Baltimoreans, can you spare a moment to talk about panhandlers?

In My Humble Opinion
1

The panhandlers in Baltimore have really interested me lately. It seems that I see more and more every month. I don’t love or hate them, but I am fascinated by their subculture and have some questions:
[ul]
[li]The great majority of them seem to be white, even though Baltimore is predominantly African-American. Why is this?[/li][li]Is there some kind of informal contract that they share? “You don’t work this corner at this time” sort of thing? What are the “rules?”[/li][li]Is there a sense of community that exists? Are they comrades and do they support each other? Do they teach each other the good corners, how to look sickly and lame, and how to act?[/li][li]Do they actually make decent money panhandling? I don’t really think most of them have substance abuse problems; just that they can make more panhandling than working at McDonald’s. Am I right in this? Are most of them actually homeless?[/li][/ul]
I figure it’s a number’s game. If you work a good intersection that has say, 300 cars go through every hour, and even if only 5% of those people give you a dollar, then you’ve made $15 an hour tax-free. Not a bad deal.

There seems to be a lack of any news or research on this. Even NPR hasn’t said much, which surprises me. Does anyone personally know any panhandlers and could give some insight? Even if not, what are your theories?

2

I’ve noticed that a lot of the panhandlers in Richmond–the ones that stand at intersections–are also white.

My guess? White panhandlers probably make a better living at it than black ones do, since they tend to elicit more empathy. They are probably less likely to be given a hard time by the police.

I don’t think most “street people” are technically homeless. It’s been my experience that many are usually receiving just enough in disability to be able to afford a room in a flophouse or board-and-care place. They may also get an EBT card. But they don’t have any money for anything else. They beg so they can buy cigarettes, snacks, personal care items, and yes, booze. And as sad as the last item is, it’s 100% understandable seeing as how they often don’t have any family or friends to comfort them.

I usually do NOT give to panhandlers. Not out of any ideological principle, but because it’s just easier to walk past them and pretend they aren’t there. But I have kind of befriended a couple (by “befriended”, I mean say hello to). So when I see them, I do give them a little something if I have it.

3

If I were substantially richer than I am, I might be inclined to give to panhandlers with dogs. I have a soft spot for dogs.