ONTD

In my area panhandlers are beyond aggressive to the point where you can't even go to some stores,and if you don't have change they ask why

I always offer to buy them food instead. Only two people have ever accepted.

i only give them change when the paparazzi are following me

I got scammed into giving a lady 10$ on the train bc she claimed she needed money to see her kids but later found out that she does this daily to get money.

Only time I've done is when I was giving my friend a hug good-bye after lunch and out of the corner of my eye, I saw a homeless have a genuine smile that kinda had some sadness behind it. So I gave her some money.

i never give money for this reason. my husband and i were hounded down by this woman who came with a sob story about needing money to fund a surgery and showed us a random hospital paper. she looked like a straight up crack head and wouldn't leave us alone. it was scary tbh.

I usually give change, kind of a nice person like that. When I worked at a bagel shop, I use to leave everyday with bagels, and I'd pass several homeless who would always ask for change. Was dead broke then, soo I would offer bagels. Sometimes I'd get "I don't want your damn bagels", and other times, they were so grateful for getting food.

One of my more interesting was this older lady with a cane who was out for a walk had asked me for some change to get a Popsicle cause her blood sugar was low. I give her 2 dollars, and she tells me that is too much and she will be back with the change. For the next 20 minutes or so I end up in a conversation with her brother about New Orleans, growing up there, and that he use to be really active in the jazz scene when he was in his 20's. A while later this woman comes back, with a Popsicle and my change. I talk a bit more with both of them and then bid them both good bye.

And then there was one guy who was outside this corner market, who managed to spange a bit of money but wasn't allowed in, and wanted to get some food. I agree, and gives me like $2-3, I use some of my own money to buy him a few sandwiches and water. I come back out, and he has a beer. He sees me come out, and freaks out, starts pouring out the beer, saying someone else bought it for him, and he just really wants the food. Tell him I don't care either way, and give him the food. I felt really bad, because someone probably has refused to give him food after something like that before.

There's a guy who stands on a street corner I pass by often who washes windshields. He's the only guy I've seen doing this who ASKS first to make sure it's okay (most just start washing your windshield without permission). I've giving him money because of this on multiple occasions even though I never let him wash my windshield.

I've given food on multiple occasions. Like a full tub of popcorn fresh from the movies (I'd gotten a refill and didn't want it to go to waste) and stuff like that.

I've never had anyone turn down food I was offering them. But when I offer food, I tend to go up to them, not the other way around.

samesies

Although one time near my gym (there's an arbys next door), a hobo came by and asked for change, I told him i had none (I had my debit card) he walked away and said "oh c'mon lady, i know you've got something, sheesh, all I want is some Arbys"

he attempted to ask another bystander, but when I heard that he wanted food I turned around and bought him the biggest meal at Arbys. he actually wanted the food and offered to sit down and eat with him and talk

i wanted to go work out plus having a conversation with a hobo kind of frightens me (from past experience) but i've always wondered what he wanted to talk about....kind of regret not doing it :/

tl;dr i dont mind buying them food but giving out money im a little more iffy about, especially after working at a 7-11

One time there was this homeless man and he had a will work for food sign. It broke my heart. My mom stopped and gave him $20.

Same.

The worst is at the bus station when people ask me for money and I tell them I don't have any cash, they get all bitchy with me and say 'then how are you getting on the bus?'. Like, not that it's any of your fucking business, but I have a bus pass. As if having the money obligates me to give it to them.

it's just like, you know i'm fucking broke too

Honestly I might be all he had on him. I don't carry cash ever. Quarters for meters and that's it.

I gave a guy food once and he bitched at me for not giving him cash.
Never again.

