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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Poll: Panhandlers
Just curious.
[Poll]
[Poll]
My big boy is bounding towards 3! Hoping to add a sibling.
Hipster dog is not impressed.
Hipster dog is not impressed.
Re: Poll: Panhandlers
I usually don't give cash.
My church started doing this awesome thing years ago called Soul Food Bags. It's a Ziploc quart freezer bag with things like crackers, Capri Sun, those tuna lunch kits, peppermints, and other non-perishable foods (I'm having trouble remembering what all is in there). They also include a copy of the Gospel of John.
We made some during my women's Bible study this summer and gave them out individually, and I felt so blessed doing so. I gave all of them out and every single person who I gave them to on the street was SO thankful and said "God bless you". Even better, Charlotte was usually in the car with me, so I was able to explain it to her because she was always asking "Mommy, why did you give that man a bag?".
I'm going to do them as an individual service project, too. They're just awesome and you can order the Gospel of John booklets online.
Sorry, I realized I should have expanded option #1 a little.
I voted "give food and water" because I sometimes do, but I never give money. However, my never giving money is not at all a "get a job" sentiment. The majority of homeless people have serious mental health issues and often addiction, which is a result of the underlying issue like severe clinical depression. I do support Star of Hope, which does so much to help these people.
Sometimes you give them money and they spend it- some on food, some on drugs. However, a homeless woman in Boston died about 4 year ago and they found her shopping cart to be FILLED with bags of money. Over $300k. She was so used to having nothing that she held on to every penny ever given her. The money ended up going to the hospital that cared for her after she was hit by a car.
I voted SS - I used to give change to them occasionally but I had some incidences that happen to me to make me never want to give them money again.
Incident 1 - I was a teenager going to Denny's at 1 am and my boyfriend at the time had walked ahead of me. He was almost inside the restaurant and I was still by the car. A homeless man came up to me and asked if I could give him money because his pregnant wife was hungry and was by the dumpsters. He then grabbed my arm and started dragging me towards this dark area of the parking lot. I twisted away and ran inside.
Incident 2 - I was in Galveston with my mom during Dickens on the Strand and we stopped at a gas station. A homeless man came up to me and said he needed change to buy a hotdog from accross the street. I was in the habit of giving them any change I had in my console so that is what I gave him, a hand full of change. He proceeded to throw the change in my face and cuse me out because I only gave him change. I went inside the store and the clerk asked if I wanted to call the cops but I said no.
Incident 3 - I was at a Midtown gas station pumping gas and a homeless guy came up and asked for money. I told him I do not carry cash and he kept getting closer until he was between me and my driver door. He finally left me alone after a guy that was pumping gas next to me told him to get lost.
5/17/09 Silverlake Sprint Triathlon 1:28:32
10/3/09 Susan G. Komen 5K 28:58
1/17/10 Chevron Half Marathon 2:09:08
2/27/10 ConocoPhilips Rodeo Run 10K 1:10:49
I voted SS - I used to give change to them occasionally but I had some incidences that happen to me to make me never want to give them money again.
Incident 1 - I was a teenager going to Denny's at 1 am and my boyfriend at the time had walked ahead of me. He was almost inside the restaurant and I was still by the car. A homeless man came up to me and asked if I could give him money because his pregnant wife was hungry and was by the dumpsters. He then grabbed my arm and started dragging me towards this dark area of the parking lot. I twisted away and ran inside.
Incident 2 - I was in Galveston with my mom during Dickens on the Strand and we stopped at a gas station. A homeless man came up to me and said he needed change to buy a hotdog from across the street. I was in the habit of giving them any change I had in my console so that is what I gave him, a hand full of change. He proceeded to throw the change in my face and cuse me out because I only gave him change. I went inside the store and the clerk asked if I wanted to call the cops but I said no.
Incident 3 - I was at a Midtown gas station pumping gas and a homeless guy came up and asked for money. I told him I do not carry cash and he kept getting closer until he was between me and my driver door. He finally left me alone after a guy that was pumping gas next to me told him to get lost.
5/17/09 Silverlake Sprint Triathlon 1:28:32
10/3/09 Susan G. Komen 5K 28:58
1/17/10 Chevron Half Marathon 2:09:08
2/27/10 ConocoPhilips Rodeo Run 10K 1:10:49
I haven't, but I have wanted to, especially recently - a couple of weekends ago there was a girl sitting on an overturned bucket under the bridge at the Kirby/Allen Pkwy @ Shepherd intersection. She had a sign that IIRC said "Anything helps, God bless." She looked to be barely out of high school and so, so sad and lonely. I opened my purse to give her $5 and I only had a $20. I seriously debated giving her the whole thing, but then the light changed and I left, and I felt bad about it.
I haven't stopped thinking about her since.
I picked yes, frequently, because IF i have cash I usually feel blessed compared to the person I'm looking at or they touch me for some reason.
Viula, that story breaks my heart and I'm in a super piss poor mood today.
- Paula Deen to 104.1 KRBE's Producer Eric 9/17/2011
I don't give money to people standing on the street holding a sign. I feel like if they are capable of standing/sitting out on the side of the road for hours each day, they are capable of going to McDonald's, CVS, Home Depot, a car wash place or any of the other MANY retail shops that surround the Houston area to find work. Sorry if that sounds heartless. You wouldn't believe how many people with the signs "Need work" will turn down your offers.... believe me, I've tried.
