Had something similar to this happen to me in Hawaii. Asked for cash, I said no I'll buy you food, he walked away.
Get your money for booze or drugs from some other person not from me.
Why I don’t give out money to panhandlers
- Thread starter hamermill
- Start date
Get your money for booze or drugs from some other person not from me.
Back in the fall I pass by the intersection of steeles and woodbine by Markham and I saw a lady in hijab panhandling in the middle of the island with a sign "Syrian Refugee"...aren't the gov't housing them and giving them support? Or is this lady just pretending to be a refugee?
I think I drove past the same lady. If she is a refugee she is getting the free housing and support but trying to make some extra cash (maybe is not allowed to work - legally or husband will kill her for doing so).
I donated to charities in the past years since I was doing well financially - this year will be nothing - major inflation, lost money on investments, probably losing my job next year, have probably only got 5 or 6 years of work left in me too. I don't donate to people on the streets since I rarely carry cash and have my own problems (and no one is looking out for me - I have no bank of mom & dad or inlaws/wife etc.)
I wouldn't believe anything a panhandler says. Always giving some sob story to pull at your heart string.
I give money to single parents if they are skinny with big boobs
i look past spinners with big boobed single parents...I need to know the mileage I'm getting for my donations...
I live in Cabbagetown, and I know a lot of homeless and street people, but mostly by sight recognition, not by name. I never ask people on the street what their name is, but I introduce myself, if they do first.
I sometimes give money to people who are begging, usually if I know them, or if they're sitting quietly with a sign; never to the 'pro', who asks for a handout.
Lesson one of panhandling school: get 'the Mark' to say "Yes" to some question. In Montreal, this was usually "Do you speak English?" In Toronto, it's usually "Can I ask you a question?", or similar.
I collect beer cans and liquor bottles for a guy who's homeless, and spends most of his day collecting beer cans and liquor bottles. As far as I'm concerned, he's a working man with a lot of competition. Anything I find, I put in a bin on my porch, and he collects them 2 or 3 times a week. I could use that money, (average about $20 a week in summer, maybe $10 this time of year), but I don't need it. He does.
I'm also "Ghetto Santa" in the 'hood. People in Cabbagetown often leave things in front of their homes that have value to somebody. When I see something that I consider valuable, like a knapsack, or a coat, or an abandoned bicycle, I'll often pick it up, and give it away to someone specifically, within five minutes. I usually leave abandoned bikes at the corner of Sherbourne and Dundas East, and walk away. Someone will take it within a couple of minutes; I don't care who it is. They will notice who left the bike. I never try to sell something that I find, or that's given to me for free, except precious metals. I'll sell found silver or gold items to a pawnshop.
I get free bottles of water often, and I usually give them to street people with a dog.
I make regular donations to a fund to build an Islamic school for girls, in the donation box at a local Muslim-run grocery store. The people there are very friendly, and I know that 100% of the donation will go to the cause. I never give money in grocery stores or Shopper's Drug Mart when they ask, because I know that the store owner can claim 17 cents of tax credit for themself from every dollar that a customer contributes.
There are a lot of scam charities, where the majority of funds received goes to staff salaries and perks, and a small percentage goes to those to whom the charity is geared. The Salvation Army traditionally has the highest percentage of funds donated going to the needy; a bit over 80%. In many cases, that percentage is ten or less.
I can walk through a really rough neighbourhood at 3 AM, without concern for my safety. I don't owe anybody any money, I haven't fucked anybody over, and I mind my own business, Plus I'm six foot two, with a large frame. Street punks don't start beefs with someone my size for no reason, and I don't give them one. I know street etiquette. Actions speak louder than words, but what speaks louder than actions is what other people say about you, when you're not around.
I sometimes give money to people who are begging, usually if I know them, or if they're sitting quietly with a sign; never to the 'pro', who asks for a handout.
Lesson one of panhandling school: get 'the Mark' to say "Yes" to some question. In Montreal, this was usually "Do you speak English?" In Toronto, it's usually "Can I ask you a question?", or similar.
