I used to live in Santa Cruz where panhandlers line the streets downtown. At first, I would always give away whatever change I had in my pockets. One time, I gave an old homeless man $2 who was sharing a bench with me while I waited for a bus at the bus station. He got up and went to the pizza place next door and returned with a huge slice of pizza. He even offered me a bite (I politely declined)! In the summers there a lot of kids my age (17-22) would show up and sleep on the beach. They beg for change and it usually made me angry because here they were, relaxing on the street all day (usually in groups of friends) smoking pot asking for my change while I was rushing home after a long day at a minimum wage job! That’s when I started getting jaded and keeping my change…I still give to people that look like they really need it…or buy them food if possible.
Sorry about putting this on the wrong board. I figured it was a general question, but I’ll read up on the rules a little more and hopefully get things figured out soon enough.
I went to college at UT as well. Most of the Drag Worms (what the beggars near campus are called) at the time I went there were actually kids who had homes that were just rebelling. I think there was a story in the Chronicle to this effect. I never gave them money because I knew they didn’t need it.
I’ve always felt that I’ve worked hard for my money so if I want to give it away I at least want to know it’s going towards some good rather than getting the guy drunk or high. Sometimes I think if I’m truly giving then I shouldn’t put qualifications on my gift, but I can’t do it that way. At least not right now and feel good about it.
One time at a light a week ago I turned the tables. We have one panhandler that hangs out near work who actually owns a car and a modest home. He begs everyday for a living and was one of those people I mentioned who has found begging more lucrative than working. Especially when you combine that with welfare. Well I do not actually know him, but another guy that comes into the office used to go to high school with the guy and talks to him from time to time still. That’s how we know his story. Anyway at the light he comes up to my car. I roll down my window and before he could speak I told him I was having trouble with my student loan payment and I needed some cash. I asked if he could help. He looked confused, muttered some obscenities and left. I would have felt bad about this if it were someone who was truly needy, but I knew this guy wasn’t.
Anyhow I’ve enjoyed reading the responses so far. Keep them coming and thanks for the welcome to the board.
Been there, done that.
In my case, I was in a really difficult situation. The boys were very young, about four and six. My mom had had a stroke and I was running back and forth between her house, the school and home all day. Mr zoogirl was out of work except for a little window washing and busking with his guitar. Neither of us could have really held down a steady job between trying to look after the kids and Mom, and no, don’t even suggest homemakers etc. They just weren’t an option. Even if we had the money, Mom had some mental health issues that made it impossible for her to handle having a stranger in the house. When the money ran short and Mr zoogirl struck out on the busking or windows, I hit the liquer store. I had the rep of being the politest panhandler in town. My take was usually aroung $10-$12.
For the record, not one cent went to booze or drugs. I admit Mr zoogirl bought tobacco, but the balance of it went straight to the grocery store.
That was ten+ yeards ago now. We’ve never had to resort to it since, nor do I ever expect to. I do sometimes give to panhandlers.
I give out small amounts of change to anyone who looks like they need it more than I do. . .I mean, it’s just change. I’ve given out food before, too. As long as the person is decent to me, I’m willing to share.
Once I felt bad and gave a guy an individually boxed slice of pizza. ( I hardly had enough money to feed myself at the time) He took it out of the box, folded it up and shoved it into his pocket and then continued to beg for money because he was “hungry”.
You know the saying…" Start a fire for a man, keep him warm for a day. Set the man on fire, keep him warm for life."
I used to. Until the time I gave my spare change to a beggar, and he threw away the pennies, and cursed at me for having the nerve to give him pennies. I wanted so badly to drive my foot through his sternum, the ungratefull bastard.
I really shouldn’t get too angry at panhandlers when they ask me for money; I mean, I’m a telefundraiser, and the main difference between them and me is that I turned pro. I generally just say “no” quietly or ignore them, but I did snap at the guy who approached me as I was eating lunch in McDonald’s today. I want to eat my Chicken McNuggets in peace, by gum!
Ugh, I couldn’t give money to em, I’m afraid word might get out. I get hassled by at least three every time I take the train in to school, and that’s not including the ones on our campus. I don’t carry cash at all, mainly because of panhandlers.
I never give to the homeless anymore because there are so many around that if I cared I’d be broke. I am further discourage by the fact that a lot of them will insult you if you dont give them money. In fact two days ago while walking to a convient store a group of homeless men asked for some change, I didnt have any so I told them if I had any I’d give them some on the way back. They then told me I sucked. If they weren’t so creepy looking I would have said something obnoxious like “At least I sleep in a bed.” On the other hand I do give change to a man every week or so who has about 100 books on the bible who claims to be translating the bible from greek and hebrew. He may be a little kooky but at least he does something interesting
I work downtown, and I don’t just see the homeless…I know several of them by name.
