Louisville Mojo: Please, for the love of God, stop giving to panhandlers!

Please, for the love of god, I'm begging you guys to stop giving money to people on the streets. If we had an infestation of rats you guys would be the ones spreading kibble all over the sidewalks. Our homeless shelters, many of whom supported the panhandling ordinance, will tell you the exact same thing: DO NOT GIVE MONEY TO PANHANDLERS!

When you give money to beggars, you're encouraging criminal behavior and you're wasting money that could be used to provide real help for people that need it. Panhandlers are taking money that could be used to help homeless people that actually need assistance (and not just a beer).

I was naive once too. After all, everyone wants to help their fellow man (or woman), especially if we truly believe they're in need.

In my early twenties I kept running into a guy panhandling off of the I-264 ramps at Breck, Bardstown, etc. I kept asking him if he wanted some easy work, I'd pay him generously, get him a meal, etc. but I could never get him to bite. His lame excuses began to piss me off. You see, I had the best of intentions, but I hadn't realized he was just a crook.

Ahhh... sweet youth. Where does our innocence go? :-)

One day in Dupont Circle, after making the offer again, I had some time to blow so I decided to just wait it out and see what this guy would do. After about an hour, he folded up his sign and walked over to the parking lot that I was in and (surprise) got into an old station wagon.

I followed him over the interstate and into Schnitzelburg, where he parked his car in a driveway. I parked a few houses down and got out and walked down the sidewalk. He proceeded into the front door, and not a minute later came out the side door, which was behind a chain link fence separating the driveway, with a beer in hand. An old lady in a muumuu, I presumed his wife, was hanging clothes in the back yard. He began yelling at her so loudly and so viciously that I was afraid he was going to attack her. I didn't hang out but I noted the address before I left.

A few weeks later I ran into him at the end of a ramp (joy!!). I motioned him over to the car and when he came up I pulled the piece of paper out of my visor and said, "You live at such-and-such number on such-and-such a street, right"? He was surprised and asked how I knew. "I know because I followed you home one day, and if I ever see you out here begging again, I'm going to visit you one day and I'm going to rip both of your arms from your body." He turned around, hurried off, and I never saw him again.

Look, I was young and it was a long time ago. Please don't judge me harshly for the words or reaction of a disenchanted twenty-something. Actually, I haven't changed much, I still have an unhealthy disdain for criminals.

About four weeks ago...

I frequently run into the panhandlers at Grinstead and I-64 and if I'm not busy I'll always offer to give them a ride to a shelter. (It really goes without saying, but women, please do not try this. A young lady was viciously raped under the Baxter trellis a handful of months ago by one of the bums that made it his home.)

I used to offer the sign-guys work and a meal, but I was actually accused of being creepy, so I stopped, figuring I'd let the experts deal with the problem. I would just be a helpful intermediary supplying transportation.

Anyway, one of these guys was there and had a sign that read HOMELESS / VET / HUNGRY. I rolled down the window and asked if he wanted a ride to the shelter and he said no, to which I nodded to the sign and said, "But it says you're homeless". He looked down and said, "Oh, well, I've got a tent back here, I'm OK." I said, "Alright, but what about a meal, you can get a meal at the shelter." He actually looked at his sign again and said, "Oh, I'm not really hungry, but thank you", to which I replied, "So you're hot homeless or hungry, you're just a bum, you just want to sit here and beg?" He came back with "I just want to be free, man!".

The light changed so I didn't get an opportunity to explore his military service history, but I'm guessing it was about as bogus as the rest.

I've lived that same story in about 100 different variations over the years.

If you really want to help, start by not contributing to the panhandling problem.

Give your money or time to well run groups with clean facilities, transparent audits and results and good programs and counseling. Most any group that doesn't make you say a prayer in order to get a room and a meal will probably work. You'll actually be contributing to the greater good this way.

Some excellent examples:
The Center for Women and Families
Family Scholar House
The Healing Place

Best,
- Chuck

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Rob Beanz #162341 fri nov 13 2009 at 8:34 am ·


	At least Rand would have took him to Dennys! :)

photog fri nov 13 2009 at 9:42 am ·


	There was a guy who used to troll the parking lots on West Market in the evenings and try to pass himself off as an "out of town firefighter". He had some sort of laminated badge and needed exactly $59.44 for some sort of hose broken on his car. So I ask him, "Firefighter, huh? Tell me what a Level One RIT is 'cause, you know, there are a lot of scammers out there..." (something ANY firefighter TRAINEE should know). He gets scary belligerent and starts saying I'm insulting him, etc. and storms off. Most of the guys asking for money for food are scammers, particularly the ones downtown. Downtown you are short walking distance from several churches and shelters that will feed you for free, no questions asked. You could show up in a suit or in underwear and they'll give you a meal. But lots of people give 'em money...when you watch them it usually doesn't take more than five minutes of work to get a handful of change, just for asking.

chuck fri nov 13 2009 at 10:30 am ·


	A guy on Bardstown Road once told me he needed a couple of bucks for gas so he could get home. I told him that I wouldn't give him cash, but I'd help him push the car and get the gas for him. We walked about three blocks before he realized I wasn't going to give in to his game, started stuttering and hopped on a Tarc bus that was getting ready to pull away. It was freaky, you'd think he was making a getaway from a bank robbery. While this type of stuff is mildly amusing to me, it wouldn't be necessary if folks would just stop giving money to these people. I feel most of all for the women, as aggressive male panhandlers can be very frightening to them, whereas I'm more likely to enjoy it. Best, - C

Nick87 fri nov 13 2009 at 11:08 am ·


	A guy I worked for last year doing Landscape Construction was working down in louisville one day and was short a guy. He seen a Begger on the corner at a stop light so he called him over. He told him he would pay him a 8 dollars an hour and buy him lunch if he wanted to work and to get on in the truck. The guy just looked at him really funny, like work? u want me to work for money?. And he said u got untill the light changes to get in the truck. The guy just stood there looking at him like he was an idiot untill the light changed....

