Hobo by the store
- Thread starter avrp
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hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
I saw that video before SB and although I've seen all sorts of beggars who clearly weren't in need, I think that must be the worst I've ever seen. Was she prosecuted does anyone know?
Jackie22
Well-known Member
- Location
- Northeast Texas
[h=1]Everything You Think You Know About Panhandlers Is Wrong[/h]A new survey of panhandlers in downtown San Francisco dispels a number of myths that society propagates about homeless people.
Conventional wisdom is that those on the sidewalk asking for a dollar are lazy freeloaders who will use the money for alcohol or drugs. Some even think that beggars are living large off of handouts, such as Fox News’ John Stossel, who has bravely used his television perch to take on beggars. “I had heard that some people beg for a living and make big bucks — $80,000 a year in some cases,” Stossel told Fox & Friends. “You really shouldn’t give to these street people,” Stossel concluded. “You are really supporting alcoholism and drug problems.”
Researchers wanted to test out whether this widely held view of panhandlers as lazy alcoholics getting rich off others was correct. The Union Square Business Improvement District, a collection of 500 property owners in downtown San Francisco, hired GLS Research to survey panhandlers over a two-day period in March.
They found that, for the vast majority of beggars, Stossel’s view was simply not true.
In San Francisco’s Union Square, the typical panhandler is a disabled middle-aged single male who is a racial minority and makes less than $25 per day despite panhandling seven days a week for more than five years. Though Stossel was insistent that panhandlers just use the money for beer and pot, the majority of those surveyed did not. In fact, 94 percent used the meager funds they raised for food.
In addition, some justify doing little to fight homelessness because, in their view, many homeless people don’t want help and prefer living on the streets. However, researchers discovered that, on the contrary, just 3 percent of panhandlers don’t want housing.
Among the survey’s findings:
Researchers also spoke with 400 people who had given money to panhandlers in the past year. They found that the largest group of people who chose to give were young working-class Bay Area residents. Empathy was a main driver; three in five said the gave “because they or a family member may be in need someday.”
[FONT=Open Sans, Calibri, Trebuchet MS, Lucida Sans, Arial, sans-serif]http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/10/30/2856411/panhandling-stats/
....I'm a softy too.[/FONT]
Conventional wisdom is that those on the sidewalk asking for a dollar are lazy freeloaders who will use the money for alcohol or drugs. Some even think that beggars are living large off of handouts, such as Fox News’ John Stossel, who has bravely used his television perch to take on beggars. “I had heard that some people beg for a living and make big bucks — $80,000 a year in some cases,” Stossel told Fox & Friends. “You really shouldn’t give to these street people,” Stossel concluded. “You are really supporting alcoholism and drug problems.”
Researchers wanted to test out whether this widely held view of panhandlers as lazy alcoholics getting rich off others was correct. The Union Square Business Improvement District, a collection of 500 property owners in downtown San Francisco, hired GLS Research to survey panhandlers over a two-day period in March.
They found that, for the vast majority of beggars, Stossel’s view was simply not true.
In San Francisco’s Union Square, the typical panhandler is a disabled middle-aged single male who is a racial minority and makes less than $25 per day despite panhandling seven days a week for more than five years. Though Stossel was insistent that panhandlers just use the money for beer and pot, the majority of those surveyed did not. In fact, 94 percent used the meager funds they raised for food.
In addition, some justify doing little to fight homelessness because, in their view, many homeless people don’t want help and prefer living on the streets. However, researchers discovered that, on the contrary, just 3 percent of panhandlers don’t want housing.
Among the survey’s findings:
- 83 percent are men
- 48 percent are African American
- 31 percent are white
- 69 percent are single
- 26 percent served in the military
- 70 percent are 40 to 59 years old
- 58 percent have been panhandling for at least five years
- 53 percent panhandle seven days a week
- 60 percent make $25 a day or less
- 94 percent use the money for food
- 44 percent use it for drugs or alcohol
- 62 percent are disabled
- 25 percent are alcoholics
- 32 percent are addicted to drugs
- 82 percent are homeless
Researchers also spoke with 400 people who had given money to panhandlers in the past year. They found that the largest group of people who chose to give were young working-class Bay Area residents. Empathy was a main driver; three in five said the gave “because they or a family member may be in need someday.”
