successful panhandling
The panhandler’s sign reads “Why Lie? Need Beer.” Apparently it works pretty well:
He first panhandled with the beer sign at this very corner 18 months ago…
His best haul: $120 in four hours. He’s gotten 12-packs, wine, champagne and - he swears - Xanax.
Wow. For $30/hour, I can see why you would stick with the “job” for over 18 months.
Tags: pasco, tampa
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February 3rd, 2007 at 2:40 pm
Remember that’s his best haul. Not the usual. But hey, at least he’s honest. I’d rather give money to a guy who says he wants beer than I guy who says he wants a sandwich and then buys beer.
February 3rd, 2007 at 2:55 pm
What about the guy who says he wants a sandwich and never gets the sandwich he entirely intends to buy because you assumed he was going to buy a beer?
February 3rd, 2007 at 5:00 pm
I did give a guy a dollar once who said he wanted to buy some wine. Not sure why I did that but it seemed like a nice thing at the time. I suppose you could make a donation to a homeless oriented charity if you want to feel ok when waiting at a stop light in front of one of these guys. Or you could buy one of the “flowers” they make out of palm leaves. Talk about a way to let your customer justify their purchase, “Oh it wasn’t a handout, I bought this pretty yellow origami flower from the nice man.”
February 3rd, 2007 at 5:04 pm
I am glad that you identified him by his occupation as a “panhandler” and not assumed that he was homeless.
Most homeless people that I have known are working or looking for jobs. They face so many obstacles that they do need and deserve help getting back on their feet.
While I support charities that help the homeless I never give cash to beggars. If people would stop giving them money they would give up and look for work.
Some of them may honestly need to buy food but I think most of them are looking for drugs or alcohol. I don’t want to make even a small contribution to a criminal enterprise or to someone destroying their health. Recovering addicts tell me that they would postpone treatment until they have hit rock bottom and had no other choice. For many being homeless on the street is definitely “rock bottom” but some adapt to this and panhandle for drug money. They deserve a safe structured environment and treatment for their addiction.
February 3rd, 2007 at 5:48 pm
There’s a Sherlock Holmes story about a middle class gentleman who disappears. It is discovered that his business has gone under and he has been able to maintain his home, family, and opium addiction by begging on the streets of Victorian London. Until he disappears of course, into the opium den.
Interesting movement afoot on the hardcore homeless front check out http://www.housingfirst.net Unlike many programs they don’t require people to be working, clean or sober, before assuring them housing. Seems once addicts and the mentally ill are off the street stable housing it’s much easier to get them to comply with medication and/or outpatient treatment. Saves $ on both the healthcare and criminal justice fronts.
This of course doesn’t deal with the largest segment of the homeless population-families with children.
February 3rd, 2007 at 5:49 pm
That should have said:
off the street and in stable housing.
Too much wine I guess.
February 3rd, 2007 at 5:56 pm
Get those little “good for one meal” certificates from McDonalds / BK / Wendy’s / Denny’s / IHOP/ etc. One is usually within walking distance and they are more inclined to spend it on food rather than trade it for EtOH.
February 5th, 2007 at 10:21 am
And you don’t even have to fill out a lengthy application !
February 5th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
I frequently use the “Need Beer” line when out on the street, usually works.
February 5th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
for what it’s worth, Tommy’s band JGLB gave $500 to Metropolitan Minstries this past Christmas. JGLB also $1,157 to Red Cross immediately after Hurricane Katrina. see http://static.flickr.com/25/41076152_95381fb373.jpg and http://static.flickr.com/33/41076151_92430abdb6.jpg
http://jglb.net/db3/00286/jglb.net/_uimages/metmin6e.Jpg
and http://jglb.net/db3/00286/jglb.net/_uimages/metmin6d.Jpg
http://jglb.blogspot.com/2007/01/what-your-support-of-jglb-means.html
http://jglb.blogspot.com/2005/09/update-9-9-05.html
thanks to Tommy for being a great guy.
February 6th, 2007 at 11:00 am
Tim, I’m a bleeding heart, so I tend to give money regardless. Unless someone is overly aggressive, but they’re usually not.
February 9th, 2007 at 6:18 pm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Please contact Wayne Andrews
Media Coordinator
901-237-9091
contact@street-people.com
http://www.street-people.com
February 8, 2007
“Changeâ€-ing the World
(MEMPHIS, TN) – Can $.25 cents solve a problem? Two men concerned about homelessness believe it just might. Launching a campaign entitled: “Changeâ€-ing the World they are using the skills of many homeless people, panhandling, to try and raise awareness and money to help address the issue of homelessness.
The campaign is featured as part of the Street-People.com website which chronicles stories of the homeless people. The idea to “panhandle†change came from the website founder’s frustrations over the increase in panhandlers and the civic programs which did not appear to impact the problem.
“We saw people give change to homeless panhandler’s everyday and recognized this is happening in cities across the country and around the world. We wondered what would happen if people focused all the change they would normally give to panhandlers to support one organization.†commented the website founders. “Would focusing all that change to the efforts of one charity help end homelessness in one community?†This idea launched “Changeâ€-ing the World with a simple plan to encourage people not to give change to panhandlers but to pool their change with other people from around the world and direct the funds to one charitable organization to see if this influx of support can make a difference.
‘We made it interesting by not selecting a charity in advanceâ€, added the site founders, “ after the deadline we will draw a hometown from all the people who sent change and make the donation to a recognized organization in that town that addresses homelessness. It makes sending $.25 a worthy investment to end homelessness in your community.â€
The campaign encourages people to look under the couch cushions, check the ash tray, or send the change from that daily cup of coffee. Of course they also take your credit cards through paypal. To learn more about the “Change†ing the World campaign visit http://www.Street-people.com
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