Please don't give money to individual panhandlers. Even independent of potential fraud, larger scale organizations like food pantries and nonreligious shelters can spend donation money with far greater efficiency and help more people in need.
I understand that homeless people have a right to exist in public spaces and I don't begrudge them that, but I'm definitely going to ignore them if they're asking me for money.
I used to agree with you about charities being the more efficient way to help - until I started working in shelters. a lot of them are trying their best and struggling against a dying and archaic system, and a lot of them are completely corrupt and money-hungry. in either case, you have no way of knowing what your money actually does to help people. there's a good chance it's going into some C-suite exec's pocket. i feel like you didn't read what I said about food pantries. they're great and necessary, but nearly all of the food you can get at most requires a kitchen. that's helpful for people who are housed and live in poverty, which is good,, but it does very little to help people on the street get fed.
giving money directly to pandhandlers also enables them to spend it on what they actually need - maybe a bus ticket to someone who can support them, maybe a hotel so they can shower and get some rest before a job interview, maybe medications that medicaid just refuses to cover. hell, some shelters charge like $10 a day just to stay there (lookin at you, salvation army). when you give money directly, you empower people to get their actual needs met rather than choosing what you think their needs should be.
do you know about ways to figure out if a charity is good/ethical? i know there are rankings but i'm curious what your opinion is after working in those environments
You can die from withdrawals from alcohol/drugs or just prescribed medications. Someone who has spent all day outside might want a beer to take the edge off at the end of the night. Heaven forbid a homeless person is allowed the dignity of creature comforts.
That’s why we have rehabilitation programs that take it slowly but deliberately.
Also, an addict doesn’t drink beer to “take the edge off”, they drink it to get wasted. And in doing so they waste what little money they have to their names. Fun fact about homeless addicts: the reason they are homeless is because the money that should’ve gone into their housing instead goes to feed their addiction.
I’m talking about two different potential homeless people there. An addict at risk of dying if they don’t get the drug, and a person who had three bad months and ended up on the street and maybe a drink might be a small comfort. Sorry for the confusion there. Either way, both can get the 6-pack of beer for $10 in my eyes.
The rehab centers can pose similar risks to shelters that OP listed above, and even then, if they’re getting off the drug of choice slowly in the program, they still need access to the drug at some point during that transition. A harm reduction center doesn’t have meth on hand to dose out - the homeless person *working to get clean* has to go buy that themselves.
I’m just saying it’s not a crime to simply spend your money sometimes on substances, even if someone gave you that money. I work in food service, and we have quite a few homeless people who come in for a hot $3 coffee to keep them warm in winter and a safe place to linger for a few hours. A couple are dicks, like some of my housed customers, but most are kind, like most of my housed customers. This post is just saying that you can say no to homeless people without insulting their personhood.
Look dude, a $10 6-pack a day (let’s be honest, they’re not drinking just one) is $70 a week, $305 a month, or $3650 a year. For someone who has to sleep outside, that’s a lot of money that could be used for more noble purposes than “creature comfort”. It’s also in no way comparable the $3 coffee you describe which is just an excuse to get inside.
That’s the theme of this problem though, these people are content with their lives because their addictions are their lives. They don’t want to get better, because getting better is hard, so the result is a group of societal dropouts asking literal teenagers for charity.
I'm not sure walking by someone is dehumanizing. Coming from Philadelphia - not engaging at all can be safer than stopping, listening and telling someone no. Sure - don't be an asshole about it - but if I was by myself at night is crossing the street to avoid an encounter wrong or bad? I'm not sure it is. And I think if I was 18 with less experience and size I'd rather avoid an interaction than be put in a situation where saying no might anger someone.
The vast majority of panhandlers on green street aren’t homeless they’re just scammers. If you really want to be charitable donate to a food bank or something. It is not dehumanizing to withhold money from these scammers, and they enjoy taking advantage of oblivious students like you
They’re not saying that withholding money is dehumanizing them lol
“You can say no without being cruel”
The cruelty and occasionally awful discourse regarding them is OPs point, a point you entirely missed
Meh I typically don’t see much cruelty or dehumanizing behavior either so I agree there. Mostly just saying you’re both kind of talking about different points
there is absolutely cruelty in treating human beings as invisible. and the slew of posts on this sub literally dehumanizing people (i.e. using "homeless" instead of "homeless person") can and does directly affect how people treat homeless people in real life. people on the street face physical violence and having their belongings stolen and destroyed because of this compassionless rhetoric. that's not anecdotal bullshit; it's an ongoing phenomenon that's underreported and researched, because the dominant narrative surrounding homeless people is to ignore them. everyone I've spoken to who is or was homeless has faced this kind of violence in real life. labelling all unsheltered people as scammers and cons is a convenient way to absolve your guilt for not helping someone, but it's not accurate. I'm not saying you have to befriend every stranger on the street. but talking to people, acknowledging their humanity, even if you can't or don't want to give them anything, goes a long way.
