What is the best way to deal with panhandlers?

[brighamr]

lots of emotional replies in this thread...

Personally, it depends on the person and the situation. If a guy sits on a corner at a stop light, and someone gives him a 20 and he still sits there, he'll get burnt rubber as I peel out in front of him. If it's a guy who's emaciated, standing in front of McDonalds, counting the pennies in his hand, I'll take him in and buy anything on the menu. I never just give away money, that teaches newbies that they can actually get money without contributing to society...

 

[mekender]

ill tell ya this much, if i ever win the lottery, im gonna dress up as the dirtiest, most homeless looking guy youve ever seen, and sit on the street... first person that buys me a meal gets a check for $10,000

 

[flynnguy]

I think location has a lot to do with it. I went to college in Philadelphia and saw more than my fair share of panhandlers. Usually (especially on the busy sidewalk) you can just ignore them and keep moving. They are especially present in 30th street station, in fact that's where I've seen someone turn town getting food instead of money. (Reading about it is one thing, seeing it first hand is unbelievable) If I'm not on a crowded sidewalk, I sometimes still just ignore them or say something that conveys the message of no.

People can be really convincing too. I once was approached by someone (in 30th street) for some change. Long sob story (that I don't remember now) but it was moving. However I really had no money on me at the time. I had just enough for my train ticket and didn't have the change he needed. So while I was waiting, I saw him approach other people, one guy gave him what looked like what he was asking for. He walked toward the ticket counter but never quite made it there. Came back and approached more people. So I get a little cynical with panhandlers.

I'm sure there are a lot of people who are down on their luck and I'd love to help them. However it's next to impossible to tell who's really needy and who's looking to make a quick buck.

 

[Vicious-Peanut]

Well, I usually do my best to stay out of areas with a lot of them. However just outside campus is a not so great area with alot of them, and I was almost out of gas (real low, it slipped past me, as I usually fill up to avoid doing it there) and I really needed it so I stopped at a station and the pump wouldn't work so I had to go in. When I came back out from paying (only a $10 so I could fill up near my house in a more 'comfortable' feeling area) there was one walking from pump to pump asking for change. So I was going to try to get the pump in my tank and start it and them get in my truck and lock it, but he beat me to it and got over to me before I could get in. He asked, I said sorry and he asked again. I replied No. He walked off, but as I was leaving the station he tried to wave me down and gave me the stop hand signal. I just ignored him. He was probably harmless, but I just don't like to put myself in situations like that. I just keep my eyes peeled and just constantly scan the area.

 

[Cosmoline]

I still have some problems with drunks trying to make friends, but since I started riding the bike the bums don't ask me for money anymore. I think it's because in my shabby winter riding gear on a bike with a tupperware trailer they view me as one of their own. I bet if I made a little effot during tourist season the outsiders would toss me some change.

 

[tuckerdog1]

If it's a guy who's emaciated, standing in front of McDonalds, counting the pennies in his hand, I'll take him in and buy anything on the menu.

They'll still burn ya. Some time ago, I was standing in line at a burger place that has an outdoor ordering window ( Sandy's for those that know Austin ). There was this guy that looked like the Grim Reaper was tapping him on the shoulder. Really thin and in bad shape. He's begging for food money. Well, I told him I'd get him something. When I ordered my meal, I just doubled the order, one for me, the other for him. While waiting for my number to get called, I went back to my van to take care of some work while waiting. He follows & is getting real anxious. Finally, he says " Are ya gonna give me some money or not? ". I explained I'd ordered him food & it would be ready soon. Well, there's panic on his face. He races to the pickup window, trying to cancel his portion of the order and get the cash. Too late, just as he gets there the order comes out. So I give him the food, and the rest of the time I was there eating, he was going up and down the line of people waiting to order, trying to sell this meal to them. BUM!

Tuckerdog1

 

[S.P.E.C.T.R.E.]

What's worked well for me is "I have nothing for you", and keep walking. No trouble yet.

 

[Zundfolge]

If I'm alone I usually have my MP3 player's earbuds in place. Even if the player is turned off I can use it as an excuse to pretend I didn't even hear them.

Egad! Sounds like a good way to get yourself jumped.

