What would you do if you saw this .

[dnoyes]

I'm wondering where all of you live that you see this sort of thing on a regular basis? Are you near very large cities?

The two areas that I reside in throughout the year, I have never seen one single panhandler.. The one time that I got "scammed" was at a job - in another city.. A co-worker who claimed she had cancer and needed treatment in another state.. Everyone kicked in some money, the scam was uncovered, she was arrested, and is now in jail..

Maybe that's why my answer is different - we don't see people walking around with signs like that..

I'm in Boise Idaho and we see this every single day.

OP I wont just hand them money but in one case I did help a man out. He was standing at a freeway exit ramp with a sign that said what he had done for a living for twenty plus years and that he would work for $10 an hour. A gal a couple cars ahead of me lowered her window and offered him some money but he wouldn't take it. He just wanted a job. So I put his number in my phone and gave it to a friend who owns a construction company and he hired him. Turns out he is a really hard and skilled worker and they are both happy how it turned out. My buddy got a good employee and a guy willing to work for ten bucks an hour is getting paid over $20

 

[jimmiej]

C. Ann, I live in a community of 50,000, & I see it most every day. We're 30 miles from San Antonio.

One time, I stopped & told the guy to follow me to the nearby fast-food place (100 ft.), & I would buy him some food. He said, "No, thanks."

 

[Aristomommy]

In my area, there aren't professional panhandlers. Every once in a while I will see a person with a sign asking for work (not food or money). One particular guy asked to work for diapers. I had just went to Sam's Club and asked what size diapers he needed. Since I was all out myself, I shared the box with him. His tears showed me he had a real need and he was so humble and embarrased to even have to ask.

It's true that there are organizations that help, but it's not enough. Some areas have no work available and people resort to this to find temp. work. I figure it takes a lot for a person to stand with a sign that I shouldn't judge them.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I'm in Boise Idaho and we see this every single day.

OP I wont just hand them money but in one case I did help a man out. He was standing at a freeway exit ramp with a sign that said what he had done for a living for twenty plus years and that he would work for $10 an hour. A gal a couple cars ahead of me lowered her window and offered him some money but he wouldn't take it. He just wanted a job. So I put his number in my phone and gave it to a friend who owns a construction company and he hired him. Turns out he is a really hard and skilled worker and they are both happy how it turned out. My buddy got a good employee and a guy willing to work for ten bucks an hour is getting paid over $20

That's wonderful! I'm glad that it worked out for that man and for your friend.

I have only seen this a few times. Depending on where I am and if I am even carrying cash I might give them a little bit. Fortunately I have not had to make that decision very often. You just don't see it around here.

 

[Youarehere]

Probably hand him a few bucks - if I had it..

Sure - there's a chance that he's just a "professional" panhandler - but it could also be true and his need is genuine.. I would rather part with a few bucks that I would likely have only wasted on something else anyhow and hope that it's helping some family that has fallen on hard times..

Stamp "Sucker" on my forehead.. I've been scammed before, but for a few bucks, it's a chance I'm willing to take..

I'm with you Mentally, not physically, since I'm at work and you are probably at the lake.

 

[LisaR]

I'm wondering where all of you live that you see this sort of thing on a regular basis? Are you near very large cities?

The two areas that I reside in throughout the year, I have never seen one single panhandler.. The one time that I got "scammed" was at a job - in another city.. A co-worker who claimed she had cancer and needed treatment in another state.. Everyone kicked in some money, the scam was uncovered, she was arrested, and is now in jail..

Maybe that's why my answer is different - we don't see people walking around with signs like that..

I grew up in and around the Detroit area. While I certainly saw my fair share of sign holders, it wasn't until I moved to a beach community in FL that I was overwhelmed with the number of sign holders. I live an hour from Orlando so I wouldn't say I live near a major city. Some of these guys are honestly professional sign holders. They have been in the same spot for the past five years that I have lived here. They all have their own corners. Some truly have problems and couldn't hold down a job. Others make a pretty good living panhandling and wouldn't have it any other way. One guy spends his days at the library reading some pretty hefty books. He has a cell phone and I have seen him drinking some fairly expensive beers more than once. I have talked to him on more than one occasion and he seems to have all of his faculties about him. He has the perfect spot picked out for the after church crowd on Sunday and seems to make a killing.

I prefer to donate to our food pantry and Salvation Army instead of handing out money to people on the street.

 

[clgwli]

I live near a large city in the USA and we see it all the time. I get particularly bothered when the signs claim to be homeless yet they have expensive brand new looking shoes and jeans on with just a beat up t-shirt. I can't stand when people lie so I ignore it. In general I never give to anyone because I know there are shelters and food banks that help out. If they really need it they can find help.

We did give a guy an extra sandwich we had once and he was grateful. But those people are few and far between IMO. News every once in a while do reports on these people and it turns out they can bring in some hefty cash this way. Some do this because they are too lazy to hold a real job. That's just as sad as those who do it for drugs or alcohol to me.

 

[Diznotyzed]

This type of thing has been going on for years and years around here. The local TV stations have done hidden camera stories on it and most of these people were raking in hundreds of dollars in a day and going home to very decent living conditions. Poverty and homelessness are, of course, very real, but were not the case in most of these situations.

We saw a sign last week that said
Hungry Broke Ugly

 

[Handbag Lady]

I would give if he was a new guy and looked like he needed help.


