hard times hitting home-less

[lazygood4nothinbum]

i've been approached three times in the last two days for money right in my own neighborhood. never had that happen before, not even when i first moved here and this was a cracktown, before we rehabbed. twice while i was just washing the car at the local self-service car wash after my trip home. so i gave them a buck.

then last night i went to the supermarket just before closing. some guy was outside the store. as i went to my car he comments how nice my car is. i thought it was a just friendly comment so, continuing to get in the car with my packages but not wanting to be rude, i simply answered "yeah, it's a fun car to drive."

by the time i'm sitting down and have the key in the ignition and i'm turning the engine over, the guy has made his way over to my driver's side door. he's standing inches from the car. not that i can't handle myself, but still it was a little creepy. it was only then that i took a look at him as i backed out slowly so as not to hit him. another guy looking for a handout and an aggressive one at that, not even stepping back from the car as i backed out of the parking spot.

yet what an interesting approach, to get my attention with small talk. this was not an uneducated bum but maybe a foreshadowing of things to come.

has anyone else noticed more destitute people asking for hand-outs?

 

[Notmuchlonger]

No not yet. However, I know crime is up in my area. Particularly burglaries.

 

[bbbamI]

In my "burb" of Dallas, I don't really see it. We have an outreach center that gets most of the people asking for help/handouts. OTOH, DH has noticed it a bit more in downtown Dallas. Colder weather is on it's way, so that will keep most people in shelters.

Please be careful. If you think you might run upon more people like this again and don't mind giving a buck or two, keep the bills in your pocket...don't take it from your wallet.

 

[happy2bretired]

Seems to me that more crime is happening here in my town. There has been quite a few home invasions within the last year. A good many of them target older people and those living alone.

 

[HFWR]

has anyone else noticed more destitute people asking for hand-outs?

Yeah; Citibank, Merrill Lynch, GM...

Oh, you said people...

 

[Martha]

Some of the poorer people I know are doing better because of the drop in gas prices.

 

[Moemg]

We were bombarded with shady looking people with buckets at a stop light looking for donations to some real unknown (phony ) charity .

 

[dex]

Lazy,
You live in Florida - I'm guessing you're getting some of the homeless escaping the harsh winter up north. Also, places like Atlanta are cracking down on panhandling. If I were homeless Fla or the west coast would be the places for me.

 

[OAG]

Snowbirds all head for Florida (and other south areas) this time of year.

But they have to go "where the money is" like bank robbing and the US Congress.

 

[TromboneAl]

by the time i'm sitting down and have the key in the ignition and i'm turning the engine over, the guy has made his way over to my driver's side door. he's standing inches from the car. not that i can't handle myself, but still it was a little creepy. it was only then that i took a look at him as i backed out slowly so as not to hit him. another guy looking for a handout and an aggressive one at that, not even stepping back from the car as i backed out of the parking spot.

I know it's insensitive, but am I the only one thinking Night of the Living Dead?

 

[youbet]

We were bombarded with shady looking people with buckets at a stop light looking for donations to some real unknown (phony ) charity .

This is always going on in the Chicago area. Even when the economy is booming and good jobs are plentiful, it seems that phony roadside charity collecting is a better gig. Apparently folks keep right on supporting them or they'd give up and find something better to do...... I don't like the fact that they can get pretty aggressive, tapping on your window or, my favorite, cleaning your windshield and then asking for a contribution....

 

[lazygood4nothinbum]

Please be careful. If you think you might run upon more people like this again and don't mind giving a buck or two, keep the bills in your pocket...don't take it from your wallet.

thanx but i'm a pretty big boy and likely, even greyed, still intimidating to many. i'll wait until i'm in my 70s before i worry about getting mugged. plus i gots attitoooode!

Some of the poorer people I know are doing better because of the drop in gas prices.

good point. i have noticed the drivers going faster again and getting back to their usual aggressive selves.

Lazy,
You live in Florida - I'm guessing you're getting some of the homeless escaping the harsh winter up north.

ya, well, we always do get our fair share of hotel-challenged tourists but i've never seen them this confrontational. it is one thing to walk past a person with a cup. quite another to have them go out of their way (or i guess that was their way) to approach you. also we have very good facilities for them, thanx in good part to the huizengas and other swells who donated generously to build a very nice facility not far from downtown.

could be i'm getting paranoid and looking for "this is different" or maybe it really is. i don't know. sure seemed different.

I know it's insensitive, but am I the only one thinking Night of the Living Dead?

since when is bad humor ever insensitive. actually quite to the point. it was a scene right out of the movies. usually i'm off getting popcorn but this time i was right there in my seat.

still, it can get worse though i hope it does not. i'm starting to hear about how this economy might go. how we might be dealing with squatters some day soon in abandoned minimansions. why, just in philadephia during my roadtrip recently i noticed a number of vacancies ripe for homesteading

how's that go, something about home of the homeless, invisible, with

and

for all


in a museum there i found the father of debtornation alexander "boom" hamilton

HINDSIGHT IS ALWAYS 20/20

 

[dex]

Where and what are those signs with "Deficits" and "idea"?
What's the story?