I collect beer cans and liquor bottles for a guy who's homeless, and spends most of his day collecting beer cans and liquor bottles. As far as I'm concerned, he's a working man with a lot of competition. Anything I find, I put in a bin on my porch, and he collects them 2 or 3 times a week. I could use that money, (average about $20 a week in summer, maybe $10 this time of year), but I don't need it. He does.
I'm also "Ghetto Santa" in the 'hood. People in Cabbagetown often leave things in front of their homes that have value to somebody. When I see something that I consider valuable, like a knapsack, or a coat, or an abandoned bicycle, I'll often pick it up, and give it away to someone specifically, within five minutes. I usually leave abandoned bikes at the corner of Sherbourne and Dundas East, and walk away. Someone will take it within a couple of minutes; I don't care who it is. They will notice who left the bike. I never try to sell something that I find, or that's given to me for free, except precious metals. I'll sell found silver or gold items to a pawnshop.
I get free bottles of water often, and I usually give them to street people with a dog.
I make regular donations to a fund to build an Islamic school for girls, in the donation box at a local Muslim-run grocery store. The people there are very friendly, and I know that 100% of the donation will go to the cause. I never give money in grocery stores or Shopper's Drug Mart when they ask, because I know that the store owner can claim 17 cents of tax credit for themself from every dollar that a customer contributes.
There are a lot of scam charities, where the majority of funds received goes to staff salaries and perks, and a small percentage goes to those to whom the charity is geared. The Salvation Army traditionally has the highest percentage of funds donated going to the needy; a bit over 80%. In many cases, that percentage is ten or less.
I can walk through a really rough neighbourhood at 3 AM, without concern for my safety. I don't owe anybody any money, I haven't fucked anybody over, and I mind my own business, Plus I'm six foot two, with a large frame. Street punks don't start beefs with someone my size for no reason, and I don't give them one. I know street etiquette. Actions speak louder than words, but what speaks louder than actions is what other people say about you, when you're not around.
Many people are homeless by choice. They could live in a rooming house where meals are provided, but the cost of room and board would be based on their income from all sources. Someone receiving Welfare/ Ontario Works might get $75-$100 monthly for spending money, someone receiving ODSP might get $150-$200.
Someone could live at The Salvation Army or The Good Shepherd, but those places have strict curfews. If somebody misses curfew a few times at the Salvation Army near Sherbourne and Queen East, they get banned for a month, and have to live outside, or somewhere else. Repeated infractions make the ban permanent.
I think the curfew at The Good Shepherd, (just east of Parliament Street and Queen Street East), is really early, like 8:00 at night or similar, and tenants have to be out of the building during the day, beginning at 9 AM.
Many homeless people want the entire amount of their Government cheque, including the housing allowance, as cash, and they find their own living arrangements. They also tend to be piss-poor at money management. First, they often don't have bank accounts, because they don't have a permanent address, so they have the initial expense of a cheque-cashing store like Money Mart; I have no idea what percentage they pay, but it's probably more than five, and less than ten percent. They often spend a majority of their money before the payment date of the cheque, so for a few days in and around the end of each month, they're '8K Millionaires'.
The toughest part of the year for them is January, because their January cheque arrives before Christmas, and often all of it's gone by the end of the year.
Never lend money to a homeless person. Give them money if you want to, but not if you expect to get it back. The only monetary debts they will pay are to people with whom they have a business relationship. Drug dealers often offer goods on credit, knowing that the customer will pay when they get their next cheque, because the consequences of no so doing are extreme. Among other things, any time you see a pair of shoes dangling from a power line, you know that someone didn't pay his drug tab.
Someone could live at The Salvation Army or The Good Shepherd, but those places have strict curfews. If somebody misses curfew a few times at the Salvation Army near Sherbourne and Queen East, they get banned for a month, and have to live outside, or somewhere else. Repeated infractions make the ban permanent.
