Feeding The People On The Streets....

[Tyler]

Woot,that's almost a half pound burrito!

[TheScotsman]

I've lived out of a van for awhile and was basically homeless and eating whatever scraps I could find or food That was offered to me from the local pantry's.Its really hard or it was for me to ask for help but I feel that if you want and need help and are humble enuff to ask for it then somehow it will come your way.We live in a great country with great people who are willing to help out those in need.
Its very hard to get a job when your in that sort of situation I can't imagine how bad it must be for those in need with our current economic downturn.

was the van down by the river? lol

Man, he forgot the government cheese!

On a serious note though. A couple of years ago, I was at a convention in LV, there was this pathetic looking guy begging. He had a nice looking rough coated border collie (why I took notice of him in the first place). As we sat in the pub watching him, when he was done, he took his sign, collie, rug and all. He truged off into the evening shadows, and made his way to his home (likely under a bridge) in a year or about old Dodge pickup. (he had parked half block away.)

Want money, need food, get a damn job.

[jellywerker]

I give funny bums money, and I say hi/acknowledge prettymuch all of them. They are people too, and regardless of your opinions, everyone appreciates a wave, smile, or hello. No one deserves to be straight up ignored like they so often are, crazy or not. It bugs me when a bum says hi to someone because of close proximity or some other non begging reasosn and that person won't acknowledge it at all.

[erufiku]

The only people I give money to are buskers, mainly musicians.

[gaia.plateau]

If someone is providing a service that I am genuinely grateful for, I'll pay them for it. Failing that, I'll try to find something for them to do which is worth my paying for, like being a short-term guide if I'm in a new city. If I can't satisfy either of these things, I don't perpetuate cultures of dependency by giving charity.

[rhineholt]

I think that was really nice of you. I wouldn't of done it, only because I'm kinda shy, but I would've felt horrible to see that happen.

[Crys]

you know....I spent a lot of time in the Asheville city area and limits throughout highschool......saw all the different types of homeless...I also volunteered for a summer at a local food bank/food stamp agency

I still give whatever I can to whoever asks for the most part......and usually I do it after talking to the person for a lil while....I've heard all sorts of stories and even met some people that lived amazing lives for a while (for example, I recently met a homeless man that was selling sketches...one of his sketches was of Jesus' hands, which he told me is a direct sketch of a statue he was inspired by when he lived in spain as a soldier when he was much younger)

I feel that even if someone is scamming me...the change in my pocket is not worth the chance that I might be actually doing someone a great favor


the only exception to this is the NHT heads in ATL....easily the worst of the homeless I've ever met.....no where else do I actually fear for my safety when helping someone out

[sleeperhit]

I live in Sacramento CA.
Many homeless people and many bums.
The reason I separate the two is because bums have become somewhat of a plague here.

If somebody is homeless, without work and asking for food, money or any kind of help. I will not give them anything without receiving something in return. Clean my windshield, sing me a song, do something to earn the money you are asking me to give you. Because I had to earn it by doing something myself. Unless they are in desperate need then I usually comment on their laziness if they refuse to do anything for money and expect it to be free.
However, like I said...Unless they are in desperate need.
The other day I was on my way to a job and was passing through one of the towns local McDonald's. I ordered my food and noticed that at the end, where there is a STOP sign on the end of the drive there was a young girl asking for food. Right next to her were a few tables to eat. Somebody sat right next to her out of all the empty tables and began to pull their food out.
I stopped my car, got out and walked right up to the girl, gave her one of my burgers and took the guys soda and fries. Gave them to her and gave the guy some shit about being an ass.
After his 911 threat he left and I had to move my car because ppl were honking.
She deserved some help. I offered to take her to a local shelter (which she didn't even know existed) but she didn't want the ride. I ended up sitting with her for a while talking about her situation.
I looked up the address for the shelter because she said she would find her own way there and thanked me.

Some people do need a hand. It's up to each individual to decide who and with what.

Now back to Bums.
I have NO respect for people who expect to live for free in this country.
I pay my tax. I expect everybody else should do the same where it is legally required. If you supply a service on the street that earns you a 'tip'. Then that is considered tax free just as long as it isn't larger then $5,000.
Asking for free money..."Spare some change.", "Can you help me out with any money."
Is actually illegal in most states. Thats why you see signs that tell you their situation (which is usually a lie). Because it is illegal to walk public areas and ask for specific numbers in 'tips'.
It usually nets in high amounts of money. (Begging bums)
This angers me to the highest degree!