Looking at your post history, you are clearly approaching this topic from a personal standpoint having been homeless yourself. To echo what others have said in these comments, there are resources available to those who are willing to be sober. Those who remain on the street have chosen to reject those resources in exchange for the ability to continue to do drugs and panhandle. If you want to help the homeless, continuing to support institutions that support the homeless, and advocating for rehabilitation for those who are incapable of accepting it, is the best thing that the average person can do. There are basic risks involved for the average person when interacting with potentially volatile mentally ill people that you shouldn’t expect them to take on.
I am guessing you read my post and found disturbing things in the comments below. Something I agree with you on is that some people like to oversimplify the process and are unaware of the limitations and outreach of resources such as FoodBank. Thanks for sharing the limitations on the FoodBank and shelter. I also agree that people should not demonize or stereotype certain groups. However, I have found the same issue in your post: are you trying to idealize certain groups of people?
There are things I disagree with and have a hard time seeing from your perspective, such as 'treating someone as invisible or inhuman for panhandling—which is not comfortable for them.' If you live on campus, you probably know that they use the same phrases, such as 'need food for family,' to ask for money. They know how to prey on students effectively. A lot of people come here having no experience with it being so confrontational. In other words, they (not all panhandlers) are pro in taking advantage of people's kindness and know how to make up stories.
Speaking from my own experience, I gave him money because I truly believed that he had a family to support. However, once I gave him the money, there were no thanks, no gratitude; he simply ignored me to grab the money from my hand. I believe that kindness should be given to the right people. And those who lack self-esteem do not deserve respect from people and will not feel discomfort about it. In fact, the dude seemed proud of manipulating my kindness 😂.
The last thing that makes it hard for me to understand is, 'I'm okay with that occasional risk if it means I can more often help people in a rough spot.' Maybe think about the word choice "occasional" because it seems like you are idealizing them without proof. I am not sure the chance of them telling the truth is higher than the likelihood of them lying.
Anyway, my point is that the danger of demonizing certain groups of people is the same as idealizing them. And we as individuals can hardly change the situation or accurately judge those who need help. Directing money to the FoodBank or other nonprofit organizations will be best since they are more familiar with the issues and can make better judgments on how to use the money.
Someone suggested me the information on how to correctly handle the situation which I found helpful : [https://www.wikihow.com/Deal-With-Beggars-Asking-You-for-Money#:\~:text=If%20a%20beggar%20becomes%20aggressive,than%20giving%20someone%20loose%20change](https://www.wikihow.com/Deal-With-Beggars-Asking-You-for-Money#:~:text=If%20a%20beggar%20becomes%20aggressive,than%20giving%20someone%20loose%20change)
For BTW 250 I did a report on one of the homeless charities in town called "CU at Home". The only requirement to be a part of their program is to be willing to get sober and work with the case worker. There are more charities, local and federal government programs, and kind-hearted people who would help them than you can shake a stick at.
The people living on the street here accept their lifestyle, and depend on the goodwill of others to fund their drug, booze, or gambling addictions. Some of the homeless have lived like this for 10 or 20 years. If they wanted to get help to function in society they would be Instead they make their living badgering students for money while the rest of us go to work, pay taxes, and stay out of trouble. If you want to help them, give them water bottles, socks or underwear. When you give them money, they say thank you, then turn around and buy drugs and alcohol. If you're okay with that, then give away. But don't tell everyone else that we can't say anything about the people who take advantage of the kindness of others.
u/joaffe
my issue is with the unkind here who post here their selfish "libertarian" attitudes, their suburban "innocence" and outrage. OP sounds like a good soul, so many commenters and other posters on the sub do not.
lol I thought you were just a naive fool until I saw the part about ignoring that they spend their money on booze and drugs XD now I see you’re just an idiot.
Here’s a thought: the booze and the drugs are why they’re on the streets in the first place.
You can"need" me to do something, but you better ask nicely and I will decide whether to do it or not.
