look a likes. hahaha ..Then what the city does is transport people who have been arrested and assigned Community service to go into their habitats and pick up their mounds of accumulated taco bell, and fast food containers they have left as a reminder of their existence. I think what the city should do , since it is going to take place is make them wear uniforms with hats. Wear a colorful t-shirts & work in teams-sharing is caring / picking up trash and doing the community service gig while earning a ticket out of dodge or a daily meal/ housing. The bigger the job, the better the reward. I did some volunteering at a VA hospital and that is how I came up with the idea. Why not have a team of men gather and go into those run down places that harbor the homeless and sweep them out . Bull doze the buildings or have the city offer plans on new business promotions for young people Or old to have a business and a opportunity to have something. If you keep people out of the motions of the country, they will result in vagrancy and dereliction living.The truely mentally unstable should be assessed and basically you go that way the other this way. Then on the mental evaluation team can help those people. You'd be surprised how many people are just financially pinched / nothing is wrong with them.

[The_Cadillac_Lawyer]

I heard a statistic that said 96% of all cash donations to panhandlers goes towards drugs/alcohol

[R_Cowgirl]

Originally Posted by Phxspartan

Since I've lived in Phoenix the most common ones I get are the "ran out of gas, need to get back to Tucson/other side of town etc".. "the clerk gave me the wrong bus pass" To question the legitimacy of the request, I will offer to go fill up the tank or go inside to get a new pass. The response is always "you can just give me the money, I'll go do it". Umm, no.

This is just my opinion of course, but I truly believe the ones who need help aren't holding signs up. They are the ones pushing the grocery cart full of everything they own. They are looking for the next spot to sleep, not the next car that drives by. I really get ticked at the "funny" signs, people with HEADPHONES IN THEIR EAR, and when they walk right up and put the sign in front of your windshield when you ignore them.

I've given people food before, just not money.

Good observation, which is why I give to the Food shelters and Homeless shelters. Catholic services does a wonderful job.

I wish I'd taken a photo - I saw a CLASSIC panhandler. He had what looked like a brand new IPhone 6 stuck in his pocket, the requisite white earbuds in his ears. His clothes looked new. His bicycle looked like the one on this site: 2014 SPECIALIZED MYKA ELITE DISC 29" - Gordys Bicycles Store

Now - I'm not sayin' he stole it. And I'm not sayin' he shouldn't have transportation. I'm not sayin' anything except... how did he afford a bike and cellphone that I can't afford and he expects help from me?

Another beggar was a healthy, slightly overweight woman with about 30 tattoos, smoking a pack of cigarettes, with her nails done and her hair colored pink and cut in a rage style. I'm sitting at the light while she waves a sign about having to feed her baby! Help! I'm thinkin' - "How much did that hairdo cost sweetie? And those nails? And those Tats? And those cigarettes? Sounds like you don't need money, you need financial management advice. Pass."

PITA and a distraction by the side of the road.
Too bad, really. There ARE people who need help. But these scam artists make it hard to determine who is real and who is just slidin'! I think what we are all describing here is "compassion fatigue."

[pbenjamin]

Originally Posted by Phxspartan

Since I've lived in Phoenix the most common ones I get are the "ran out of gas, need to get back to Tucson/other side of town etc".. "the clerk gave me the wrong bus pass" To question the legitimacy of the request, I will offer to go fill up the tank or go inside to get a new pass. The response is always "you can just give me the money, I'll go do it". Umm, no.

This is just my opinion of course, but I truly believe the ones who need help aren't holding signs up. They are the ones pushing the grocery cart full of everything they own. They are looking for the next spot to sleep, not the next car that drives by. I really get ticked at the "funny" signs, people with HEADPHONES IN THEIR EAR, and when they walk right up and put the sign in front of your windshield when you ignore them.

I've given people food before, just not money.

There is a guy who positions himself on 3rd St. just south of the rail stop on Washington after every Diamondbacks game and he is always trying to get enough money for a train ticket. Funny how he finds himself in that spot in need of a ticket after every game. Starving season ticket holder?

[kell490]

Starting to see a decrease in pan handling I think word is getting around that these people are scamming. With the crack down on standing in the center of the street. This one QT I go to often there is always the same guy running around with a gas can asking for spare change so he can get his family to California where a job is waiting for him.

[ELOrocks17]

Begging me for money is one thing, LYING to me to get it is totally unnacceptable

[YAZ]

Originally Posted by kell490

Starting to see a decrease in pan handling I think word is getting around that these people are scamming. With the crack down on standing in the center of the street. This one QT I go to often there is always the same guy running around with a gas can asking for spare change so he can get his family to California where a job is waiting for him.

I noticed that too.

[motormaker]

Originally Posted by kell490

Starting to see a decrease in pan handling I think word is getting around that these people are scamming. With the crack down on standing in the center of the street. This one QT I go to often there is always the same guy running around with a gas can asking for spare change so he can get his family to California where a job is waiting for him.

Might be moving out with the snowbirds.

[shaneomailey2016]

They all deserve to be locked up. They bring shame, & disgrace, to their families. They also make, all of the people, in the Phoenix area, look like extreme losers. Humanity, will improve, with them, behind bars.