giving homeless money

[TDMVPDPOY]

there are some ppl who cant get onto welfare, so they go begging

then there are some who dont wanna get onto welfare and go beg, cause of dignity....

[Dex]

LOL

dex, is this the first time you've ever been called out on spurstalk?

Not the first, and probably won't be the last.

Like I said, it's just a thought that passes through my head, but it's still there. And like I posted before, I know some of those people could rightfully use that money.

But for every one of those cases, it seems like there is someone who would rather just stand on a corner than get a job, or can't get a job because they've made too many mistakes in their life.

I'm not saying I'm heartless and have never given up a dime, but I'm also not real hip on playing 50-50 with money I could be giving to a real charity. I give money to United Way, I donate clothes and food to the Salvation Army. I did work for American Red Cross when Katrina hit. But I know where my contributions are going there. I'd rather give $50 to a real charity than ten $5 bills to random panhandlers.

[BRHornet45]

sons I usually tell them that they can come cut my grass for $30 .... just offer them to actually have to work for the money. that usually scares them off and they will leave you alone.

[Ronaldo McDonald]

I generously give them counterfeit money. That way they get their own room and food eventually.

[TDMVPDPOY]

than ten $5 bills to random panhandlers.

does this apply to ty bar?

[v2freak]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krg5r6n0kr4

scam (video of it on the link) from news station

That was an interesting video. I posted a reply on youtube though, and this is a serious question:

is it legal for the media (and anyone with a video camera) to record people and use names without consent? When does the news become voyeurism?

My reaction while watching was:

damn, a panhandler?
wtf? they followed her for a month?

[Biernutz]

If they are homeless, go to one of the shelters in town. The ones that hang at corners near gas stations --well that's where they take your hard earned money to buy beer or wine. Some people would buy a bum a drink but you won't buy a co-worker a drink at happy hour. Nice---Oh yeah -they won't let them drink at the shelters.

[Clandestino]

If they are homeless, go to one of the shelters in town. The ones that hang at corners near gas stations --well that's where they take your hard earned money to buy beer or wine. Some people would buy a bum a drink but you won't buy a co-worker a drink at happy hour. Nice---Oh yeah -they won't let them drink at the shelters.

exactly!

[timvp]

I'm not saying I'm heartless and have never given up a dime, but I'm also not real hip on playing 50-50 with money I could be giving to a real charity. I give money to United Way, I donate clothes and food to the Salvation Army. I did work for American Red Cross when Katrina hit. But I know where my contributions are going there. I'd rather give $50 to a real charity than ten $5 bills to random panhandlers.

Actually, I'd say your chances of getting your money to someone who needs it is better if you give to a random panhandler than if you give to a "non-profit" organization. A whole of a lot of NPOs are scams. Even the bigger ones like United Way have scammish tendencies.

For example, with United Way IIRC about one-third of all cash donations end up in the hands of executives. So if you donate $100 to United Way, approximately $33 will not be going to help anyone. And really, United Way is one of the more honest NPOs.

Donating to an actual person or a specific cause is a much better way to ensure your money actually reaches someone who needs it. Going through a NPO middlemen only helps their executives get rich.

And back to an original point, I'm confident that the percentage of panhandlers who don't actually need the money is less than the percentage of money skimmed off the top of your average NPO.

[anakha]

Actually, I'd say your chances of getting your money to someone who needs it is better if you give to a random panhandler than if you give to a "non-profit" organization. A whole of a lot of NPOs are scams. Even the bigger ones like United Way have scammish tendencies.

For example, with United Way IIRC about one-third of all cash donations end up in the hands of executives. So if you donate $100 to United Way, approximately $33 will not be going to help anyone. And really, United Way is one of the more honest NPOs.

Donating to an actual person or a specific cause is a much better way to ensure your money actually reaches someone who needs it. Going through a NPO middlemen only helps their executives get rich.

And back to an original point, I'm confident that the percentage of panhandlers who don't actually need the money is less than the percentage of money skimmed off the top of your average NPO.

What about donating directly to places like shelters and orphanages, in either cash or goods? Is that a better option?

My personal preference is to avoid giving cash as much as possible, to minimize the potential of misuse.

[timvp]

What about donating directly to places like shelters and orphanages, in either cash or goods? Is that a better option?

Yeah, specific causes that you've researched are much safer than a random NPO.

My personal preference is to avoid giving cash as much as possible, to minimize the potential of misuse.

That is a good policy. Although the shadier NPOs have even been known to sell donated goods to cover executive costs.

[polandprzem]

I used to give the money to "those" people but recently I don't.
I've heard too much about panhandlers and "homeless".
Some of them are forced to beg to give profit to a family or profit to someone you live with? You won't get enough money they will beat you up.
And damn when the beg near the church or write god bless on their cartoon I have enough.
And WTF? they are knocking on your door and begging because they have no money to feed children?
Hmm? I even got an e-mail that guy is in hard situation, of course more then 250 words how bad situation he has and to send the money to an account. GMAB.

