panhandlers!

[GuyB]

Any one noticed we have abundance of panhandlers lately?
We have always had them to a certain degree but lately I see them on every street corner.

[fourthworldtraffic]

I think they must be the wall street crowd arriving at long last. They must have heard it was cheaper to be broke here. Don't give them any money,it encourages them.

[FRISKY]

Don't give them any money; it encourages them.

Bingo!

[BBatesokc]

I have a habit of taking photos of odd things I see.

Some of my favorites are of panhandlers.

Here's one I thought was being creative...

Brian Bates's Photos | Facebook


Or, this guy...

Brian Bates's Photos | Facebook

[GuyB]

Here's a guy taking a break after a hard days "work". I think he's checking his stock portfolio.

Things that Matter Blog Archive Homeless Man Goes Online

Good on GWB!

I have seen them as young as 20 I guess every one is jumping on the bandwagon

[Midtowner]

I have a habit of taking photos of odd things I see.

Some of my favorites are of panhandlers.

Here's one I thought was being creative...

Brian Bates's Photos | Facebook


Or, this guy...

Brian Bates's Photos | Facebook

Y'know.. one of these days that camera of yours is going to get you into some trouble....

[PennyQuilts]

OMG - I'm not sure, but that second guy looks like my brother!

[GWB]

Here's a guy taking a break after a hard days "work". I think he's checking his stock portfolio.

Things that Matter Blog Archive Homeless Man Goes Online

[bristolscene]

I always thought it was ironic that the two posessions homeless people never are short on are 1)cardboard and 2)permanent markers.

[Stan Silliman]

I always thought it was ironic that the two posessions homeless people never are short on are 1)cardboard and 2)permanent markers.

"From my cold dead hands before I give up my Sharpie."

[Stan Silliman]

Of course by now, everyone knows that the "WILL WORK FOR FOOD" signs were pioneered right here in Oklahoma at my old school - Panhandle A & M.

[Thunder]

People should not be giving them money. The city need an action plan to round up these people, put them in shared homes, some sort of plans to get their life back together.

The people that really need the money are those that work at minimum wage at places such as resturants and grocery stores. Most of the people don't get a raise for a very long time and they rely on tips to make ends meet. I know that I do and I'm very thankful and graceful for those that tipped.

[bristolscene]

The city need an action plan to round up these people, put them in shared homes, some sort of plans to get their life back together.

The Homeless Alliance has the "Real Change Not Spare Change" program. You can buy little booklets of "real change" vouchers to give to those in need instead of money. They are bus vouchers that are only valid to go to shelters and homeless services.

http://www.homelessalliance.org/realchange.htm

However, sometimes if I'm downtown and I don't have any vouchers on me, I'll give them a buck. I know I won't spend it any wiser than they will. Better to err on the side of generosity, I think.

[metro]

The Homeless Alliance has the "Real Change Not Spare Change" program. You can buy little booklets of "real change" vouchers to give to those in need instead of money. They are bus vouchers that are only valid to go to shelters and homeless services.

http://www.homelessalliance.org/realchange.htm

However, sometimes if I'm downtown and I don't have any vouchers on me, I'll give them a buck. I know I won't spend it any wiser than they will. Better to err on the side of generosity, I think.

These coupons aren't much more effective. They trade them amongst themselves like cash, it just takes a few extra to get what they want instead of actual dollars.

[Prunepicker]

These coupons aren't much more effective. They trade them amongst
themselves like cash, it just takes a few extra to get what they want instead
of actual dollars.

Does anyone know the going rate for the "Welfare Credit Card"? You know,
the one that replaced food stamps in order to help their (lol) self esteem.

They were getting 30 to 40 cents on the dollar for food stamps. Is it the
same with the Welfare Credit Card?

[Prunepicker]

Does anyone remember when the welfare services provided real food? It was
that awesome commodity food. The cheese and peanut butter was great.
The meat was good, too.