As for this "25% of homeless are vets" bollocks, I bet they just interviewed homeless folk and 1/4th said they were vets ... I imagine that another quarter would say they were super heros as well.


On a side note, one of the funniest south park episodes ever dealt with this very issue.

http://www.0oo0o0oo00o0o0o0o.info/e00/s11/1107.html

 

[P5 Guy]

Winter is coming and the tent city in downtown St. Petersburg will be filling up. Thanks for the good advise.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

What I usually do is cut them off right when they start talking to me and just say "Nope, sorry". Then I just ignore whatever they say and keep walking.

That is generally what I do. Every situation is different, though, and I have deviated from it in the past. A few years ago I was coming out of an In-N-Out Burger and was approached by someone who said he needed money for food. As a sort of test, I replied, "Can't do that, but if you're really hungry I'll buy you some food." He replied enthusiastically in the affirmative, so I sort of had to go back in and order a burger and drink to go. I still probably got taken for a fool.

But -- this being southern California -- I was not armed. Now that I am, I cannot afford to get in any sort of ... confrontation. So the answer above is my answer for all of them. If it was someone who really needed food ... that's just too bad.

I am reminded of the panhandler scene in the movie Falling Down ...

 

[Hook686]

Give them 5 bucks ... especially if it is winter ... and wish them well.

 

[r6zer]

I just say no thanks. To all others here that say hand an application out and what not. beware. I had a buddy do something similar. when he came out of the bar later that night he found that he had a brick thrown through his car window. If you are going to be rude make sure you leave nothing for them to destroy. I at least try to be as polite as I can be.

 

[shouldifail]

Around here, we seem to have "professional homeless"...most are doing quite well financially.
At the end of the exit ramp from the interstate, a man with a sign reading " hungry, homeless, will work for food" was offered cash work from a friend of the family. He responded with profanity and curses, and has been out there on the same corner for going on 3 years.
Another "down and out" fellow, drives his new model Cadillac to where he will panhandle for the day.
The last time I was approached, it was by the "family man" his story is that his wife and kids are in the car and they ran out of gas and he needs a couple dollars to get enough gas to get home. Prior to this, I have been approached by him on 4 seperate occasions, offered to go put a couple dollars in gas into the gas can I keep in the truck and meet him at his car....NOPE he just wants the money!!! The last time I saw him, he gave me the same sad story and was shocked when I told him that his wife and kids were dead.... I told him that they probably starved or froze to death, because for 3 YEARS he's been trying to find gas for his broken down car.
He appologized and left. Havent seen him since.

-If the person says "Excuse me sir, I hate to be a bother" they get no money. I think that phrase is taught in Panhandling 101 at the Homeless Academy.
-I have bought food for a homeless guy with his own money!! Fast food wouldn't let him in the store, and wouldn't let him use the drive thru....he had plenty of money.
-Asking them for money first works. OR acting crazier than them works too...talk gibberish or bark at them.
-Here in michigan, the true homeless migrate south...the ones left behind are just too lazy to work or want crack money.

 

[jabotinsky]

There but for the grace...

 

[Zundfolge]

There but for the grace...

Bovine Scat.

I am not a bum ... er sorry, homeless, because of luck or the whims of the almighty. I have a home because I work hard for it, and no I'm not "just a paycheck away from homelessness" nor are most of us, and those few that are likely got into that position because of their own bad choices.

I have no problem helping the truly needy ... but I'm not going to do that on the street corner listening to the rap of some hustler thats just too lazy to get a real job.

I help by giving time and money to my church (that does a TON of outreach to the downtrodden) we also donate a lot to the Salvation Army. I guarantee you that 99.999% of money given directly to "homeless" beggars is wasted on drugs and alcohol (which are helping to keep these people "homeless").

Giving money to pan handlers is nothing more than enabling them at best and at worse is allowing some criminal to transition from "interviewing" to "positioning".

 

[mpmarty]

I make eye contact, HARD. I don't have a pretty face. If they don't reverse course immediately I shout BACK OFF and if they don't I take a horse stance and prepare to take them out.

 

[Jeff White]

Sorry, but the Strategy and Tactics Forum is not the place where we debate about the homeless.

Jeff