 

[CuppaJoe]

Okay, here goes the conspiracy theory. It took me years to notice the extent of homelessness and its cousin, HUNGER, in the city because it is intentionally hidden!

Example: I’m off to a medical appt. at mid morning, I see a line and after seeing that a few times over several bus runs I realize the people are in line for a free meal or food giveaway a block or two away.

A week or so after retiring, I saw a stream of people with grocery store bags, most of them were carrying an obscure veggie. That struck me as odd until I came to an out-of-the-way doorway with a notice saying when the food would be given away. None of this is to be seen by the average 9-5 commuter or tourist.

Yes, there are the usual regulars where the foot traffic is, like the lady who obviously commutes by BART, the one with teddy bears near the opera house, the best spot near the cable car turn around, etc. You see the same people year after year on the same corners; I believe they have to pay someone off to retain the prime spots, Anyone know about that?

I see no increase near the coffee shop in my neighborhood, they always have the same patter, “hey, you, remember your manners, ladies should walk away from the curb, men on the outside;” “Happy, whatever holiday is near.” I hear that the ones selling the “Street Sheet” newspapers tend to eventually get off the street, get jobs, etc.

It’s disturbing to see the 60ish guy with the bad sunburn and calloused bare feet. The saddest sack of all is the one who looks like a Vietnam vet, doesn’t beg, just wanders aimlessly.

 

[lazygood4nothinbum]

Where and what are those signs with "Deficits" and "idea"?
What's the story?

just click provided link above picture for the who what when where & sometimes y.

Okay, here goes the conspiracy theory. It took me years to notice the extent of homelessness and its cousin, HUNGER, in the city because it is intentionally hidden!

good story-telling cuppa. i think what has been intentionally hidden is our own disgrace.

there are a few types of homeless. parents throw children out of their homes. not infrequent an occurance among young gay children born to homophobic families. others run away from home to escape abuse. others are simply dumped. a local channel last night ran a story about an 11 year old south floridian who was dropped off at some western state (nevada? i forget--doesn't matter) which had a law on the books that children of any age can be brought to public facilities and left with no questions asked. they were receiving 3 new children every week. this is the shame of the family.

economic refugees will likely soon be taking to the streets in greater number. we've already seen that in another thread about those living in their automobiles. this is the shame of capitalism.

i don't have the figures but i suspect a large part of homelessness is probably due to psychological imbalance. from the 1800s society held itself responsible to protect the weak, but ever since the mid 1900s, society has simply opened up the doors of asylums and wiped its hands clean. this is the shame of society.

The consequences of Medicaid’s discriminatory nature are staggering for the severely mentally ill, their families and the communities in which they live.The United States has lost effectively 93% of its state psychiatric hospital beds since deinstitutionalization began in 1955, resulting in increased rates of incarceration, homelessness, victimization and violence. The race for Medicaid dollars has, in fact, reduced the total number of state psychiatric hospital patients to less than 60,000 today, compared to 500,000 in 1965 when Medicaid was enacted*

(my underline)

*source: True Parity Means Eliminating Medicaid's IMD Exclusion

so to the homeless with exclusive rights to any particular street corner, i do not think those locations are licensed. i believe they are, at least, entitled.

 

[haha]

has anyone else noticed more destitute people asking for hand-outs?

I go by at least 10 beggars walking a few blocks to get my groceries. I can't tell if there are more recently; there have always been a lot. And a 700 sq ft condo costs $350k, a sfh starts around a million.

Young ones, old ones, men, women. I haven't yet noticed a staple of 3rd world begging - crippled children.

The most agressive thing I have noticed is that some of them will move into my path. But sidewalk chicken is a fine art around here, and not just with beggars. An older white man learns to give ground without making too much of it.

Ha

 

[Zoocat]

others are simply dumped. a local channel last night ran a story about an 11 year old south floridian who was dropped off at some western state (nevada? i forget--doesn't matter) which had a law on the books that children of any age can be brought to public facilities and left with no questions asked. they were receiving 3 new children every week. this is the shame of the family.

.

This is in Nebraska. The law was intended to allow mothers to leave their newborns at the hospital if they couldn't/wouldn't take care of them. But I guess, like you said, the law was written to include all children. So now teenagers are being dropped off by their parents. The state is changing the law now. The Associated Press: Neb. starts work on fixing child abandonment law.

As for homeless, I'm not sure if the panhandlers in my town are all homeless or not. They stand at intersections with signs saying they need money. There was a guy last week at the entrance to the supermarket who was about 65 but didn't look all roughed up the way most homeless do. He was neatly dressed with a sign that said he was jobless and desparate. I gave him $5 and when he replied I was startled by his accent, which I couldn't recognize, but sounded Israeli. Very odd.

