# Giving money to panhandlers/beggars/homeless on the street **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 29, 2011, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-money-to-panhandlers-beggars-homeless-on-the-street/598001 "2011-09-29T11:44:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![moejoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@moejoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejoe)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-money-to-panhandlers-beggars-homeless-on-the-street/598001/61 "2011-09-30T00:57:24Z")
> [@AndyLee](#): > > If you think donating to an organized charity will help. I hope so. And I hope it doesn’t all go to administrative costs. My mother has been off the mark for years, and I’ve yet to see any established charity that will help her at all. And why? Because she’s just nuts. I don’t fault the charities for having rules, they have to, but if my mother could follow those rules she’d be able to hold a job. This is my thinking as well. There are a lot of crazy people out on the streets who really can’t manage the rules of shelters and charities, much less staying clean and sober. I would love it if there was a place they could go to be safe and get healthy, say a mental health facility or something, but those don’t really exist anymore unless you have really great medical insurance and a profitable diagnosis. So if someone has mental health issues and goes off the meds and wanders the streets I feel like I have some social responsibility to do whatever I can to help. What I can do is hand over a dollar. I don’t care at all what they spend it on because I fault my own stingy government for the fact that they’re out there panhandling in the first place. You want a dollar? Here’s two sir, make it a Budweiser. ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-money-to-panhandlers-beggars-homeless-on-the-street/598001/62 "2011-09-30T01:40:46Z")
Yeah, if I have a buck (usually I don’t hang around walking aimlessly in urban areas – I’m outside smoking during a break) and if it’s someone I recognize, I’ll usually give it them. I spent four or five years in NYC and got very used to the ignore thing, but in Portland, I think it’s kind of a little tax – they can give some good conversation, trade some street gossip, whatever. Never give anything while walking, though – “Hey, I’m walkin’ here!” Nobody gets to fuck with me when I’m en route. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-money-to-panhandlers-beggars-homeless-on-the-street/598001/63 "2011-09-30T02:23:45Z")
After I got out of the military in the early 80’s I worked as an orderly in a nursing home in Seattle. All around the same time during the winter of '82, I got laid off, I caught pneumonia, and the other roomies in the house I was sharing moved out of state. The hospital bills wiped me out and I had no place to live, so I was streetbound for about three years. At that time Seattle had one main shelter and a couple of minor ones, and _none_ of them were really a safe place to sleep. You started waiting in line to get in at about 1pm, the doors opened at 6pm, and everyone had to be out of the building by 7am. There was never a night when a large group of people weren’t turned away, and if at any time there was enough food to feed even a third of the people in the shelter I’d be surprised. I didn’t panhandle, but I did sell plasma until the one time they screwed up on the reinfusion which cause a large amount to pool up under the skin and cause a very large and very painful bruise, so that was the end of that. On the nights I stayed in the shelter I slept with one eye open, and on the nights I didn’t i didn’t sleep much at all. Food was scarce and very starchy, and there were no public bathrooms available. I remember one winter i was so sick I ended up in the emergency room without knowing how I got there. After a two hour wait, I was taken to a small room, told to put on the gown, and told to wait, which I did. For 4 and a half hours. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Smashy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mr\_Smashy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Smashy)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-money-to-panhandlers-beggars-homeless-on-the-street/598001/64 "2011-09-30T02:56:11Z")
Scary stuff. Did you abuse drugs or alcohol during your time? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-money-to-panhandlers-beggars-homeless-on-the-street/598001/65 "2011-09-30T03:05:41Z")
> [@Mr\_Smashy](#): > > Scary stuff. Did you abuse drugs or alcohol during your time? Shared a bottle once in a while. I guess I(and most of the others I knew) were part of that very rare small percentage of people that weren’t drug addicts that **brazil84** claims make up the vast majority of the homeless. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Smashy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mr\_Smashy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Smashy)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-money-to-panhandlers-beggars-homeless-on-the-street/598001/66 "2011-09-30T03:15:43Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Shared a bottle once in a while. I guess I(and most of the others I knew) were part of that very rare small percentage of people that weren’t drug addicts that **brazil84** claims make up the vast majority of the homeless. I wouldn’t call that abuse, YMMV. Nor would I guess that describes most of the people who I see panhandling in the middle of the street (which I still maintain must be dangerous). I don’t know about exact percentages, the cites are all over the map. The NY Times, [like 100 years ago or so](http://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/30/us/drug-addicts-among-the-homeless-case-studies-of-some-lost-dreams.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm), suggested it was 75% who were substance abusers. [This obscure site](http://psycnet.apa.org/index.cfm?fa=main.doiLanding&uid=1992-09475-001) says it’s 30-40% for booze and 10-15% for drugs. My gut tells me it’s somewhere in between. So you never answered the question; did you beg/panhandle? How did you make money to eat? Edit to add: evidently, in Ohio the number is [38%](http://www.cohhio.org/resources/factsheets/Chicagofactsheet.html) ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-money-to-panhandlers-beggars-homeless-on-the-street/598001/67 "2011-09-30T03:18:24Z")