[FONT=Open Sans, Calibri, Trebuchet MS, Lucida Sans, Arial, sans-serif]http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/10/30/2856411/panhandling-stats/
....I'm a softy too.[/FONT]
QuickSilver
SF VIP
- Location
- Midwest
This is the situation, at least here in the States.. So many people begrudge people from getting anything that they aren't getting.. Free lunch for kids.. food stamps.. whatever... and I guess, even a smoke. I don't know where that comes from.. hatred of taxes maybe. folks don't want money coming out of their pockets for helping folks if those folks have ANYTHING at all.. I suppose only if people show up in rags, with bread bags covering their feet and perhaps some open sores for good measure.. then PERHAPS they may be entitled to help. I'm in the camp... either give him a donation, or walk on by.. Don't critique.
One of the guys I used to work with had a rule to never give cash. If someone stopped him near a store saying they needed baby diapers, he would just tell them to meet him in the store and he would buy the diapers. Needed gas? Meet me at the nearest gas station and would pump some gas. Food? Meet me in the store (he'd buy them a loaf of bread and some cold cuts). About half the time they would just disappear. He was a very generous person, but never gave cash to folks just standing on the street at the stop lights. I decided to follow the same rule, although I've only been approached like that a couple of times. Both followed through in my case.
Debby
Well-known Member
- Location
- East coast of Canada
And they may have had the phones then their luck went bad and now they need some help. No rules that say when your luck changes you have to get rid of whatever stuff you did accumulate til then.
Does God smoke? If so, what brand?
applecruncher
SF VIP
- Location
- Ohio USA
So being down on your luck means you’re not allowed to talk on the phone? How are potential employers going to reach you? What if there’s an emergency with one of your kids? Also, some social service programs require you to give a contact number.
I know of someone who bought one of those cheapie phones for someone to help them out. I also know of someone who lent a phone to someone when their home phone was disconnected for nonpayment.
I’m aware that some people are scammers but let’s be reasonable and not lose sight of the fact that sometimes stuff happens and people need help.
I can't agree with some of you. If a person has money for cigs, the money is better spent on food, medicine or shelter. By asking the guy how he has cig money seems "holier than thou" you are jumping to conclusions that my tone of voice would be critical. Not at all... that is not how I would approach him. Just simply and humbly ask the question to the guy. Big deal.
But no, I wouldn't ask him...I'm just saying!
But no, I wouldn't ask him...I'm just saying!
...a little off topic, but I wanted to comment on a similar situation: Inmates. People are outraged that inmates get to watch TV, get outdoor recreation, commissary visits, phone calls, etc. People want inmates to locked in a cage, and be made to contemplate their sins(think: penitence, as in penitentiary). That doesn't work/ not going to happen. People stripped of normal societal constructs develop rage and hostility, they lose their minds. The 'amenities' listed above can be taken away or curtailed, thus providing a means to regulate inmate behavior. Most inmates will eventually be returned to society once they've served their sentence, so it would be counter-productive to instill rage and hostility by stripping them of normal living conditions.
QuickSilver
SF VIP
- Location
- Midwest
Why is it your business? Just walk on by and don't give him money.. Why would you even ask the guy? To satisfy your preconceived notion that he is a scammer?
"Just simply and humbly ask the question to the guy. Big deal.
But no, I wouldn't ask him...I'm just saying!"
Gosh, I really could care less...just posting thoughts.
QuickSilver
SF VIP
- Location
- Midwest
So being down on your luck means you’re not allowed to talk on the phone? How are potential employers going to reach you? What if there’s an emergency with one of your kids? Also, some social service programs require you to give a contact number.
I know of someone who bought one of those cheapie phones for someone to help them out. I also know of someone who lent a phone to someone when their home phone was disconnected for nonpayment.
I’m aware that some people are scammers but let’s be reasonable and not lose sight of the fact that sometimes stuff happens and people need help.
Same goes for those bitching about people wearing designer clothes or carrying expensive handbags. How do they know where those came from? They could have been gifts.. OR they could have bought them at GoodWill or a resale shop. WHY do some want people to be groveling for any assistance. Like I said.. rags and open sores would be the only way some would think people need some help.
applecruncher
SF VIP
- Location
- Ohio USA
Loved you "breadbags on the feet" comment, Quicksilver. But then some would check to make sure the person doesn't have a pedicure.
QuickSilver
SF VIP
- Location
- Midwest
Or that the bags are a generic brand... not Pepperidge Farm
SifuPhil
R.I.P. With Us In Spirit Only
- Location
- Pennsylvania, USA
Because they like to feel superior?