 

[Goonie]

I remember one 'homeless' guy back in about 1989, in NYC near the Port Authority bus terminal.....he was a hoot! We were out there for about a week, and saw this guy every morning, and then again every evening. He hit us up for 'spare change' the first few times, then after a while we just conversed a bit, and then he'd go hit someone else up. Found out he'd been 'down-sized' and hadn't found a job that suited him, so he started panhandling during his job search to make ends meet. He said he finally quit looking for a job, because he made more money in handouts....tax free....than he made in a 9-5 job.

He took us out for dinner one evening at a nice restaurant in midtown. Obviously he frequented the place because the wait staff knew him by name, and took very good care of our table. While we were talking, he said he only 'works' for a couple of hours in the morning, and then a few hours again in the late afternoon to early evening......morning commute and afternoon commute times. He told us he easily made $1000 to $1200 per week....tax free....and he never worked weekends or holidays....and when he felt he'd made enough for the week, he stayed home with his wife and kids.

We asked him about what happens when the weather gets nasty out. He said he 'works' if it's not too bad out, but if it's really cold or really snowy, he stays home. He said several of the panhandlers he knew on the streets saved enough money to travel to Florida for the winter months, to ply their trade down where it's warm.

I've given thought to maybe someday following in his footsteps.....shoot that's a better deal than a Roth IRA.....and besides, I usually dress like a bum anyway!

(we also ran into a bunch of less successful folks too......most begging for money for "food", but when you offer to buy them "food" instead of giving them money, they'd get p*ssed at you.....their idea of "food" was cheap booze and/or dope.)

 

[freebird5825]

i've been approached three times in the last two days for money right in my own neighborhood...twice while i was just washing the car at the local self-service car wash after my trip home. so i gave them a buck.
then last night i went to the supermarket just before closing. some guy was outside the store. as i went to my car he comments how nice my car is...by the time i'm sitting down and have the key in the ignition and i'm turning the engine over, the guy has made his way over to my driver's side door. he's standing inches from the car. not that i can't handle myself, but still it was a little creepy. it was only then that i took a look at him as i backed out slowly so as not to hit him. another guy looking for a handout and an aggressive one at that, not even stepping back from the car as i backed out of the parking spot.

um...you just had a really really really close call at the market. this guy was invading your space big time. way too close for comfort. i took a self defense course taught by a cop when i was a teenager. your story pinged almost all of the common tricks a perp uses before attacking...compliment, some small talk, rapid approach, very close proximity. the second guy approaching may have saved your life.
is there any chance you could stop shopping alone and definitely not at night? maybe a different store would be a smart idea if this guy is always hanging around this particular one. i sincerely hope you lock your car doors right after you get in.
please take this seriously and be safe!

 

[haha]

I met a funny guy this evening. Pretty clean and intelligent looking guy maybe 40. He asked me for a quarter. I had just gotten off a bus, so I asked him if he needed bus fare. He said, no, I won't lie, I need some dip. He showed me his empty can of Red Man.

I made a lot of money on snuff this decade, I figured I could spare this guy a quarter.

Mostly though, I give beggars lots of room. Some of them are crazy, and also begging isnt a bad disguise for a mugger.

I like some randomness on the street, but within bounds is best.

Ha

 

[harley]

I've spent a lot of time in DC, the capital of crazy street people. It used to be intimidating to walk past strange looking people talking (and sometimes yelling) with nobody else around. I knew it was reaching epidemic proportions when I was seeing people in regular clothes and even nice suits doing it too. Not sure what the world is coming to, with all these crazy people talking to themselves on the streets.

 

[Brat]

I attended an urban parish in Portland. They made arrangements for meal chits the members could buy to give to people who asked for food money. I think the program was sponsored by a service agency and it pretty worked well. It is true that some might accept the chit then sell it on the street to another needy person but there is no perfect system.

 

[haha]

I've spent a lot of time in DC, the capital of crazy street people. It used to be intimidating to walk past strange looking people talking (and sometimes yelling) with nobody else around. I knew it was reaching epidemic proportions when I was seeing people in regular clothes and even nice suits doing it too. Not sure what the world is coming to, with all these crazy people talking to themselves on the streets.

Right. With those funny little hearing aids in their ears too.

Ha

 

[Frugality_of_Apathy]

I wonder why people still do muggings. Barely anyone carries cash anymore and credit cards get canceled within the hour. Maybe you get a cell phone and a watch?
Not really worth it for a potential jail time.

Though you know jail is free room and board...hmmm that's one way to retire early.

 

[Walt34]

Though you know jail is free room and board...hmmm that's one way to retire early.

It works. We had one guy who would regularly throw a brick through the front door of the police station so the county would pay for his dialysis treatments while awaiting trial.

He did cooperate when we asked him to throw the brick through a smaller, less expensive window. Nice fellow, just broke and sick.