I usually give whatever’s in my jeans pocket after I leave work, which is usually a dollar or two’s worth of change. I don’t really care what they do with it, nor do I care if their stories about the “car up the road that ran out of gas” are true. Who cares.
The reason I give my spare change is because a.) I hate having a pocket that jingles with petty change, and b.) if I were ever in a desperate situation where I did actually need gas money, I’d like to think that somebody, somewhere, would give me the two bucks to help me make it there.
And of course this is foolish and silly, but I spend a lot more of my money on other equally foolish or silly things, so the way I look at it, a jingle of change isn’t going to break the bank.
Again, things might be different where you live, but over here, many homelesss people are trapped in a vicious cycle; they won’t be accepted as applicants for the ‘help wanted’ position because they have no fixed abode and often they lack the means to make themselves presentable, but they cannot get a place to live/wash/do laundry because they have no reliable income or employment.
Admittedly though, giving them a handful of loose change or buying them lunch does not offer anything more than immediate relief.
I side with the people who occasionaly give money. I must admit that I’ve become more reluctant as a result of seeing too many guys who are apparently doing it only as an easy way to make money. Especially in The Netherlands, if you are Dutch or have a legal residentship, you are provided with a basic income (state benefit?) which does not necessitate you to beg for money. Hence people who are clearly Dutch in principle do not get my sympathy. (I do not say that they have to get a job, since that may for some people be hard; the state benefit in principle applies regardless of having a job or even actively looking for one).
There is an exception though, that I’ve heard some people may have severe mental problems and thereby are incapable of applying for the benefit. In those cases I feel more inclined to give money on occasion.
For people who do not have a legal permit to be in The Netherlands, none of the above applies. In those cases as well I may give money. Still I go by the looks to judge if someone really needs it.
I do not give always, since you meet too many people. But I still feel if you can spare the change, you should at times give something. It seems to me to be a thing of basic humanity; furthermore, as Audrey Levins says, you’d like that to happen if you were on the other side. I may be rather unprincipled in this, but I prefer this to having a firm principle never to give money.
I feel that way too. It’s good to know you’re out there. 
NOOOO!!! I hate panhandlers. I do buy the big issue because I respect the guy who gets up off his arse and tries to do somthing about his homeless situation.
I read a couple of week ago in the Times that some beggers earn up to £40 an HOUR!!! I slaved in a supermarket for £5 an hour last summer, and I had to pay NI!
This is harsh but I cannot think of a single situation that could legitimately warrent you becoming homeless, yes I know some people get abused and that is why they are on the streets but there are a lot of charities out there to help people in that situation and they get more help than the rest of us idiots.
I’m not sure that the charities have the capacity to fully deal with the problem.
For many homeless people it may be true that they are on the streets as a result of their own action or inaction, but that doesn’t equate to them still wanting to be there, neither does it mean that they are there because they just aren’t trying hard enough to return; it can be a quite impossible situation for some.
I’m a beggar’s dream come true during the holiday season. I’m always good for a ten-spot. I don’t care what their sob story is… I just feel bad for people who have been reduced to begging – for whatever reason. I don’t see a lot of homeless people where I live, but there’s a guy that rides the train back and forth. I know he was going to get drunk, but I gave him money anyway.
I give all the time. There is no requirement to join the human race other than to be born. If someone can’t bring themselves to hold down a job, that shouldn’t be a death sentence. And if someone to whom I give a quarter or a couple bucks isn’t properly appreciative, so what? Most people who walk by don’t even look a panhandler in the eye – I’d get pretty bitter if I had to deal with that every day as well. I’m not giving them money for the strokes – I’m giving because they need it more than I.
–Cliffy
I do sporadically. I’m more inclined to give money to people performing (though in this city that means they are likely licensed and probably better off than a lot of the true homeless so I may have to re-evaluate that).
I do try and support charities that work with the homeless though. For example, I often get my lunch at the little deli across the street that is affiliated with the local homeless shelter and provides job training to people staying in the shelter.
No. I do give to soup kitchens, however.
The only reason to give money to a panhandler is if you support panhandling and want to see more panhandlers. In my area, intersections now have a panhandler on each corner of an intersection.
If they really are hungry and homeless, there are plenty of legitimate organizations that will help them.