It sounds counter-intuitive, but it’s true what they say: most of the people panhandling are doing it to feed an alcohol or drug addiction. The ones who don’t beg for change are usually the ones who are trying to hold down a part-time job even as they sleep on park benches:
[...] it just wasn’t in me to ask complete strangers for money, to panhandle. But I know of many who did, and every one of them did so to feed an addiction.
I would hear guys who hadn’t found work at the temp agency gather together and discuss ways of getting money. What stories worked best, and what kinds of people to approach. The easiest and fastest way to make money occurs at the LRT stops. I’ve even heard them claim proprietary ownership of certain train stations and sometimes the argument would get so intense that a fight would break out. LRT stops are lucrative and sought after because the “marks” are easily identified.
Whenever somebody asks me for change I always have the same rehearsed answer: “I have 2 kids, 1 job, and 0 money for you.”
I’ve dealt with the issue a bit form both sides – while I’ve never been a panhandler, and never homeless for any stretch longer than a few days…
That is absolutely right – the WORST thing anyone can do is give a beggar change – if you feel bad about the homeless problem (and we all should) what you need to do is go to a shelter, and donate things like food, blankets, good quality clothing (used is fine, as long as it’s warm), or even money – that will go to food for meals for people.
If a beggar asks for money for food, give them a sandwich, or a juice. It’s okay to be supportive, but it’s not okay to support the habits that landed them on the street.
Also, there are many reasons people end up homeless, and not all of them have anything do do with substance abuse – but those people also don’t beg for money.
Good comment Patrick. I agree that there’s no substitute for philanthropy to shelters where you know that your money will be going to feeding and clothing people in real need.
True story. A couple of years ago I was walking down Bloor St. in Toronto ( west of Spadina to those who know Toronto). A panhandler was sitting on the sidewalk with his dog; a friend had just brought the panhandler a slice of pizza which the dog was eagerly sniffing. The panhandler slapped the dog on the nose and said “no begging”.
I smiled and kept walking.
Good post Patrick. I’ve made a personal policy of not giving to panhandlers. It’s not easy sometimes but enough is enough.
I have an issue with the overt reverse racism in Ontario for social services because after almost 3 years of fighting a Charter Bank over money owed to me and I am almost bankrupt as a lawyer warned me would happen by the banks lawyers on retainers to drag out cases.
I tried to get just a mere $700 a month in rent aid to hold me over while the OHRC rules on my case since the Bank caused undue harm and used my income bias to know I can’t afford a lawyer or have the time to fight this.
BUT, the Social Service Office down the Street from me refused to help me based on my Postal Code.I was told to travel a few miles to the Office assigned to my Voter Ward and Postal Code for it,but my normal existing medical problem forced me to use the eFile system and request a Home-Visit as my Right.
I was questioned about my illness to justify a visit or just access Social assistance which I will agree to pay back,but the Union workers with heavy accents treated me like a previleged White-Guy too smart and hard working to need help. The worker never showed up on the date scheduled and failed to contact me for 3 weeks now. Basically,they cause me to infer that only non-White/non-Citizens are pathetic and lazy enough to get instant welfare and housing because the bar was lowered as career Wards Of the State.
The Wealthy/White/Smug/Elite/Liberals in Ontario have a low opinion of non-white to pre-suppose they are useful idiots to house in State-funded ghettos to emerge only during Elections as good puppets.
I can survive if I budget and sell-off some items in my small collection of items I intended for retirement and hope the HRC under Barbara Hall has cleared up those cases of Fishermen being pushed into the lake,or the Turkish guy at the Coffee-Time near me that got $15’000.00 from an Alleged slur he was a gypsy. yes folks,$15’000.00 Tax-free dollars from a immigrant trying to make a life in Canada and another Immigrant costs us tax payers money to play Traffic cop and hand a whiner a bag of money to shut him up.
BTW
I knew that guy in the News paper picture and that Coffee shop had several welfare spongers playing batgammon endlessly and yelling to each other while smacking down pieces on the table as well during Domino games.I stopped going there from the noise and loud rantings in foreign languages,plus one guy had a nice SUV while he kept his “Cane” handy for his fake limp on Disability payments that didn’t seem to hamper his trips to 7-11 to buy smokes or get gas a Petro can’s station near Keele.
Ontario can keep their money and those Elite Liberals can use those non-whites as Voter-pools to stay in power,I wanted be self-employed and head west to start a business or move to the USA. I can’t afford to support my workers along with several Welfare cases per worker from taxes that enable the lazy baby makers to Live free,and then die.