I think the curfew at The Good Shepherd, (just east of Parliament Street and Queen Street East), is really early, like 8:00 at night or similar, and tenants have to be out of the building during the day, beginning at 9 AM.
Many homeless people want the entire amount of their Government cheque, including the housing allowance, as cash, and they find their own living arrangements. They also tend to be piss-poor at money management. First, they often don't have bank accounts, because they don't have a permanent address, so they have the initial expense of a cheque-cashing store like Money Mart; I have no idea what percentage they pay, but it's probably more than five, and less than ten percent. They often spend a majority of their money before the payment date of the cheque, so for a few days in and around the end of each month, they're '8K Millionaires'.
The toughest part of the year for them is January, because their January cheque arrives before Christmas, and often all of it's gone by the end of the year.
Never lend money to a homeless person. Give them money if you want to, but not if you expect to get it back. The only monetary debts they will pay are to people with whom they have a business relationship. Drug dealers often offer goods on credit, knowing that the customer will pay when they get their next cheque, because the consequences of no so doing are extreme. Among other things, any time you see a pair of shoes dangling from a power line, you know that someone didn't pay his drug tab.
How did you manage to count this?
Over the last few years, my wife and I spend a couple of nights in the city just before xmas to get away from the kids, relatives, etc. I made a habit of getting about $100 in $5 dollar bills and handing them out as we walk around to people that I feel are homeless and could use it. I usually go with my gut and I never really had reason to regret it by running into someone that does not appreciate it. It is always well received and they show gratitude.
However, sometimes you do get treated like shit and that could make the whole thing feel pretty sour. Last summer, while my wife and I were walking along College St on probably the hottest day of the summer, we came across a homeless guy outside of a Shoppers Drug Mart who had a dog with him. It looked like he was asleep and the dog was panting a lot due to the heat. My wife walked into the Shoppers and bought two bottles of cold water and put them down by the guy so that he would hopefully give some to his dog who was clearly struggling in the heat. Still thinkin he was sleeping, we set them down and walked away. When we were about 10 feet away, he threw the bottles back in our direction and told us to fuck off.
It was shocking for sure since we hoped that he would least give a shit about his dog.
However, that does not deter us from giving when we can.
However, sometimes you do get treated like shit and that could make the whole thing feel pretty sour. Last summer, while my wife and I were walking along College St on probably the hottest day of the summer, we came across a homeless guy outside of a Shoppers Drug Mart who had a dog with him. It looked like he was asleep and the dog was panting a lot due to the heat. My wife walked into the Shoppers and bought two bottles of cold water and put them down by the guy so that he would hopefully give some to his dog who was clearly struggling in the heat. Still thinkin he was sleeping, we set them down and walked away. When we were about 10 feet away, he threw the bottles back in our direction and told us to fuck off.
It was shocking for sure since we hoped that he would least give a shit about his dog.
However, that does not deter us from giving when we can.
OMG Same. This homeless guy in a wheelchair was crying. So I got him food from Timmys, and he was like "Oh come on man!" and rolled away lol.
I no longer give anything.
This type of thing happened to me too one time, i offered to buy him a coffee and food but he said he would rather have the money!
Quoting myself here as I said
I passed a panhandler sporting a Canada Goose jacket.
The key is Hmmm I’m sure there is more to the story but I walked right past this person.
I agree with this.
People who work and pay taxes are giving in one way or another as those funds are helping to pay for many programs.
I wish they would pass a law that stores cannot claim the tax credit for donations. Though I would contribute to a fund that would let me watch Galen Weston Jr being suffocated by one of his Loblaws plastic bags. Fucking prick is using Covid as an excuse to maximize profits.
They are. As said, begging is a full time job for some.
The system makes it pretty to get a job without a fixed address and an employment history so there's a significant catch 22.
IMO, World Vision (the one where you sponsor an impoverished child) is one of those scam charities. They have a beautiful office building in Mississauga on World Drive (likely named for them.) I used to work in that area and remember seeing a few nice Benz's in the parking lot.