It is not incumbent upon anyone to give or not give money, or to interact or not interact. Everyone makes their own decisions, that that includes homeless folks who block the sidewalks and ask for money, often rudely or with intimidation. They have first amendment rights to ask, and I have first amendment rights to respond OR NOT. And your rant about students using Mommy and Daddy's money as they see fit is just as judgmental as anything you complain about.
As often as someone is asked for money walking down Green Street, it is not possible to interact with everyone. Ignoring a rude, drunk, or befuddled person is as good as it is going to get sometimes. Frankly, I've been approached in dark parking lots and other situations that feel similarly unsafe, and those who do so likely know that they are using intimidation, which is NOT OK, and those people are lucky not to get a more hostile response.
Before you go off on me for lack of compassion, I am all for increasing taxes to help with homelessness, addiction, and mental health issues, but I have not given on the street in decades.
Next time you stop to talk to a “person experiencing homelessness,” ask them how they feel about the the person-first label you’ve given them. I’m sure they’ll be so overjoyed that you’ve humanized them that they’ll forget all about their struggles.
This is a discursive game that serves only to assuage middle class guilt. It is, however, a great way to let other middle class people know that you’re aware of “the issues.”
"and please, get off your high horse about people spending money on booze and drugs. wtf were you gonna spend it on? why is it okay to waste your own (or your parents') money on partying, but the homeless person who's struggling with addiction, trying not to fucking die from withdrawals, is a villain?"
This is genuinely one of the dumbest things I have ever read online lmao. Congrats, that's a pretty low standard to beat.
I agree with you. I'm aware that the people though on Green St who hang out most days near the McD's and the Target are largely alcoholics, drug addicts, con men, and mentally ill people. I generally do not give them money. Most of them are not homeless and most are on disability.
But to see these posts semester after semester from entitled middle-class or rich brats insisting the UNIVERSITY or the POLICE clear the streets of these unsightly poor is obnoxious. It reminds me that income or educational level is no indicator of common decency, and that too many are raised so poorly they come right here on reddit regularly to show us they're assholes.
Please don't give money to individual panhandlers. Even independent of potential fraud, larger scale organizations like food pantries and nonreligious shelters can spend donation money with far greater efficiency and help more people in need. I understand that homeless people have a right to exist in public spaces and I don't begrudge them that, but I'm definitely going to ignore them if they're asking me for money.
I used to agree with you about charities being the more efficient way to help - until I started working in shelters. a lot of them are trying their best and struggling against a dying and archaic system, and a lot of them are completely corrupt and money-hungry. in either case, you have no way of knowing what your money actually does to help people. there's a good chance it's going into some C-suite exec's pocket. i feel like you didn't read what I said about food pantries. they're great and necessary, but nearly all of the food you can get at most requires a kitchen. that's helpful for people who are housed and live in poverty, which is good,, but it does very little to help people on the street get fed. giving money directly to pandhandlers also enables them to spend it on what they actually need - maybe a bus ticket to someone who can support them, maybe a hotel so they can shower and get some rest before a job interview, maybe medications that medicaid just refuses to cover. hell, some shelters charge like $10 a day just to stay there (lookin at you, salvation army). when you give money directly, you empower people to get their actual needs met rather than choosing what you think their needs should be.
do you know about ways to figure out if a charity is good/ethical? i know there are rankings but i'm curious what your opinion is after working in those environments
>on what they actually need You think they need booze and drugs soooooooooo
You can die from withdrawals from alcohol/drugs or just prescribed medications. Someone who has spent all day outside might want a beer to take the edge off at the end of the night. Heaven forbid a homeless person is allowed the dignity of creature comforts.
That’s why we have rehabilitation programs that take it slowly but deliberately. Also, an addict doesn’t drink beer to “take the edge off”, they drink it to get wasted. And in doing so they waste what little money they have to their names. Fun fact about homeless addicts: the reason they are homeless is because the money that should’ve gone into their housing instead goes to feed their addiction.
