I'm much more likely to give to a random person walking up to me than someone asking through my car window.

(06-05-2017 04:10 PM)Fitbud Wrote:  We don't see as many in the summer since El Paso is extremely hot so I'm guessing they either move to cooler climates or just don't come out during the day.

They stick out like sore thumbs however down here in El Paso because we are 80% hispanic and the homeless down here are probably 90% white.

That's interesting... most of the DUI's or Hit &Runs in the Carolinas, whether it's Wake County NC or Or Greenville SC... are mostly Hispanic's.

No, I'm not an enabler.

Yea but I can count on one hand the number I've seen in the last 5 years.

There's a touristy part of town where I see the same guy often enough to recognize him on the way to the beach, and every single time his sign says he's had a death in the family and is just $28 short of a bus ticket home. Made a good sandwich one day that I didn't have, offered it to him, and he acted like I had just thrown acid on his balls. Unfortunately the people who really do need help are overshadowed by the likes of him, other addicts, etc.

Sometimes but I'm in Chicago so I see several a day. I'd be sitting there with them if I gave them all cash.

nah. I remember when I was in college, I had a woman knock on my door, tell me she was hungry and hadn't eaten in over a day and asked if she could have money to go to the Arby's right next door to my house. I told her I didn't have any cash, but I had just gone to the grocery store, and I would make her a sandwich and put some chips in a bag for her. She immediately started stumbling over her words, said no thanks, then left.
I've had a similar thing happen to me when I was at an exit with a 6" sub leftover from lunch. Guy said he was hungry, I offered the sub, and he turned it down.

Screw handing out money. If you are truly hungry, you will always take free food.

Never. Some of them are criminals trying to get you to open your wallet and rob you. Some are scam artists who are doing fine but too lazy to do real work. We've got one whose been in our neighborhood for a couple months harasses kids and does minor theft (tried to steal a bike). Wish the police would get rid of him before he turns violent. He's asked our family at least 4 separate times. Most are alcoholics or drug users.

Some are part of a group. One freeway intersection I go to has the "old veteran" one day a week, scroungy looking 30 something woman who looks 50 one day, the scroungy looking Black guy one day and the muscular hungry "ex-con" looking guy one day. Its like they have a formal rotation.

Its really bad to enable them. Give money to an organized group. When I was unemployed for 5 months in 1986 during the Texas recession, I had some savings and was single, so I was ok, but I could see a lot of people weren't. Most of the people in my townhome complex walked or were foreclosed on. 1 in 4 people in Houston lost their job that year. I only had 3 interviews in that 5 months. Nobody was hiring. So I decided to give money to the Food Bank when I got a job. And I've been doing it every year since. Food banks also leverage your dollars with donations from companies like Kroger.

No. I've given some food and were grateful and some that turned their noses up at it.

I did give money to one that said "I'm $1.34 away from a cold beer" I gave him a $5 for honesty

Nope, although there is a guy who has been panhandling near my office who I brought a cold cup of ice water to a few times over the past couple of years. I know the water comes in handy, is nourishing and he won't use it to procure drugs or alcohol.

Had a guy in uptown Charlotte let me know where the nearest ATM was when I informed him I had no cash on me.

Needless to say, I walked away laughing on that one.

I used to. Until Christmas' Eve 2014. Some buddies of mine and I were down in NOLA to celebrate Christmas since he was from Australia and my family was in Europe for the Holidays. We went to get some cash out at a Walgreens. After we left the store, there was a gentleman that was begging for money, he looked homeless. All I had were nothing but $20s, so I just gave him one, feeling generous since it was Christmas' Eve. He then tells me thanks and starts walking away. My buddies and I stay behind and try to plan the night's festivities. We started walking the same way the man walked, and after two blocks. I **** you not, there he was, the same homeless drinking a beer... he sees me and raises his bottle and tells me thanks. He had a full case of beer with him. Since that day, I stopped giving homeless people money.

I've only had one positive experience with homeless people. A guy approached me one morning while I was still living in Huntsville. I wouldn't give him money, but I offered to buy him breakfast since we were right next to a Hardee's. The guy lit up like it was Christmas morning. He thanked me profusely and seemed genuinely grateful when I brought him his food. Who knows whatever happened to that guy, but I hope he was able to get back on his feet.

I'm pretty jaded when it comes to most homeless people, though. I don't give them money. I usually don't let them even get through their sob story. As soon as I hear "excuse me, sir," I cut them off and tell them I don't have anything to give.

One interesting problem that I've noticed in my area is the secondary effects of homeless outreach. I live in an area that's close to a lot of bars and restaurants. There are 2 churches in the area that do a lot of homeless outreach. The result of that is that there are a lot of homeless people hanging around. It's not the only reason, but having so many homeless people in the area has had an impact on business in the area. Nobody wants to go out and be constantly hounded panhandlers. Plus, there's the petty crime that it's brought. I'm not sure what the right answer is for a problem like this. You can't exactly get mad at a church for taking care of the needy, even if it brings its own set of problems.

No...

Local news stations actually followed one guy when he left his corner, and went back to his nice middle-class house, his two-cars in his garage... and well, you get the jist. He was basically a con-artist.

Too bad there are many that do need it.. but that's what the churches and outreach organizations are for. (of course, some of our 'outreach organizations' around here aren't much more than con-artists as well).

(06-06-2017 08:28 AM)JTiger Wrote:  No. I've given some food and were grateful and some that turned their noses up at it.

I did give money to one that said "I'm $1.34 away from a cold beer" I gave him a $5 for honesty

Those are the guys I'll help. Ask me for a couple of bucks to get a beer and I'm far more likely to oblige, I know I shouldn't but honesty should be rewarded.

I've always wanted to do a social experiment. Wear some jeans and a decent tshirt. Stand at an exit with a sign that says "Not homeless, just need beer money", and see how many people would give me some cash.

It varies as far as giving. I used to more than now because most of the panhandlers are young and can work but they'd rather be in the elements and make people feel sorry for them. I've been scammed by them too and I've grown weary as to give them my money. The way I see it I have what I have because I've worked for it and they should learn to do the same. There's no reason a person can't EARN a few bucks working for it but heck they don't want to work. I'd rather be going house to house asking to cut the grass or doing odd jobs than to beg for it.

My way of dealing with real people that need help is to donate to Salvation Army and other organizations. I do it on a monthly basis that they even have my email reminder. It kind of irritates me that they do that because I have an automatic account from my bank. I guess they don't do it on purpose so I just delete their messages. Oh, some do it to thank me and that's good.

My friend once had just cashed his check and saw a homeless guy so he gave him a dollar and went home. After paying some bills, he realized he was short $50. He went back to the homeless guy and tells him how he accidentally gave him a $50.

The homeless refused. After my friend threatened to beat him up, the homeless guy pulls out a wad of cash and give him the $50.

My friend said he must have had over $300 dollars in cash.