QuickSilver
SF VIP
- Location
- Midwest
Mrs. Robinson
Well-known Member
- Location
- Nampa,Idaho
Can`t really say anything about people waiting in line for food being on cell phones. Anyone in the US who receives assiatance of any kind-food stamps,Medicaid,etc.) is entitled to a free cell phone. In California it comes with unlimited free calls and texts. It comes from a tax that everyone pays on their phone bills. How would they ever find a job or call a doctor if they were ill if they can`t afford a phone?
applecruncher
SF VIP
- Location
- Ohio USA
It’s always puzzled me how when some snotty, uninformed people hear of a person struggling, not being able to find a job, they say “Hrmpff, that’s BS. McDonald’s is hiring everyday”. Well, McDonald’s is NOT hiring everyday and even so, McDonald’s can’t hire EVERYBODY.”
AprilT
Well-known Member
- Location
- A galaxy far far away
It's funny you mentioned this about the designer clothing, at one of the volunteer gigs I attend making sandwiches and sorting clothing to hand out to the homeless, we get lots of items that would be considered high priced fashion items, including footwear, all used, but mostly in great to newish looking condition. These clothing items will be distributed to the homeless who are walking the street who come to the park where our team hand these items out. Some of them might not even know the original ticket price of these items, they're just happy to have a change of clothing. Sad though, someone will judge them wrongly thinking if they can afford such clothing, they must not be doing so bad.
A lot of these people are vets, some are drug addicts, some are scammers, a number of them suffer from mental illnesses. I'm sure, but, when we go out to assist, that's the last thing we are thinking. There's a lot of pain and suffering out there, I have little time to sit in judgement of the less fortunate to many people are finding themselves on the list when they never thought they'd be. What little release they may find, if that's in a cigarette or whatever, I am not going to begrudge them. Not saying there hadn't been a time I didn't have such a thought, but, having seen the devastation and the pain in the eyes of the people up close, I have a deeper sympathy. Doesn't mean, I'm going to hand out money when approached just means, I'm not going to stand in judgement. It's not as far fetched as one might think to find self in a situation when tragedy strikes in a way that is out of ones own control.
And let me say, I am one of the first to be quite hard on moochers of any kind, some wouldn't want to know what I think of some of the welfare programs and my ideas. As to my reform ideas, I won't speak on them, I might be called satan or worse an undercover repub, j/k.
applecruncher
SF VIP
- Location
- Ohio USA
I know of well-off people who have donated the clothing (including coats, purses, and shoes) of a deceased loved one to a thrift shop or homeless shelter.
So being down on your luck means you’re not allowed to talk on the phone? How are potential employers going to reach you? What if there’s an emergency with one of your kids? Also, some social service programs require you to give a contact number.
I know of someone who bought one of those cheapie phones for someone to help them out. I also know of someone who lent a phone to someone when their home phone was disconnected for nonpayment.
I’m aware that some people are scammers but let’s be reasonable and not lose sight of the fact that sometimes stuff happens and people need help.
Give me a little credit for my observations!! I am not talking about inexpensive tracphones here, I see them with smart/Iphones and texting on them. Monthly charges are not cheap for those phones!!
applecruncher
SF VIP
- Location
- Ohio USA
Well, your observations are pretty darned judgmental and presumptuous. All that is beside the point. However, I give you credit for looking long enough and closely enough to see exactly what kind of phone they’re using, what they’re doing on it, and for making an assumption about whether the phone belongs to them (vs someone else) and for further assuming they bought the phone themselves while neglecting their kids.
My wife says that I shouldn't donate to them, but being a cop for so many years and running into a lot of these less fortunate people, I don't mind forking over a fin here and there.
We have found out that most are legit people trying to get some money, but not just for food. Some want to buy a bottle of wine or maybe some pills. But, most want to eat. I picked up a guy one time that was pillaging for food out of a dumpster. I spoke with him for a few minutes and I came to the conclusion that he had the mentality of a sixth grader. He also smelled to high heaven. I took him to the YMCA and asked them to let him take a shower and to call the Salvation Army and have them bring up some clean clothes that fit him and a new coat. I asked them to see that he got fed and a bed for the night.
I just know that I am glad that I am not like they are.
We have found out that most are legit people trying to get some money, but not just for food. Some want to buy a bottle of wine or maybe some pills. But, most want to eat. I picked up a guy one time that was pillaging for food out of a dumpster. I spoke with him for a few minutes and I came to the conclusion that he had the mentality of a sixth grader. He also smelled to high heaven. I took him to the YMCA and asked them to let him take a shower and to call the Salvation Army and have them bring up some clean clothes that fit him and a new coat. I asked them to see that he got fed and a bed for the night.
I just know that I am glad that I am not like they are.