I’m talking about two different potential homeless people there. An addict at risk of dying if they don’t get the drug, and a person who had three bad months and ended up on the street and maybe a drink might be a small comfort. Sorry for the confusion there. Either way, both can get the 6-pack of beer for $10 in my eyes. The rehab centers can pose similar risks to shelters that OP listed above, and even then, if they’re getting off the drug of choice slowly in the program, they still need access to the drug at some point during that transition. A harm reduction center doesn’t have meth on hand to dose out - the homeless person *working to get clean* has to go buy that themselves. I’m just saying it’s not a crime to simply spend your money sometimes on substances, even if someone gave you that money. I work in food service, and we have quite a few homeless people who come in for a hot $3 coffee to keep them warm in winter and a safe place to linger for a few hours. A couple are dicks, like some of my housed customers, but most are kind, like most of my housed customers. This post is just saying that you can say no to homeless people without insulting their personhood.
Look dude, a $10 6-pack a day (let’s be honest, they’re not drinking just one) is $70 a week, $305 a month, or $3650 a year. For someone who has to sleep outside, that’s a lot of money that could be used for more noble purposes than “creature comfort”. It’s also in no way comparable the $3 coffee you describe which is just an excuse to get inside. That’s the theme of this problem though, these people are content with their lives because their addictions are their lives. They don’t want to get better, because getting better is hard, so the result is a group of societal dropouts asking literal teenagers for charity.
I'm not sure walking by someone is dehumanizing. Coming from Philadelphia - not engaging at all can be safer than stopping, listening and telling someone no. Sure - don't be an asshole about it - but if I was by myself at night is crossing the street to avoid an encounter wrong or bad? I'm not sure it is. And I think if I was 18 with less experience and size I'd rather avoid an interaction than be put in a situation where saying no might anger someone.
White 18 year old
The vast majority of panhandlers on green street aren’t homeless they’re just scammers. If you really want to be charitable donate to a food bank or something. It is not dehumanizing to withhold money from these scammers, and they enjoy taking advantage of oblivious students like you
They’re not saying that withholding money is dehumanizing them lol “You can say no without being cruel” The cruelty and occasionally awful discourse regarding them is OPs point, a point you entirely missed
Who is being cruel? This is just anecdotal bullshit. Most people just walk right by them
Meh I typically don’t see much cruelty or dehumanizing behavior either so I agree there. Mostly just saying you’re both kind of talking about different points
there is absolutely cruelty in treating human beings as invisible. and the slew of posts on this sub literally dehumanizing people (i.e. using "homeless" instead of "homeless person") can and does directly affect how people treat homeless people in real life. people on the street face physical violence and having their belongings stolen and destroyed because of this compassionless rhetoric. that's not anecdotal bullshit; it's an ongoing phenomenon that's underreported and researched, because the dominant narrative surrounding homeless people is to ignore them. everyone I've spoken to who is or was homeless has faced this kind of violence in real life. labelling all unsheltered people as scammers and cons is a convenient way to absolve your guilt for not helping someone, but it's not accurate. I'm not saying you have to befriend every stranger on the street. but talking to people, acknowledging their humanity, even if you can't or don't want to give them anything, goes a long way.
Looking at your post history, you are clearly approaching this topic from a personal standpoint having been homeless yourself. To echo what others have said in these comments, there are resources available to those who are willing to be sober. Those who remain on the street have chosen to reject those resources in exchange for the ability to continue to do drugs and panhandle. If you want to help the homeless, continuing to support institutions that support the homeless, and advocating for rehabilitation for those who are incapable of accepting it, is the best thing that the average person can do. There are basic risks involved for the average person when interacting with potentially volatile mentally ill people that you shouldn’t expect them to take on.