If I see them every single day, then no.

I once was getting gas and a very pregnant woman came up and quietly asked for money for gas. She had a car about as old as mine (mine is old), and she didn't look like she was hurting but she claimed her husband left her and her ATM card wasn't working suddenly. I honestly believed her and assumed the worst, he had cleared her out.

I gave her $10. She asked for my address so she could repay me some day. I told her to just pass it on to someone else in the future.

 

[pyrxtc]

I saw somehting similiar the other day. I did nothing. Now, when I was younger.... there was a homeless man who lived near a Friendly's I used to go to. My Sis and I would buy him a meal to go or an ice cream sundae each time we were there. Also, when I was out with my DS at Wendy's, there was a very obviously homeless man inside with lots of pennies to buy food. I loaded a gift card with $10 and gave it to him so he would have food for a few days instead of just that day. Not far from there, there is a bunch of tents along the river where a bunch of them live.

 

[Feralpeg]

A couple of months ago, a lady approached me in a parking lot. She had a bottle of Windex in her hand and some rags. She asked me if she could clean my windows for whatever I wanted to donate to help feed her family.

I gave her $20 and told her that I hoped things turned around for her. I would not let her clean my windows. I got in the car and said a quick prayer that I would never have to be in such a position.

I try not to judge people. If I can help, I will help. If the urge to do so doesn't come without strings, I won't give.

There but for the grace of God...

 

[Morganpics]

We even have this up here in the sticks; there is a man who stands outside the WalMart (and has for a couple of months now) with a sign about his home burning down and please help...

I feel badly for the man but 1) aren't there programs for this and 2) I'm in pretty dire straits myself!

This sounds familiar. I've seen this guy, too. I feel bad myself about him, but I haven't given him anything. We must not be too far from each other.

 

[DawnCt1]

Nothing. There are programs in place to help people like this. If you really want to help, support your local food bank, homeless shelter, etc. That's where people who need help should be going. DH sees the same people day after day with type of signs standing in the same spots going in and out of Boston every day.

I agree. Heck, I saw people like this when businesses were screaming for manual labor and the economy was booming.

 

[Gabes_mommy]

I would give him a few dollars.

My mom always gives money to anyone who asks. She just feels like it's the right thing to do and she says it's not her business what they do with it. As I get older I really appreciate her grace and kindness so much and I feel like she is right.

 

[RadioNate]

Honestly? I'd think they were lying. Running a scam.

I to several reputable programs but I'm not handing cash to a guy on the street.

However, I do see this every day. I've never not known a time when I didn't see panhandlers regularly. Some cities were worse than others but they are always there.

 

[babytrees]

I'm in Boise Idaho and we see this every single day.

OP I wont just hand them money but in one case I did help a man out. He was standing at a freeway exit ramp with a sign that said what he had done for a living for twenty plus years and that he would work for $10 an hour. A gal a couple cars ahead of me lowered her window and offered him some money but he wouldn't take it. He just wanted a job. So I put his number in my phone and gave it to a friend who owns a construction company and he hired him. Turns out he is a really hard and skilled worker and they are both happy how it turned out. My buddy got a good employee and a guy willing to work for ten bucks an hour is getting paid over $20

that is way cool...chill making!!

To answer C. Ann- we live in a subarb of Denver...we don't see homeless too often and I never give cash...more often than not it will buy alcohol. We are experiencing tightness (as are a lot of people) but we are still more blessed than others.

 

[JessicaR]

When I see this I usually give them some money. I don't second guess it and I do it with good intentions in hopes that they really do need it.

 

[ksjayhawks]

Nothing.

Chances are good that they are "professionals". There are programs available to help them and he could better spend his time looking for a job--lots of fast food places always seem to need help.

I would rather help food banks, homeless shelters, etc. where I know the money is going to those who need it (granted there could also be scammers there.)

 

[DMRick]

A man holding a sign that said

“Please help, Father of three, lost my job and house. God Bless”

Just wondering what you would do?

8 Miles from my house there is a large mall. As you come in and out of the mall, there is a double sign post. If you look inside the sign post, you will see the cardboard sign folded up. Unless it is being held up by one of those looking for a handout. When I first saw one, we went to a fast food place across the street (at that time the sign said, will work for food) and got them some food. We pulled back in the mall, and went by him again, and handed him the new food. He laughed at us and tossed it on the ground. Now I ignore whoever is holding the sign (the words have changed over the years). There are many places on our area to get help, and several missions for free food, and some places that offer temporary jobs. They can go there..I won't be giving them money.

Now, my husband , I was not happy with what he did. We were on vacation in another state clear across the country, and we pulled into a gas station to fill up. Someone asked him for $10 for gas, as they were trying to get home to a funeral, and they had a sick older man in the car and ran out of money. He offered to fill their car with gas. The man was so appreciative, he asked for our address so he could give us back the money. My husband gave them our address. The one that was empty, because we were on vacation. How dumb was that? We had to call a friend to stay at our house, so we wouldn't worry the whole time we were away LOL.

 

[penguin087]

I don't normally give. Not to say I never would just not regularly.
I'm curious where you saw him. I saw a guy yesterday with the same sign. I was in Wilmington DE at a shopping center. Not the type of place I usually see this. Probably why I noticed him at all.