I won’t give money to beggars in Thailand, [for reasons stated before](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13659224&postcount=8). But I have encountered what I’ve judged to be legitimate beggars in many poorer countries – Nepal, Cambodia – and have given something if I could. The problem in Cambodia is that there are so many, often when you give to one you’re suddenly besieged by countless others. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-money-to-panhandlers-beggars-homeless-on-the-street/598001/68 "2011-09-30T03:41:45Z")
> [@Mr\_Smashy](#): > > So you never answered the question; did you beg/panhandle? How did you make money to eat? I ate the crappy starchy food when I could, collected bottles and cans when I could work up the energy, but mostly I didn’t eat much. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-money-to-panhandlers-beggars-homeless-on-the-street/598001/69 "2011-09-30T10:45:23Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > . I didn’t panhandle, Then what exactly is the firsthand knowledge you are claiming? You are simply disagreeing that that most homeless people are either drug addicts, alcoholics, mentally ill or some combination thereof? Are saying that money given to beggars actually has a good chance of being used productively? > [@](#): > > After I got out of the military in the early 80’s You didn’t have any army buddies you could crash with? No friends or family to stay with? How long did you collect unemployment insurance for? What was your monthly rent? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-money-to-panhandlers-beggars-homeless-on-the-street/598001/70 "2011-09-30T11:35:04Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > Then what exactly is the firsthand knowledge you are claiming? You are simply disagreeing that that most homeless people are either drug addicts, alcoholics, mentally ill or some combination thereof? > > Are saying that money given to beggars actually has a good chance of being used productively? > > You didn’t have any army buddies you could crash with? No friends or family to stay with? > > How long did you collect unemployment insurance for? What was your monthly rent? I was giving my own personal experience, not speaking as an official representative of the homeless, but that’s still better then making statements about the how many of the homeless are drug addicts without any cite whatsoever, isn’t it? Coming from the U.S.A.F., I didn’t have any “army buddies”-my last base was March in southern California. No family. Friends had just moved out of state. Unemployment didn’t last long and I had the medical bills to pay, and it’s none of your business what my rent was, but I will say that I was only paying 1/4 of the rent(my portion). Now, either take me at my word that I was homeless for awhile, or show some guts and say outright that you don’t believe me-I’m not answering any more of these personal questions that seem designed to catch me at something. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-money-to-panhandlers-beggars-homeless-on-the-street/598001/71 "2011-09-30T11:47:23Z")
I don’t generally give to panhandlers, but I do give to street artists (licensed or not). Part of it is because of bad experiences with panhandlers, partly because the juggler with the rastas gives something to anybody who walks by - it seems reasonable to me that, if I enjoy his performance and since I am in a position to give him something back, I should. The woman with the stinky clothes, limp baby and brand-new Mercedes van parked 100yd away, hell no. Occasionally I’ve seen someone whose plea (“for a bus ticket” or “for a meal”) seemed genuine enough that I did give. A few weeks ago, a group of homeless people were leaving the convent where we were going to Mass and one of them mentioned looking for a spot in a church door (the convent’s was taken); seeing that she had a flute, we told her to try going to the “New Square” instead and setting up shop in the shadow of the music stand (there is a church there but the priest kicks panhandlers out), as it’s a good spot for street performers. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-money-to-panhandlers-beggars-homeless-on-the-street/598001/72 "2011-09-30T12:05:26Z")
