What percentage of panhandlers do you think are really needy?

[OtterMan68]

I mean people down on their luck and trying to get their lives straight, join the workforce, and not have to rely on handouts down the road as opposed to people looking for money to support their drug or alcohol habit or make a living as a panhandler and have no desire to stop.

I think the vast majority are down on their luck and trying to get to where they don't have to beg.

I think a good majority are like that

I think about half are like that

I think most are trying to feed a habit or are scam artists trying to make a living off of people's sympathy and charity

Updates

1 y

I'd say most are scammers

[jennifer_bloom]

It’s not the fact they need help that drives me away, it’s the way they go about satisfying those needs.

I mean, if somebody needs attention, they could do something positive to achieve a goal, or they could dye their hair blue and wear offensive t-shirts and scream at strangers in public.

If somebody needs loyalty, they could shower you with love and kindness, or they could control you with hand cuffs etc..

I don’t like people who voluntarily give up on themselves and expect others to fix them.

I believe in charity based on merit and moral value.

[RedInnocent69]

@jennifer_bloom based on moral value doesn’t sound much like charity…

[jennifer_bloom]

@RedInnocent69 my definition of charity is generous and outward positivity expressed through useful ways. Not blind ignorance of motivation and ideology when entertaining others.

[Anonymous]

Probably more than half of them. They always seem to have the same signs. So about a month ago this dude was standing on the corner w a sign that said it’s my birthday, anything helps. So the next day he was standing on the opposite side of the road. I pulled up to him. I said wasn’t it your birthday yesterday? He said no. I said sure if was you were standing on that side of the street lol he got mad and walked off.

[Juxtapose]

The vast majority of them are scam artists and will get mad if you give them food instead of money.

Go ahead and give them information on a church and how they hand out food every week. See if they show up like another commenter talked about. They don't!

[Massageman]

I'm not even going to venture a guess. I simply give them a little card informing them of our church's Food Pantry we run each week. If they show up, they get a free box of food (stable and fresh, frozen meat, bag of breads/bagels, + a sweet treat. If they are REALLY that hard on their luck, they will come! Most never do. ( Draw your own conclusions, if you wish.)

[exitseven]

There are people who do not even live in the city that go their every day and beg for money by the side of the road. The commute every day like they are going to a job. One said he could make over $200/ a day.

[dreamstar72]

Just curious why do they always use God bless and thank you.

[Anonymous]

I'd say about 1%. The rest just want to make money without working