To dodge a pan handler

Well, in that case, I sure could use some money. Neither my pension, nor social security stretches as far as it used to.(whine) AND I've had some HORRENDOUS medical bills this past two years (moan) and I just had to junk out one of my three vehicles (snivel) so it bein' the holiday season and you being so generous and all...

 

Contrary to what most in this thread believe, the vast majority of homeless in this country suffer from mental illness. Yes, there are some scammers, but they are the exception. It is also true that the mentally ill homeless are often drug addicted as well. This is not some sort of moral failure on their part, but a symptom of their illness. Just because some one looks physically healthy does not mean that their mental condition is the same. It is extremely difficult for someone who is homeless, mentally ill, and possibly drug addicted because of it, to get any sort of gainful employment. They may very well want to get off of the street, but with a severe lack of resources available to the mentally ill in this country, it is an uphill battle. Most will die from their addiction or spend their lives in and out of jails and prisons, because that is how most states deal with the mentally ill.

This is a very personal issue for me. I will not go into details here, and I'm sure I will get a lot of bashing for this post, but I have a lot of experience with this. It is a shameful and reprehensible thing for anyone to have to go hungry in this country. I am truly blessed to be in a position to help those who are hungry. I never give cash to someone who approaches me because I will not subsidize their addiction. But I also have no right to judge them or degrade them for it. We have an obligation to treat the mentally ill with dignity and basic human respect. I always offer to buy them a hot meal, and the vast majority accept. 5 or 6 dollars means little to me, in the grand scheme of things, but spending it on a hot meal for someone who is suffering can make a big difference in their day.

Before judging or condemning others, please just take a moment to reflect on how truely blessed you are to be healthy.

 

I feel your pain sweety.I've been so sad because I can't find a job,no-one loves me anymore.my dogs are almost out of food what will I do.guess I'll give them my last two slices of pizza.I'm really down in my luck right now and can't even afford a piece of candy.my car has two flat tires.I ripped my last pair of jeans now I have to go around in rags.I really do feel for you Don,shall we have a pity party?

 

All I can say is counting money makes me tired.

 

Tell him you'll buy him lunch if he does 20 push ups without stopping

 

How about no?

I know I spent a week one time in Nashville watching the poor, downtrodden beggars and discovered some startling things about them. Like the one that used to stand at the exit ramp off the interstate near my house who at the end of the day got his $100 tennis shoes out of the bushes and walked to his nearly new car in a nearby parking lot. Yeah...I felt sooooo sorry for him. Then there was the guy that walked around in the mall parking lot begging for money. I watched him at the end of the day go to the outer edge of the parking lot and get in a very nice car. I followed him as he left and saw him pull into the driveway of a house as nice or nicer than mine. Another one I told I would feel bad just giving him money so I would be more than happy to 'hire him' to do some odd jobs around the house. All of a sudden he decided he didn't want my money any more......

No, that would be YOUR god. I don't have a god, and don't want one.

 

I have tried many times to offer either food or work and EVERY single time they declined. They were only interested in getting money from me and while I have sympathy for the downtrodden, I also work hard for my money and also have sympathy for my own family. We definitely need changes made to the cruel and inhumane way we treat the sick and the mentally ill in this country, but if you want those changes made you need to speak with your vote.....and that is all the politics I will discuss in an open forum.

 

To be fair, not all of them are like that. if they ask for money for food, I'll ask them if they want something to eat. If they are willing to accept, I'll take them in for a big meal. Doesn't bother me. If all they want is money, then I know better.

 

I use to give the so called homeless here begging on a busy corner money until one day I seen one of these lieing creeps that was limping a week later he healed walking up a storm.now I roll up my window if I see a bum conning the good folks out of money.I want no part of it.