Beverly Bartlett fri nov 13 2009 at 11:47 am ·


	I really admiring you for actually engaging with people and asking them about their situation and needs. Honestly, that's more sensitive than tossing a couple of quarters at them. I will say though, that their reluctance to get into a car with a stranger may be prudent, more than actually indicating a lack of need. Although over all, the body of evidence you're reporting indicates that the need was, at the very least, far more minimal than they're suggesting. I know I really shouldn't give, but I have on occasion. It's not because I'm naive enough to think I'm getting the full story, but I guess I just figure that even if the guy isn't in as dire straits as he is suggesting, he clearly needs money more than I do if he's willing to stand around in the hot sun to ask people for dimes and stuff. Still, from a public policy standpoint, I realize it's not helpful. A related point: How to talk to kids about this? When you say something like: "Sorry, I don't have any money." And then they ask you: "But I thought you did have money." So what do you say: I am not quite cynical enough to want to tell a little one -- obviously a pre-teen is different -- that I thought the guy was lying but... (Especially given that this is in the same conversation that I have to confess that I was, ahem, lying about not having money.) It's one of those moments as a parent where you never feel like you handled it perfectly.

GREENEYEDQUEEN sun nov 15 2009 at 10:01 pm ·


	OF COURSE they don't take up your offer of work. They are in the midst of an all consuming mental obsession and physical compulsion to obtain the next hit or drink. It's like being a marionette, where you're the dummy and the drugs/alcohol control the strings. Some of these panhandlers were once teachers, police officers, doctors, etc. who lost it all due to an addiction beyond their control. I, personally, would rather give a dollar to a homeless person, who probably WILL use it for a beer or a hit, than for that person to suffer. Besides, SOME of the money IS sometimes used for food. What background do I have in the issue of homeless panhandling? Well, for one, my father died from a drug overdose (although he never panhandled). Two, I have done it myself in the past prior to getting into recovery. Three, I recognize these people for what they are - desperately sick lost souls silently screaming for help. Someday, society's ignorance and ideology will change. (As, for instance, we also once allowed homeless children to starve in the streets during the Victorian era). These are typically the most intelligent and talented people in the world who are also sick. If all I can personally do is to give these people a dollar, you're damn skippy that I will always cough it up. Keep laughing - it won't be so funny when it's your son or father out there. "Look down at me you see a fool; look up at me you see a god; l

chuck mon nov 16 2009 at 9:00 am ·


	Greeneyed, I'm sorry, but no. Every panhandler is not homeless. Every panhandler is not addicted to something. Handing out change and dollar bills doesn't fix anything, it's just a salve for your conscience. You're contributing to the problem when you do this. If you want to fight addiction and alcoholism, start with The Healing Place, put your time and money into something that will make a difference and don't encourage begging. Best, - C

GREENEYEDQUEEN mon nov 16 2009 at 7:02 pm ·


	You're right Chuck. Not all are homeless or addicted. Some have mental illness. Some may well just be lazy piece of sh*ts. I don't have the time generally to sort it out and follow them home, wherever that may be. And, I do volunteer regularly to homeless causes (thank you very much). I'm sorry that you feel my charity to be lacking or problematic, and perhaps you are right. The thing of it is, just giving time/money to organizations does nothing to curtail the growing crisis of crime, drugs, and homelessness. Thank the government, society, and/or bad parenting for that, not me and my dollar. BTW - my conscience is good....how is yours? OK, let's just agree to disagree. I don't imagine I'll change your mind on this one. I KNOW you won't change mine. Being an American I believe in freedom of speech. As a Christian I believe in free will as well. You keep your dollar. I'll continue giving out mine. Much Love, - G

~*~SoftNSexy~*~ fri dec 18 2009 at 12:52 pm ·


	No. 1 If they are smart enough and commited enough to make a sign and then sit on a corner for more than 10 minutes...then they can be smart & commited enough to get help if they actually need it. #2 If someone walked up to me and asked for $2.50 (for example) for a beer, I'd give it to them. Assuming I wasn't by myself, that is. No need to be stupid and possibly get my stuff stolen or worse. Number one they're not asking for a ton...they know what amount they need. Number two, they're not lieing to me. #3 Greeneyed...I hope you realise that you're being taken. These guys probably see you comming a mile away. I've had my own share of dealings with addiction...and while I commend you for your soft and giving heart, be careful! There are better (and safer) ways to help than stopping on the street.

Ladybug83 thu jan 28 2010 at 12:45 pm ·


	I give money,occasionally and I never stop to think about whether this person really needed it.Charity is defined as an attitude of kindness and understanding towards others, now especially suggesting generosity.You don't give someone money and dictate how they should use it.I will concede that alot of them just don't want to work but I'm not going to stop giving if I think I see someone in need.It's good juju.

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