I've been of that school as well, but an event a few years ago changed it. I used to just give money to shelters or donate food and my old coats and blankets with the idea that I could control how the money was being spent. However, when I lived in Chicago, there was a guy who lived in my neighborhood. I would pass by him on the way home every day. He would always ask for money and I would always decline (I believe in saying "no" rather than ignoring the question). One cold night he asked me for money and I again declined. He died that night from exposure. I often wonder what he would have been able to do with the money I could have given him. Get a cup of coffee? Sit in a diner? Since then, I've taken the risk that I could be contributing to someone's drug or alcohol problem.
I just want to apologize for what I said. Like I said I would never Run up to one and just start yelling. Actually I'm usually the one who hands them money. I was very frustrated the other day and that isn't me.
There are a lot of ways to help people in need... but giving money to pan handlers is not one on my list. I think it can actually help feed problems.
I was walking out of the drug store a few days ago...gave a guy who asked a dollar....then he asked for one of the beers from a 30 pack....gave him one...lol
I doubt the IRS would garner 75%.... unless the 25% was enough for him to live on. I feel bad for homeless people... a lot of them used to be in mental institutions but unless you are a danger to yourself or others regardless of how crazy you are... you can't really expect much help. There is a new bread of panhandlers now though... they are organized... they are not crazy... they are doing it for easy money. Edited: Originally said max IRS could garnish was 25% but I don't think that is true. There is a table they use to determine the amount. Most likely he is having child support or something also
I had a divorced friend who lost a very good job... and his ex remarried some rich guy... and yet he was paying almost all his salary (much less than the good job) to child support. He went to court to try to get it reduced and they raised it. He had about $600 take home after they took child support, and his rent was $500. Not sure how he made it... but buying beer wasn't on the top of his list.
Many of the freeway off-ramp panhandlers are not homeless. That is part of the problem. Gangs control the locations and place workers to beg idiots for money. These probably are professional beggars. Didn't you see that documentary about professional beggars done years ago? Ones in NYC were pulling down over $100k per year. Tax free - as in those fuckers don't pay taxes on their "earnings". The only solution to the problem of professional beggars and drug addits is NEVER give money to beggars/panhandlers. Carry around calling cards to social service agencies / shelters and tokens for meals. Hand those out.
[video=youtube;HtrYU6vWdiE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtrYU6vWdiE[/video] At least this guy is creative and sings
You need to try this out. You are in for an education. My experience is that 95% of the panhandlers / beggars will get angry when you try to "help" them. Don't you get it? They don't want your pathetic fucking "help". They want hard, cold cash. End of story. Anything else is junk to them. I have offered beggars manual work / food / drive to a shelter, etc. Been turned down most times. Even been cursed at multiple different times for the insulting offer. That is how you can flush out the pros and drug addicts. Again - never give money - EVER.
The only time I ever give money is if I talk to them for a while...and it's extremely rare. I have given money to some folks broken down in a parking lot had no money and were stuck, some funny drunk homeless guys in New Orleans (because they told good stories - figure it was payment for the stories so they could go get drunk), to a girl that said her bf had kicked her out of the car and she needed to get bus money back to Salem (that was a scam - she had no idea where bus station was and didn't want a ride - I figured out the BS after giving her money). I have also given food to homeless people that haven't asked... all that said I should probably do more...but I won't give to pan handlers...especially aggressive pan handlers...
When I was in Seattle the panhandles I saw by the Piers were drunken messes. Like every 20-feet there was one asking for money.
I give them food, water and blankets - never had a problem so far. I guess none of them want to educate me, sorry to disappoint you.
I never give them money because I don't carry cash. If I have time, I usually buy em a sandwich or something.
I had one get pissed when we offered him about six muffins that we had leftover from an event. It was in Salem, I think, a couple of years ago. Ed O.
We must live on different planets. I worked at SW 3rd and Pine, downtown Portland for 15 years. During my lunch breaks I got to know many, many homeless people quite well. I learned their colorful histories, their insurmountable challenges, and came to admire a few of them for their "scrappiness". I often shared my lunch, and sometimes gave them a little money. They appreciated food over money every time. I treated them with respect, and they returned in kind. That's how human beings roll. I've never run into anything like what you describe.