I give. and I have no problem if they choose to spend on drugs or booze. More power to them. Hell, I’ve straight-up bought booze for homeless people before, and handed over a couple of cans from a six-pack when accosted outside the bottlestore. Why not? I mean, I’ve also bought food when approached on my way into McD’s and the grocery, what’s the difference? Some of them make an OK living at panhandling, and yet it’s not a big drain on _my_ individual resources, so I don’t have a problem with it. Spread the wealth, is what I say. And here’s a tiny violin solo for anyone who worries that my giving encourages them to pester you. I really, really don’t care. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-money-to-panhandlers-beggars-homeless-on-the-street/598001/73 "2011-09-30T12:46:22Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I was giving my own personal experience, not speaking as an official representative of the homeless, Well you seemed to be claiming superior personal knowledge. Given that you are an anonymous person on the internet, it’s reasonable to ask questions about the basis of your knowledge. > [@](#): > > Now, either take me at my word that I was homeless for awhile, or show some guts and say outright that you don’t believe me-I’m not answering any more of these personal questions that seem designed to catch me at something. I believe that you were homeless for a while. To the extent you are trying to imply that you did not have a substance abuse problem or serious mental problem, I don’t believe you. And by the way, I’m not trying to say that you did not deserve help. Or that you were or are a bad person. And I’m not trying to say that life is easy for homeless people – clearly it’s a difficult life. I’m simply saying that giving cash to beggars is destructive and selfish. ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-money-to-panhandlers-beggars-homeless-on-the-street/598001/74 "2011-09-30T13:38:04Z")
> [@Rebo](#): > > The police run us off and we keep going back. The police run you off? How is what you’re doing supposed to be illegal??!? 😕 Bad cop. No doughnut. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-money-to-panhandlers-beggars-homeless-on-the-street/598001/75 "2011-09-30T14:25:30Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > Well you seemed to be claiming superior personal knowledge. Given that you are an anonymous person on the internet, it’s reasonable to ask questions about the basis of your knowledge. My source is my own personal experience on the streets of Seattle. And yours is…? > [@brazil84](#): > > I believe that you were homeless for a while. To the extent you are trying to imply that you did not have a substance abuse problem or serious mental problem, I don’t believe you. I’m not “trying to imply” jack. I did not use, let alone abuse, drugs. The only mental problems I had was the depression brought about life on the streets. Edited to add: You claim that the majority on the streets are drug addicts. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Smashy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mr\_Smashy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Smashy)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-money-to-panhandlers-beggars-homeless-on-the-street/598001/76 "2011-09-30T14:47:16Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > The police run you off? How is what you’re doing supposed to be illegal??!? 😕 > > Bad cop. No doughnut. :mad: It’s [plenty illegal](http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-01-22-panhandle_N.htm), in a lot of places. More steps by cities [here](http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/crimreport/allcities.html) (note that this website is very bleeding heart, take it for what it’s worth) ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-money-to-panhandlers-beggars-homeless-on-the-street/598001/77 "2011-09-30T14:51:10Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > The police run you off? How is what you’re doing supposed to be illegal??!? 😕 > > Bad cop. No doughnut. :mad: [Link to one group’s story.](http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=7898553) ---
**Author:** ![Bloodless\_Turnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@Bloodless\_Turnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bloodless_Turnip)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-money-to-panhandlers-beggars-homeless-on-the-street/598001/78 "2011-09-30T14:57:58Z")
I used to give, but after spending a lot of time in the rooms of Al-anon I no longer do. I heard too many agonized loved ones pray that people would stop giving their alcoholic/addict money or food or shelter. It continues the destructive cycle while sheltering them from their bad decisions, and prolongs the journey to the “rock bottom” so many need to find. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-money-to-panhandlers-beggars-homeless-on-the-street/598001/79 "2011-09-30T15:00:32Z")
They’re not all drug addicts though, that’s the conundrum… ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-money-to-panhandlers-beggars-homeless-on-the-street/598001/80 "2011-09-30T15:05:23Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > . I did not use, let alone abuse, drugs. > [@](#): > > You claim that the majority on the streets are drug addicts. Cite? No, that’s not what I said. Please don’t twist my words. And please don’t think that I do not notice your evasions. I said I believed you had had a substance abuse problem; you responded by talking about use or abuse of drugs. You responded similarly to another poster who asked if you had abused drugs or alcohol. It looks to me like you are trying to downplay or evade discussing your use of alcohol. This is consistent with your refusal to disclose the financial particulars of your situation and the fact that your roommates all moved out and you had no friends or family to fall back on. It’s possible that it’s all just a big coincidence, but if I had to bet $10,000 one way or another, I would definitely bet that you had an alcohol problem and that problem caused or exacerbated the social, work, and medical problems in your life. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-money-to-panhandlers-beggars-homeless-on-the-street/598001.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-money-to-panhandlers-beggars-homeless-on-the-street/598001.md?page=5)