However, if I see someone who is trying to find work or looks like they are "down and out", I will do everything I can to help them. When I worked downtown I would stop at a donut shop on the way in. One morning as I was getting out of the car I saw a woman (obviously homeless) asking a man who was going into the donut shop if he would mind buying her daughter something to eat. She wasn't begging for money... just wanted to feed her little girl. We talked for a while and she was in a pretty bad situation. It's a long story... but luckily I was able to help her. I've seen homeless people trying to sell little crafts on the side of the road and I'm happy to buy them supplies and what not so they can continue earning money. I'm happy to get applications for people and even turn them in if they want. During the holidays I've brought out warm food and blankets to areas where there is a known homeless population. There are times when I've seen a homeless person sitting somewhere and I've offered them some food or whatever I can. The people who don't beg are usually very appreciative and will take whatever they can get. I've had a homeless person (who was begging) turn down food before and instead asked if I could just give him the money. Nope!
I'm just not big on helping those that don't try to help themselves and expect others to give them a hand out.
BFP #3 -mm/c @ 7wks, discovered at 9wks, D&C 9/28
Current Status: TTA
~~PGAL/PAL Always Welcome!~~
ACtually, having worked with organizations that help the homeless, they are rarely capable of getting these kinds of jobs. A) they need an address to put on their paperwork. They're homeless so they don't have one. Advocates for the homeless have been trying to find ways around this for decades.
Many of them do not have any identification, also required for employment. Many things happen to their IDs- they get stolen, lost or they sell them for $. C) As I said before, the vast majority of chronically homeless have serious mental issues, from severe depression to schizophrenia. So, yeah, they can hold a sign for a few hours but can they really hold down a job? Nah.
I'm not saying you should give them money either. I don't. I will give money to someone playing a musical instrument or doing something else, like wash my windshield.
But it's never as clear cut as "McDonald's will hire them." Never.
I understand and I agree when it comes to mental problems, the line definitely isn't clear cut. Having been through the homeless to housing process only a couple of times (for others) I don't have a ton of experience. However, I do know there are several social programs available that really help. They just have to ask for it. Often times mental problems are hard because the people don't understand what is happening to them... and I agree, these people often end up forgotten and lost. I do believe 9 times out of 10, these aren't the people you see begging on the side of the road though.
As for getting a job when you are homeless, it can be easier than you think if you are willing to work for it. And like you said... this isn't easy for someone who has a severe mental disorder so I'm not really including them. I also understand that many people are unaware of what is available to them... and I think this is where it is my duty to let them know. I did a lot of research many years ago when I was helping someone. Most of the churches that I spoke with would allow the homeless to use their address on applications. Homeless shelters will also allow this as long as you agree to their terms (stay sober, volunteer, regular check ins, take the free classes available, etc). Several of the big shelters work with the workforce centers around town (even providing free transportation). These centers will provide internet access, a computer, an email address and even an assistant to help. People can submit applications via email and fax and receive responses back to the center. I've even known the centers to help obtain and file for the proper identification needed to get a job. Unfortunately I haven't talked to her in a while, but I did help one person go through this entire process and although there were hurdles, huge headaches, lots of "no's" (yet lots of yes's as well) and being passed from one person to the other... there are ways. I've offered the same opportunities and information to people I've seen begging. Unfortunately, it's rare for the people holding the signs to take this information. I won't say it is ALL of them... but I have a feeling (and it's only my personal opinion.. no proof) that a good portion of those holding the signs and begging end up getting in their cars and driving home at the end of the day. The fact that so many people take advantage doesn't help those who really need it. It's sad.
BFP #3 -mm/c @ 7wks, discovered at 9wks, D&C 9/28
Current Status: TTA
~~PGAL/PAL Always Welcome!~~
This is my sentiment exactly.
ANY OF US would probably find it difficult to walk into McDonald's and get a job if we had no home phone, no cell phone, no e-mail,... let alone mental illness or lack of nice clothing and shoes to wear to an interview. Every job is a competition (even if you have those things. First impressions are meaningful in the job hunt, and the homeless thing is a catch-22.
Many shelters have rules that people choose not to follow, so this leaves them to believe they have no other options. When it was very hot or very cold, we always had people coming in through the ER at Hermann with false ailments, just so they could come inside and be comfortable for a little while.
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This totally. For some reason we don't see much of that where I live. When we lived in Houston I kept a bunch of non-perishables in my car with water and I would give them out on a regular basis. There were tons where I lived and on my way to work.
I wonder ehy we don't see any - I wonder if it's political in nature?!!
A couple years ago I was waiting at the Walmart site-to-store pickup. I was chatting with this couple that was also waiting and they told me they were picking up a DVD player that someone sent as a christmas gift. DH was getting irritated and I couldn't figure out why. After we left he pointed out that they are the couple that is always panhandling on the corner (she is in a wheelchair and they have a pretty distinctive look).
They hold up "homeless" signs... so what exactly are they doing with a dvd player??
I voted food and water. When I lived inside the loop there were a few that I would buy McDonald's little burgers and bring them water.
Another time I did the same and also gave him a huge bag of food for his poor dog.
Agree with this. I never give money but I give food/water occasionally. But yes I work for an organization that helps them.