How do I know this? They didn't want the food, they wanted the money so
we'd buy it for next to nothing. They'd always give the powdered milk away
because nobody would use it. We hippies had connections :-)

I'd like to find some of that cheese and peanut butter. Does anyone know
where it came from? I heard a rumor that the cheese was kept in Mammoth
Cave. That's in Kentucky. The temperature never got above or below 65.

[metro]

Does anyone know the going rate for the "Welfare Credit Card"? You know,
the one that replaced food stamps in order to help their (lol) self esteem.

They were getting 30 to 40 cents on the dollar for food stamps. Is it the
same with the Welfare Credit Card?

I don't know. Seems like I went to a workshop, shelter or something a year or more ago about the "homeless coupon program" and they said something to the tune like 5 coupons and they could get a beer, 20 and they could get something like a joint, sex, etc.

Also watched an YouTube video from a pastor or someone who works with the homeless and was talking from an interesting perspective stating that the homeless person might need the money more than they need you to buy them a $1 cheeseburger from McDonalds, etc. Sometimes they have serious addictions to drugs and quitting cold turkey could cause serious medical damage, coma, etc. Sometimes they need the money to buy protection from getting beat up or killed, etc. Makes you think whose place is it really to judge if you're put in an opportunity to help someone out.

[Thunder]

I'm tallking about serious plans. I want the city to actively go out there, round up these people on buses and put them somewhere to get their life back on track.

I've seen a story about this on the news last year, these kind of people are making thousands each month!!! I wouldn't be surprised if they're living in a nearby hotel. To them, they think this is easy money to just stand/sit looking like a bum, rake in all that money, then go to their luxurious home every night.

[BailJumper]

I want the city to actively go out there, round up these people on buses and put them somewhere to get their life back on track.

What country do you think you are living in?

And when the bus stops at this "life back on track" mecca and they decide to start walking right back to where they came from - what then? Shoot them on sight?

[Lauri101]

Sadly, some of these folks are soldiers/veterans who, for whatever reason, have been unable to find a job or get their life together after being discharged after serving their country.

It is a disgrace that we (as a country) treat our servicemen and women in this manner. The phenomonen is not age-related, either - we have Vietnam, Gulf War I and Iraq/Afghanistan veterans surviving on the street.

The solution? Bailjumper is correct - we cannot round them up and take them somewhere - extreme rendition is not an option. Funding VA, government partnering with non-profits, volunteers from active duty units - all methods can help get these guys (and women) back on their feet and off the street.
In the meantime - buy them a sandwich or a cup of coffee. If they are engaging in criminal behavior - call the police.

[ddavidson8]

What country do you think you are living in?

And when the bus stops at this "life back on track" mecca and they decide to start walking right back to where they came from - what then? Shoot them on sight?

We live in the Obamanation.

[Stan Silliman]

We should at least require they dress up. Our city deserves a better class of panhandler.

[PennyQuilts]

There is a panhandler near where my husband works. He has been there for at least ten years and he also has a place a few metro stops away where he goes during the lunch hour. The guy has a band and a big screen tv and takes "vacations." A bum on vacation! Husband has heard him talking about it to his buddies. The bum started showing up in a wheelchair by his office, last week, but husband saw him at his lunch gig fit as a fiddle. He is just an operator. But it is working for him.

[oneforone]

The majority of panhandlers are not homeless. Most have a place to live, own or have access to a vehicle and have plenty to eat. Constitutional Law has created a loop hole that allows the people to do what they do.

This problem could very easily be eliminated by requiring police to report to the IRS on anyone who has been sighted for panhandling on multiple occasions.

[svetlanaboginskaya]

The majority of panhandlers are not homeless. Most have a place to live, own or have access to a vehicle and have plenty to eat. Constitutional Law has created a loop hole that allows the people to do what they do.

This problem could very easily be eliminated by requiring police to report to the IRS on anyone who has been sighted for panhandling on multiple occasions.

I can speak from first hand experience and say without hesitation.......The IRS is not going to send agents out to audit these people, talk about a public relations nightmare. Besides, that isn't a wise allocation of resources. I can assure you that there are enough people making hundreds of thousands of dollars in OKC that need much more attention from the IRS.