So I do not belive them at all right now. I work and it's not easy work and I have not much money from that job. I'm happy that I have home and that I have food every day. People are in much worse situation then me ... I could go on but I don't want.


Ps. All in all I'm also greedy and I want more and more and I thnk that is not the case in life to do everything to heve more and more money. But human is bulit that way.
Money=power
F that - I'm gonna get shower and go to work, eat something before it. And on the way to my job I will definately see those people without a job and home.

[Viva Las Espuelas]

no. if they're hungry i get them food. if they're thirsty i give them water.

[BacktoBasics]

no. if they're hungry i get them food. if they're thirsty i give them water.

You're an idiot. These people can get jobs at just about any fast food place. Temp labor is in demand too. They're homeless because they choose to be homeless.

If a homeless man came and begged me for a razor and some water for a shower so he could go get a job I'd think differently. That day will never happen.

the homeless and the ones with pets. They shouldn't be allowed to be responsible for anything other than themselves.

[Blake]

And back to an original point, I'm confident that the percentage of panhandlers who don't actually need the money is less than the percentage of money skimmed off the top of your average NPO.

you're most likely right, but that's like saying you have less of a chance at losing money in the Coke machine than the Pepsi machine.

They are both a waste of money in my book.

I was at Las Palapas (281/1604) and noticed a ford ranger pull up in the vacant lot that used to be Jack in the box. A vagrantly dressed woman jumped out and started doing her thing on the corner while the two guys she pulled up with stayed in the truck and watched her work.

My thinking is that they rotate corners throughout the area and at the first sign of cops (because panhandling on the side of the road is illegal after all) they jump in and take off.

There are just too many better ways to donate your money than to blow it on yahoos that stand on the corner with their signs.

I did see a good sign once over at 410/Ingram that said "I just got a divorce and my wife took my money, my house and my car and left me with nothing but this sign"

[Blake]

You're an idiot. These people can get jobs at just about any fast food place. Temp labor is in demand too. They're homeless because they choose to be homeless.

If a homeless man came and begged me for a razor and some water for a shower so he could go get a job I'd think differently. That day will never happen.

the homeless and the ones with pets. They shouldn't be allowed to be responsible for anything other than themselves.

give a man a fish and you feed him for a day...

teach a man to fish, and if he still can't learn, beat him over the head with your fish until he goes away

[JoeChalupa]

I still give when I can. Who am I to judge?

[BacktoBasics]

I still give when I can. Who am I to judge?

I really wish we could get past the days of it being a bad thing to pass judgement. Passing judgement should be like passing gas...frequent and noisy with a little stinch.

[Blake]

I still give when I can. Who am I to judge?

I dont judge them. I just dont give to them either because I don't donate to what I think is a lazy bum.

[I. Hustle]

F that! I don’t give them jack. My dad runs a rehab and I saw these guys go in all the time and brag about how much money they make and how there are places all over town that give out free food and clothes so all they had to spend the money on was booze or drugs. Then they put women up to it and people feel bad for them because they are a chick or are “pregnant” so they give them more money.
Another thing that pisses me off are these idiots that put kids on the corners to raise money for their basketball or baseball or whatever team. I mean WTF?! Why can’t they do carwashes or something like that? These idiot parents are teaching their kids that it’s ok just to beg for the money instead of actually working for it.

[polandprzem]

I still give when I can. Who am I to judge?

Yea after all you gave it thinking you was doing good thing.
And what is going to happen to those money after it you don't care

[Viva Las Espuelas]

You're an idiot. These people can get jobs at just about any fast food place. Temp labor is in demand too. They're homeless because they choose to be homeless.

If a homeless man came and begged me for a razor and some water for a shower so he could go get a job I'd think differently. That day will never happen.

the homeless and the ones with pets. They shouldn't be allowed to be responsible for anything other than themselves.

i'm an idiot for showing compassion? silly me.

[polandprzem]

F that! I don’t give them jack. My dad runs a rehab and I saw these guys go in all the time and brag about how much money they make and how there are places all over town that give out free food and clothes so all they had to spend the money on was booze or drugs. Then they put women up to it and people for bad for them because they are a chick or are “pregnant” so they give them more money.
Another thing that pisses me off are these idiots that put kids on the corners to raise money for their basketball or baseball or whatever team. I mean WTF?! Why can’t they do carwashes or something like that? These idiot parents are teaching their kids that it’s ok just to beg for the money instead of actually working for it.

They are doing a bad PR

[Blake]

oh man, I hate the basketball kids that come up after I'm leaving WalMart asking for money to travel to a tournament in New York.

Hey kid, if you have to beg for money to go to NY to play ball, then you don't need to go. Play at the Y like the rest of us hacks that think we would have been in the NBA if it weren't for that high school coach that never let us shoot from three point range.

[mrsmaalox]

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