That’s funny. As I walk downtown past people asking for money I hear that excuse all the time- “I’m sooooo sorry, but I don’t carry cash any more.”
I see what you mean. She definitely didn’t need the money in reality, but she felt she did.
There was a regular blind beggar in my city when I was a kid. Always had his corner, quite well known.
One day I just happened to be walking behind him as he packed up at the end of the day and started walking tentatively down the street, using his cane. I must have been heading in the same direction as him because I was still following him as he turned a sharp corner off the main streets into a quiet side street.
Whereupon he whipped off his dark glasses, folded up his cane and walked confidently a bit further before getting into a car and driving away. I was late teens at the time and quite shocked.
Did this effect how you treated people asking for money afterwards?
I don’t think so. I know he was probably quite exceptional. But I really was quite shocked at the sheer audacity.
I don’t like being asked for money, and i rarely give money to panhandlers. But when i lived in NYC and was frequently asked for change, i decided that if i had food with me, i would give them food. And i did often carry food when i lived there. Leftovers from supper, a bag of bagels or oranges, a basket of strawberries.
The response was about 50/50. About half of the beggars really didn’t want food, and were angry with me for blowing their story. And about half were delighted to be given a couple of oranges, or a fresh bagel.
Anyone who is really happy to get a bagel from a stranger deserves the food, IMHO.
I don’t really have a problem with the idea that a beggar spends money on some small indulgence, like coffee or booze. Maybe i should give more often to pan handlers.
Anyone happy to get a bagel from a stranger in NYC just wants a nosh.
Anyone happy to get a bagel from a stranger in Utah is hungry.
I don’t think there are panhandlers living the luxury life (Sherlock Holmes notwithstanding). I think the general attitude is that these guys are eligible for welfare (which exists in Canada). The thought is they are taking in a moderate supplemental income stream, which if earned legitimately would be deducted from their welfare entitlement. The possibility that it fuels substance abuse only adds to the general reluctance to give; as does the attitude that this only encourages more to try this tactic.
Even for the ones not receiving welfare, there are shelters and programs to feed them. That nobody has died of starvation on city streets in Canada reinforces this attitude. I guess the point of the whole discussion is - what do you think you are doing when you give a panhandler money? Are they saving up for a down payment on an apartment? Buying groceries for the wife and kids? Needing to buy a winter coat or new boots? Buying themselves a healthy filling meal at Taco Bell? New tires for the shopping cart?
What does welfare provide in Canada?
“Rambam” is easier 
You say “audacity” like you were not aware of the existence of professional beggars with various props/affectations like nasty-looking (in reality superficial and self-inflicted) wounds, fake limp+cane, dressing in rags, “homeless veteran” signs, presence of children and/or pets, disturbed wailing, etc.
The Sherlock Holmes premise is real enough, though I cannot say how exceptional or common they may be.
Yes. I wasn’t. I was about 17 or so and grew up in the ‘burbs
From what I’ve read, shelters in the USA, at least, may not be safe; may not always have room for all those who need them; may not allow keeping companion animals with you; and/or may require staying in an environment which some people can’t handle.
As far as not accepting food – yes, I’m sure there are some people who just wanted booze or drugs. It’s also possible they can get enough food, but can’t get a safe place to sleep, or a pair of shoes that doesn’t hurt, or whatever. And if what’s being offered is a specific food item, it may be one that the person can’t eat, whether due to allergies, other health conditions, or religious reasons.
“Nobody has died of starvation on city streets”?
I’d ask for a cite. Canadian winters are nasty. Shelters vary in size and location. Mental illness is a frequent comorbid condition.
But I agree that this is a common attitude. On fact, I often do not gave change. But I nearly always gave snacks or soda, and this is usually received gratefully.
I don’t usually give money. Almost never. But on occasion I have offered food and I don’t really care if it is accepted or not. When the homeless are sleeping on a park bench I let them be. If they’re in a store or bus station so long as they aren’t being a hazard I let them be - I’ve encountered two dead, frozen bodies in Chicago winters and I don’t care to do so again, so I try not to contribute to such circumstances.
But having known actual homeless people, and having had homeless co-workers, I do get irritated at statements that someone is “dressed to nice to be homeless”. Or the assumption that all homeless are unemployed, or that if you have a job you won’t be homeless. The average person knows little about the homeless and much of what they do know is wrong. I might know a bit more than average, but I’m still no expert.
I do think I should treat others with compassion and kindness until they are proven to be actually malicious.
If you truly want to help the homeless there are a myriad of organizations you can join that will help you provide targeted aid that will actually make a positive differences. If you don’t want to help them at the least do not harm them.
I would include illness brought on by malnutrition along with just straight starvation when it comes to homeless people dying on the streets, and when it comes to how many…who knows? I would guess that reliable statistics are scarce on that matter.
Public support in the US for people who can’t support themselves, for whatever reason, is pretty wretched. I heartily endorse “first, do no harm”.
The U.S. is a wealthy country, but giving out money and services to everybody is not a national priority. Therefore, despite the unquestioned existence of professional beggars, we can absolutely believe there are many desperate people genuinely sleeping rough, suffering from malnutrition and illnesses, and so on. Now, if it is well-known that anyone can go someplace nearby and be served a nice free lunch, that’s great, but otherwise people are absolutely being harmed, and that is only one example.
I would guess it is pretty rare for those who insist that US welfare and non-profit shelters take fine care of anyone who needs food and shelter, they just need to show up, to have actually had to avail themselves of such.
With the general cultural punitiveness toward the poor in this country, people are always looking for ways to not see the needy as needing anything from them.
Those are systemic solutions. They don’t really help someone who is hungry right now. Giving cash so they can buy something to eat does help that person’s situation at that particular moment.
I was reminded of this conversation on the weekend. I was going into a Tim’s and a guy standing by the door asked me for money to buy something to eat. I gave him some, and he went right in and bought something. That certainly helped him, in that moment. My refusing him, going home, and sending a cheque to one of the local anti-poverty groups wouldn’t have put food in his belly, at that moment.