We realized they gave us hashbrowns at McDonald's the other day (we're low carb), so we handed it to the first homeless dude we saw (they were still hot, we're not monsters). I was surprised that he seemed genuinely grateful and just thanked us and we kept walking.

a few years ago I was getting gas and there was this guy asking for money to get food outside of the gas station

me, being the kind soul that I am, bought him a sub and a gatorade while I was inside paying for my gas

so I offer it to him and he's like "no no that's okay I'm okay" before I just set it down next to him and left




Edited at 2012-10-10 12:54 am (UTC)

Same. I once walked past a panhandler standing outside McDonald's and didn't give him anything. Inside, some guy approached me and asked if I'd buy him something to eat, so I did. When I came back out, the panhandler started berating and threatening me, saying how dare I buy some ~meth head food but refuse to give him money and that he'd better not see me around this McDonald's again because he'd kick my ass, blah blah blah...... oooookay.

ETA: Although, sometimes if I have spare change from an order, I'll put something in. Most of the panhandlers I come across aren't as aggressive as that one bastard was.

Edited at 2012-10-10 01:01 am (UTC)

not all homeless people are hungry or starving but they would all like the chance to take a shower in a motel room.

I once gave a guy a quarter (all the change I had on me) and he followed me for a block harassing me, saying he "knew I had more money on me." As I ducked into the subway, he shoved me. Luckily I was gripping on the railing and didn't wipe out down the steps. Oh, and he also called me a fag.

Edited at 2012-10-10 01:06 am (UTC)

i want to do that but whenever i see a homeless person, it's on a median and i'm always on the farthest lane :P

I usually give them money. Money is useful in getting shelter, clothing, water, medication, and food in the longterm.

If they're hungry, they'll usually ask for food directly. It's possible that the last few people they asked for money from bought them food instead, because they don't trust them and think they're just going to buy drugs with the money.

I've heard that a lot of homeless people don't like it when you give them food because they're worried that it could be poisoned or something :(

But then again, if you give them cash you don't know what that money could be used for. They could say it's for food, but then spend on it alcohol or drugs :(

a homeless guy approached my friend and asked him to go buy some chicken and a coke at the grocery store nearby. being the nice guy my friend is, he obliged and bought a 2 piece meal with a biscuit included and a 20 oz coke for the man. instead of being grateful, the homeless guy bitched at him and said he wanted the fresh hot chicken from the deli section, not a preheated 2 pc set.

UGH. i would've let all hell loose on that douche tbh.

i gave liquids twice to people on the trains (in nyc). one was an adult who had a bag of their belongings, and i gave them a water bottle (which i drank out of, and that made me feel AWFUL but water is water... and it was otherwise clean? =/), and they were grateful about it.

another time it was a teenager on the train (kids begging always saddens me), and he was asking for food, and i had like one of those kids' six-pack drinks with me, and offered the entire thing to him. he was really polite about it and just asked for a couple of them, but i really did want to just give him the entire thing (i pushed it all on him a couple of times, but i didn't want to go overboard since he was all 'no it's ok'). at least he took a couple? ):

i give them cash usually, maybe they'll spend it on alcohol but idk if i was homeless i'd want a fucking drink too

My friend worked at a homeless shelter once and it was vegetable day. One of the homeless guys complained about it and another homeless guy yelled at him, "WHAT? THIS ISN'T NO FUCKING FOUR SEASONS! SHUT UP AND EATING YOUR FUCKING VEGETABLES!!"

i was smoking a cigarette while waiting for the bus. this bum asked me for change i was like no bro i got nothing. and this good samaritan overheard and gave him $20 and he told him to "take care and use it wisely."

the bum thanked him. "god bless you" etc. and when he left, the bum went up to me and said "can i buy your pack? i got money."

i didn't say anything i just stared at him in shock. i think my cigarette fell off my mouth lol.

I don't give them anything, some of them make 20 dollars or more an hour standing on the street corner, forget it I rather donate money to a charity that is feeding starving children.

this

haha same.

I can watch your icon for hours @_@ okay maybe a few minutes but still.

yah

exactly

same

yeah i give like a dollar or something, it's not going to break me

same. idk i grew up with addicts so i feel some sympathy towards them. maybe that's a wrong way to feel but i honestly don't care.