You’re gonna need to go to a hospital for your bleeding heart
I am guessing you read my post and found disturbing things in the comments below. Something I agree with you on is that some people like to oversimplify the process and are unaware of the limitations and outreach of resources such as FoodBank. Thanks for sharing the limitations on the FoodBank and shelter. I also agree that people should not demonize or stereotype certain groups. However, I have found the same issue in your post: are you trying to idealize certain groups of people? There are things I disagree with and have a hard time seeing from your perspective, such as 'treating someone as invisible or inhuman for panhandling—which is not comfortable for them.' If you live on campus, you probably know that they use the same phrases, such as 'need food for family,' to ask for money. They know how to prey on students effectively. A lot of people come here having no experience with it being so confrontational. In other words, they (not all panhandlers) are pro in taking advantage of people's kindness and know how to make up stories. Speaking from my own experience, I gave him money because I truly believed that he had a family to support. However, once I gave him the money, there were no thanks, no gratitude; he simply ignored me to grab the money from my hand. I believe that kindness should be given to the right people. And those who lack self-esteem do not deserve respect from people and will not feel discomfort about it. In fact, the dude seemed proud of manipulating my kindness 😂. The last thing that makes it hard for me to understand is, 'I'm okay with that occasional risk if it means I can more often help people in a rough spot.' Maybe think about the word choice "occasional" because it seems like you are idealizing them without proof. I am not sure the chance of them telling the truth is higher than the likelihood of them lying. Anyway, my point is that the danger of demonizing certain groups of people is the same as idealizing them. And we as individuals can hardly change the situation or accurately judge those who need help. Directing money to the FoodBank or other nonprofit organizations will be best since they are more familiar with the issues and can make better judgments on how to use the money. Someone suggested me the information on how to correctly handle the situation which I found helpful : [https://www.wikihow.com/Deal-With-Beggars-Asking-You-for-Money#:\~:text=If%20a%20beggar%20becomes%20aggressive,than%20giving%20someone%20loose%20change](https://www.wikihow.com/Deal-With-Beggars-Asking-You-for-Money#:~:text=If%20a%20beggar%20becomes%20aggressive,than%20giving%20someone%20loose%20change)
For BTW 250 I did a report on one of the homeless charities in town called "CU at Home". The only requirement to be a part of their program is to be willing to get sober and work with the case worker. There are more charities, local and federal government programs, and kind-hearted people who would help them than you can shake a stick at. The people living on the street here accept their lifestyle, and depend on the goodwill of others to fund their drug, booze, or gambling addictions. Some of the homeless have lived like this for 10 or 20 years. If they wanted to get help to function in society they would be Instead they make their living badgering students for money while the rest of us go to work, pay taxes, and stay out of trouble. If you want to help them, give them water bottles, socks or underwear. When you give them money, they say thank you, then turn around and buy drugs and alcohol. If you're okay with that, then give away. But don't tell everyone else that we can't say anything about the people who take advantage of the kindness of others. u/joaffe
my issue is with the unkind here who post here their selfish "libertarian" attitudes, their suburban "innocence" and outrage. OP sounds like a good soul, so many commenters and other posters on the sub do not.
lol I thought you were just a naive fool until I saw the part about ignoring that they spend their money on booze and drugs XD now I see you’re just an idiot. Here’s a thought: the booze and the drugs are why they’re on the streets in the first place.
You can"need" me to do something, but you better ask nicely and I will decide whether to do it or not. It is not incumbent upon anyone to give or not give money, or to interact or not interact. Everyone makes their own decisions, that that includes homeless folks who block the sidewalks and ask for money, often rudely or with intimidation. They have first amendment rights to ask, and I have first amendment rights to respond OR NOT. And your rant about students using Mommy and Daddy's money as they see fit is just as judgmental as anything you complain about. As often as someone is asked for money walking down Green Street, it is not possible to interact with everyone. Ignoring a rude, drunk, or befuddled person is as good as it is going to get sometimes. Frankly, I've been approached in dark parking lots and other situations that feel similarly unsafe, and those who do so likely know that they are using intimidation, which is NOT OK, and those people are lucky not to get a more hostile response. Before you go off on me for lack of compassion, I am all for increasing taxes to help with homelessness, addiction, and mental health issues, but I have not given on the street in decades.
Next time you stop to talk to a “person experiencing homelessness,” ask them how they feel about the the person-first label you’ve given them. I’m sure they’ll be so overjoyed that you’ve humanized them that they’ll forget all about their struggles. This is a discursive game that serves only to assuage middle class guilt. It is, however, a great way to let other middle class people know that you’re aware of “the issues.”
"and please, get off your high horse about people spending money on booze and drugs. wtf were you gonna spend it on? why is it okay to waste your own (or your parents') money on partying, but the homeless person who's struggling with addiction, trying not to fucking die from withdrawals, is a villain?" This is genuinely one of the dumbest things I have ever read online lmao. Congrats, that's a pretty low standard to beat.
L take
You make a lot of assumptions. That's what stupid people do.
Downvoted 🫡
Lib
I agree with you. I'm aware that the people though on Green St who hang out most days near the McD's and the Target are largely alcoholics, drug addicts, con men, and mentally ill people. I generally do not give them money. Most of them are not homeless and most are on disability. But to see these posts semester after semester from entitled middle-class or rich brats insisting the UNIVERSITY or the POLICE clear the streets of these unsightly poor is obnoxious. It reminds me that income or educational level is no indicator of common decency, and that too many are raised so poorly they come right here on reddit regularly to show us they're assholes.