Just an FYI. Like what Eric was saying in his earlier post. Some bums make lots more then you and I. In Sacramento I was speaking with a few guys downtown about their situation and they may look homeless but they very much choose to live in a tent and enjoy it. They make more money asking for hand me outs in high traffic areas then they ever had working higher end jobs.
The guy I spoke to was earning 500+ on weekends and 200-300 on weekdays. Starting at 11am until 6pm as if it were a job. They have bank accounts or ways of keeping their earnings.
'Easy money on tax free hand outs because people are suckers.'
One of the guys words exactly.
(i ended that conversation on a surprise act to him that I will not explain on this forum)

Anybody who thinks that doing this for that many hours IS work needs to rethink those words.

There are bums. People that do it for money because they're pretty much garbage human beings.
and
Homeless or Needy. People that, well....are homeless and in need.

It's because of this that I will refuse to give free money unless I see absolutely fit.

[sleeperhit]

And before anybody says something about me now knowing what it's like.

I was homeless and without work at the time for 7 months.
It may not seem like a long time but waking up in a cheap tent at a different location every other week working however you can for 7 months is rough indeed.
I never asked for free money and only had to resort to a sign when I couldn't find any work by going door to door for a week.

"Starving 3 days now.
Weak but willing to
work for food."

Somebody was nice enough to offer a yard job. I took it.
He didn't believe i was homeless or hungry until I did the job. Then asked if I wanted food or money. I said food and he fed me well. Then gave me a ride to my tent.

So a tip. If a guy has a sign that says he'll work for food and you've seen him there a few days. He's fishing for free money. Not work.
You get work fast going door-to-door or labor centers. Yes, they have them. Shelters also offer work, food and bed until you can get back on your feet.

I know from first hand experience. I was that guy on the side of the road with the dirty cloths.

I've been screamed at, hit with drinks/food and harassed for being homeless. So I know it's hard. But I also know about the guys that don't need to be there but choose to. I have no problem asking them straight up, why they're doing it and what their methods are. I then give tips If I think they actually need help.


I ended up getting out of my situation by giving false information for an hourly job about my address. Adding a shelter as an address doesn't get you much work but the second you put an actual home address things looked up.

Oh! and the 7 months was all on the street. Not shelter. That came on the 7th and lasted for 2 months before I saved enough to rent a room.


I make good money now, have a great job and have experiences that taught me great lessons that I'll remember the rest of my life.

[camelflage]

just a notice, ive cleaned up a couple substance references in here that i know you guys are making un-intentionally.. this is the exact reason "NHT" is in place.

[Crys]

just a notice, ive cleaned up a couple substance references in here that i know you guys are making un-intentionally.. this is the exact reason "NHT" is in place.

thanks for looking out man....made that reference without even realizing it

[Hippo_Master]

I've decided that whenever asked, I'm going to feed bums knuckle sangwhitches. The best kind of sangwhitch there is.

[king_lunchb0x]

Also, never give money to people that talk about the amount of money. "Can you give me some money, any amount is OK." or "I need $3.39 for a can fix-a-flat for my car so I can get back to Modesto.". Those guys are full of it. My mom got hit up by some people outside a hospital. The people needed exactly $15. They promised to mail it back. Guess what? My mom's still not received the check. I saw the same guy ask for the same amount of money. Twice. Even after the first time, one of my customers gave him $2. I've chased enough beggars out of the lounge, they know not to come in here or beg outside the store, for the most part. I don't want my customers being bothered.

I agree alot are b-sing you when they say i need x.xx$ amount. I stop giving any money to any homeless. What irritates me the most is a person around my age (early 20's) who is more then capable of working just sits there on the sidewalk asking for money. The homeless get plenty of asistance. There is a bum that comes to my work and buys 1 7lb bag of ice and one bottle of black velvet whiskey every other night, he gets foodstamps (which he pays the for ice of course!). So there is no doubt that there is asistance out there, but its there choice to use it or not Edited October 17, 2009 by king_lunchb0x

[Chreees]

When I was 17 my friends and I would hang out in the parking lot around the town square at night time. Cops never bothered us, because we didn't do things we weren't supposed to. Well, this African American guy walks through the lot, stopping to ask us for money. My friend who worked at Pizza Hut, who was also black, offered him the pizza that he had brought with him after getting off work. The guy looked at the pizza, frowned, and told my friend "You are a disgrace to black people" and walked away. He didn't take the pizza.

Exactly why I never give 'em money. Only food. You never know what they're gonna spend the money on.

[kywhaley]

sunset blvd in hollywood is the worst. I had a few guys that their cell phones rang while bothering me.