08-30-2014, 05:50 AM
Well I believe I can give some pointers to this. I have worked with street youths for at least 3 years after I graduated from my degree in sociology. First, when you say you don't have money it isn't a lie, you work for your money and you deserve to keep every pennies for yourself. You're not the one lying, they are for the most. I also used to feel bad not giving money away when a panhandler would ask for money, taking that I have a lot of it, I kind of felt really cheap everytime i'd say that I don't have money but yet I walk around with a wallet with at least a thousand dollars, pocket changes and a platinum credit card.
Now, I do ask the panhandler what he needs that money for and if it's for food, I'll bring him/her to a restaurant and pay for whatever they want to eat. Unfortunately over the years, I come to understand that many panhandlers uses the food excuse for money because several times (not just once) I offered them to go to a restaurant or even to a supermarket and buy them food and even booze if they wanted, but many time I've been churn out.
In my world if you're truly hungry you wouldn't miss that occasion of having someone pay for your food or grocery (and it's not like I'm choosing it.) There was one street youth I met who looked very famished and I offered him to go to a restaurant where I gave him a great meal, and afterward I brought him to a supermarket so he can choose whatever he wants and I was going to drive him home to deliver the food, I was in no way going to give him money as I believe that just giving money doesn't help them, since, once you have cash one quickly forget why they were panhandling in the first place.
So I got to his place, which was a kind of shelter and delivered the food there, this was a $300 worth of food, living with him was two other adults and two kids. This guy was really all about getting food so I kept contact with him and assisted him and today he works for me. This was one great example. But most of the panhandlers you encounters today are very lazy and uses panhandling as a quick solution for their drug consumption.
Before giving money out, stop and talk with them, if he/she is not willing to talk with you, you can be sure that the money you'll give isn't for the subway, food or anything for their substantial living.
If you're going to give money, give it to the organization that have competencies to assist them and when someone is asking for money give them the name or the number of the shelter that you have been supporting so they can get the help they deserve. I have been giving a lot of my cash to non-profit organization and I'm on the administration board of many of them, because poverty in Canada should not exist, not in a G8 country.
But I carefully select the organization I give to, I know far too well that many of them will write in their report that they have served 300 meals to homeless when in fact they gave an apple to some guy and the number are not reflecting reality. There was a taskforce research years ago in Montreal for which I was part of the researchers, but they just didn't know that not only I had contact with the administrators of those organizations, but I knew most of their clients by their first name because I was an outreach worker.
It is your choice to give them money, but by doing so you do not help them. WHY because there is many organizations trying to reach out to them to help them out and few will refuse because it's easier to play the pity card than getting themselves organized. Look around, the hobo you see walking around with his/her supermarket cart WILL NEVER EVER ASK YOU FOR MONEY. He/she has chosen or has decided not to be part of the society anymore, but those ones, will rarely ask you for money. Those normally asking for money are 90% of the time drug abuser or alcohol dependent, unfortunately that leaves the 10% who truly need your help in the limbo. So next time, don't give away your cash, ask them what they need and if you can afford it and propose it to them. Most of the time you'll be saving your pocket changes because THEY ARE LYING FOR THE MOST OF THEM.
Now, I do ask the panhandler what he needs that money for and if it's for food, I'll bring him/her to a restaurant and pay for whatever they want to eat. Unfortunately over the years, I come to understand that many panhandlers uses the food excuse for money because several times (not just once) I offered them to go to a restaurant or even to a supermarket and buy them food and even booze if they wanted, but many time I've been churn out.
In my world if you're truly hungry you wouldn't miss that occasion of having someone pay for your food or grocery (and it's not like I'm choosing it.) There was one street youth I met who looked very famished and I offered him to go to a restaurant where I gave him a great meal, and afterward I brought him to a supermarket so he can choose whatever he wants and I was going to drive him home to deliver the food, I was in no way going to give him money as I believe that just giving money doesn't help them, since, once you have cash one quickly forget why they were panhandling in the first place.
So I got to his place, which was a kind of shelter and delivered the food there, this was a $300 worth of food, living with him was two other adults and two kids. This guy was really all about getting food so I kept contact with him and assisted him and today he works for me. This was one great example. But most of the panhandlers you encounters today are very lazy and uses panhandling as a quick solution for their drug consumption.
Before giving money out, stop and talk with them, if he/she is not willing to talk with you, you can be sure that the money you'll give isn't for the subway, food or anything for their substantial living.
If you're going to give money, give it to the organization that have competencies to assist them and when someone is asking for money give them the name or the number of the shelter that you have been supporting so they can get the help they deserve. I have been giving a lot of my cash to non-profit organization and I'm on the administration board of many of them, because poverty in Canada should not exist, not in a G8 country.
But I carefully select the organization I give to, I know far too well that many of them will write in their report that they have served 300 meals to homeless when in fact they gave an apple to some guy and the number are not reflecting reality. There was a taskforce research years ago in Montreal for which I was part of the researchers, but they just didn't know that not only I had contact with the administrators of those organizations, but I knew most of their clients by their first name because I was an outreach worker.
It is your choice to give them money, but by doing so you do not help them. WHY because there is many organizations trying to reach out to them to help them out and few will refuse because it's easier to play the pity card than getting themselves organized. Look around, the hobo you see walking around with his/her supermarket cart WILL NEVER EVER ASK YOU FOR MONEY. He/she has chosen or has decided not to be part of the society anymore, but those ones, will rarely ask you for money. Those normally asking for money are 90% of the time drug abuser or alcohol dependent, unfortunately that leaves the 10% who truly need your help in the limbo. So next time, don't give away your cash, ask them what they need and if you can afford it and propose it to them. Most of the time you'll be saving your pocket changes because THEY ARE LYING FOR THE MOST OF THEM.
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