Today while I was driving back to work I saw a "homeless" man doing something behind his cardboard sign. I crept up and low and behold, he was typing on his touch screen cell phone. I am a social worker in the Twin Cities and want to express my frustration about beggars. DON'T give them money, food, ect. I have clients who beg on street corners who make more than I do in a year. Follow a beggar home one night and see where they go... to their car parked a couple streets down! When you see someone begging, drop them off an application for MaDonald's (or a local place you know is hiring.)
Now I know there are some unfortunate situations, especially with the economy how it is today. But for the most part, the beggars you see don't need your money. To keep them off the corners, roll your windows up and keep them up.
If this unidentified meal recipient is too poor to buy his own food, how does he afford a cellphone?
And if he is homeless, where do they send the cellphone bills?
xoxo
Sara
Great point!
ReplyDeleteI pass two people who do this every day. And I always just have a gut feeling that they are trying to fool people and therefore I never give them anything. One of my friends will give one guy food once in a while, but I talked him out of giving money.
ReplyDeleteMy husband would so agree with this. I've never seen it happen, but he said that he watched a homeless guy leave the corner of a street and walk to a restaurant where he got into his BMW and drove away.
ReplyDeleteSO TRUE SISTER!!! I fully agree!! I hate when they have a dog sitting with them, that is so sad!
ReplyDeleteMy Husband and I sometimes offer to buy them a burger, or something to drink. If they are really hungry and really need it. they accept it. But so many of them do not want the food. they just want the money.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean, sometimes its hard to come out and say it, but it's so true! I have stopped before to try and give them food and they just say no or lay it to the side, so that person is obviously not hurting for food... I'm sure some cases are real but that's definitely the exception!
ReplyDeleteHmmmm. Good point. That really is frustrating. But let me say this: You couldn't pay me a salary to stand on the streets & beg! Don't you think they really earn what they get? Awful work!!!!
ReplyDeleteoxoxoxox
Denalee
True true true! I never give money, though I have been known on occasion to give food - granola bar, bottle of water, etc.
ReplyDeleteI refuse to harden my heart to people though. I understand that there might be people out there that are scamming.. but I still give people the benefit of the doubt.
ReplyDeleteMy co-worker does something before she gave money to beggers. She would say "I pray that you use this money for good. I pray that you use it to nurish your body. BUT I also pray that if you use it for bad. If you use it for alcohol that it makes you sick."
I say give from your heart. If you give from a good place, then it doesn't matter what the person does with the money. I believe God knows my heart,and where the giving is coming from.
I know its frustrating to see cases like this. It saddens me.. but I think its a rarity. I'd tell people to keep giving, or to give to a local shelter, but don't stop giving! That's whats wrong with our world today!
Every day I see the same "homeless" person on a corner and he's always dressed in different clothing and looking like he just got out of his car. It's so frustrating because I'm sure there really are some people who need help.
ReplyDeleteGlad you posted this. I always feel a little guilty when I ignore them, but I always wonder a little if they're really needy. I think I'd rather give to the local food bank or other charities.
ReplyDeleteOur local news did a piece several years ago, on some of the standard beggars that have been around SLC (specifically down town at the LDS Temple grounds) for years. Seems that they do INDEED make more money than most of us.
ReplyDeleteI have given money to someone who is clearly down on his luck riding the train to stay warm, but only because he never even asked me.
I have to agree with Brittany. It's not up to us to judge what they do with their lives. Yes, I have seen someone park a car and then go out on the corner to beg. But that's their perogative. If you don't want to give to them then that's okay, but try to give them the benefit of the doubt. If they are scamming, they will pay for that in the end.
ReplyDeleteI live in Winnipeg, and we too have the same problem. I too do not give money. A friend of mine once asked a beggar how much money he makes a year and he said $25,000! Tax free. Can you believe it? I nearly crapped my pants.
ReplyDeleteIt's so sad to think that people actually do this...and feel okay about it!! How can people be so heartless and feel no remorse??
ReplyDeleteThere are SO MANY people living in poverty who really need our help and so many programs that offer aid, I just don't think handing money to a pan handler is the best way, or even really effective at all.
Thank you so much for posting this. I go to grad school at an urban university, though I commute in from my home in the 'burbs. One particular intersection is a popular place for such people, who hold signs asking for "kindness" (aka $$$). One morning, I saw a person claiming to be cold and hungry while jamming to an iPod (or some kind of MP3 player). It sickens me, because I see good people giving things away to and being taken advantage of by these fake pity parties.
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