Dealing With Panhandlers
Odd little item in this week's Humboldt Beacon: How to deal with problem panhandlers.
I say odd simply because I don't recall ever seeing panhandlers in Fortuna on the rare occasions I've been down there. I guess they must have them, though.
posted by Fred Mangels @ 8:25 AM
8 comments
8 Comments:
If a panhandler asks me for money to buy alcohol I'll tell him that the only reason I have money in my pocket is because I don't drink and I won't be spending money on his drink either.
That's delightful, Hucktoons.
Thing is, they rarely say it's for booze or other drugs. They almost always have some lie to tell. Because lies serve their needs better than the truth does.
My girlfriend took a walk this evening around Old Town. She said lots of folks were walking around enjoying the warm weather. On F St, across from The Works, a young fellow in clean clothes with a little scruffy beard asked her if she had spare change. She's usually a soft touch with hard luck cases, but this guy just seemed to be asking out of habit. Maybe he thinks it's cool or something. She said no. I've never asked for spare change in my life. I don't think that it's a matter of pride, but more a matter of manners. Man, what's up with some people, thinking that it's OK to approach a stranger and ask for money?
I have been asked for a nickel before. Don't know what good that would do anyone except feed a parking meter. Have a friend that lives close to Old Town and he said he is frequently asked for a nickel because most people have quarters they will give those.
When asked for spare change, I usually say no and ask if they have any.
I have compassion, really I do.
But in 10 short years I have watched Eureka go from
a sleepy, kinda friendly little town, to a 'hellhole'!
Got a business near old town? Good luck trying to lure tourists or even locals in. NO ONE likes to be hit on for change-constantly. NO ONE likes to worry about leaving their car unattended.
Is that really so much to ask?
Bums and criminals elsewhere are being told what an easy place this is. And here they are.
We need to change that message, before this place is no longer somewhere you want to live or raise a family!
Awhile back San Francisco was encouraging people to carry a stack of cards which contained addresses and numbers of various free services available to homeless, including shelter and food. The idea was to hand them to panhandlers in lieu of money.
When did money become 'Spare'?
Like Nancy said 'Just Say No'. I like the card idea. Since giving to established services means that they actually get food/shelter, that's what I do. That way, if people really need it, it's there.
I think most of the 'handlers are just too lazy, or think they are playing the system.
The idea that somebody is going to starve to death in Eureka, California if they don't get a handout from a passer-by is just foolish.
Quietly and "without fanfare" government safety net programs prvide assistance to very many needy people in our community and across the nation.
In addition to government programs are organizations such as Food for People, the Eureka Rescue Mission, and the free lunch program operated by one of the local Christian denominations.
Kind-hearted but naive people who dig into their pockets to help poor people often are not helping them at all. In many cases, they are just helping the panhandler continue a lifestyle revolving not around work and responsibility to oneself and others, but to slavish obedience to the dictates of whichever Drug dominates his or her life.
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