Exactly. I hate when people judge what a homeless person might spend their money on - who cares really, if you're living on the streets anything that makes your life a little more comfortable is a plus.

ha, this is like my mom

exactly. lol @ people being all 'ill give them strictly ______ but not money'.

same

Ikr I can't blame a bitch for needing a drink.

This.

basically

yeah, i kind of think like that too.

same. if theyre addicts theyre going to find a way to get alcohol or drugs anyway.

Same here.
How else you going to get through those cold and shitty nights?

how about no.
if they are spending the little money they have on booze they don't deserve hand outs or pity tbh. get your fucking shit together.

BTW half the people who panhandle make more a year than working americans.

agreed. it gets cold out at night, i'm sure booze helps them keep warm/sleep as well.

By that same rationale, my friend was at a gas station, saw a homeless man, and decided to buy him a pack of cigarettes. The man look at her like she was a god or something. I had no idea how she knew to get cigs and not booze, tbh.

this. if i have time to offer to pop into mcdonald's or something to buy them a meal, and if they accept i'm more than happy to.

but usually if i have spare change i'll just give that. i don't really care what they do with it. i don't blame them for spending it on drugs or alcohol.

haha that's me pretty much. i usually give a couple dollars at the most but idc what they do w/ it. being poor sucks so i can't even imagine how much it would suck to be homeless

this.

yup. the other day I gave some cash to a homeless girl because she kinda looked like my friend and I felt bad. But she was clearly working the intersection/stop lights if you kwim

Edited at 2012-10-10 03:31 am (UTC)

yeah, i agree

Seriously. I usually get them food (which I have never gotten a bad reaction about) and water (AZ is fucking dangerous to be outside in in the summer), but that's only because I don't have cash on me most of the time.

Same.
The statistics regarding violence, illness (without even touching on mental illness), and the stigmas regarding the homeless that make so many distrustful of them just makes me sick. Some may fake homelessness but having been there as a child, I'm doubtful it's the majority, or even a number big enough to warrant so much suspicion.
The criminalization of addicts, the lack of accessible and affordable mental and preventative health care, lack of inexpensive housing, and - commonly with women - fleeing from domestic violence cause homelessness. If someone wants a couple bucks to find whatever comfort they need to get through their situation, be it food, a shower, a pack of smokes, or their drug of choice, I honestly don't think it's my place to judge them when institutionalized problems keep them there.

Seriously. And if they're addicts, they're going to find that money one way or another. If I give it to them, then maybe they won't have to rob someone or have sex for money or whatever. Their day is just a little bit easier, idk.

I don't always give money I should add, because I don't always have it (and who can afford to give to every panhandler they see?) but I don't care what they need it for.

IA. People would be up in arms if we went into the homes of people getting food stamps and dictated what they can and can't get (with their their EBT, or their own cash), so why are people so pissy that some homeless guys are using the money to buy booze? It's a hard life, I don't blame them.

When I was little me and my mom went to blockbuster and this homeless man was outside. She asked if he wanted our left over taquitos cuz we had just come from a restaurant and he was all, are they chicken? My mom said no and was all then why the fuck do I want them then!

$5 can buy a lot of stuff at Tim's! Maybe not a sandwich but definitely soup and a bagel!

I remember once I gave some money to a guy when I was standing in line for a concert. The guy called me cheap and insisted I give him more. Another homeless guy who was nearby called him out for being an asshole and yelled at him until he went away. Everyone around me in line immediately gave the other homeless guy money.

Because every homeless person does that

life is all about choices, if I choose to give $10 to a homeless person I can't berate/judge them for what they use the money for. If they choose to use it on food/shelter good for them, if they choose to fuel some addiction I can only hope that in the future they choose to leave it behind.

lmao

lmao

OMG LMAO

lmfao

holy shit TWENTY DOLLARS of your hard earned money given to some beggar on the street who isn't doing shit? that's a lot

least i've given was water and most $20

ooohhhhh where in Oregon? I go to the UO

i remember watching intervention and there was one girl who would make $300 a day begging in nyc, it was kind of surprising to me.

same

or directions for the bus station