On the street corner across from where I live. He was dressed nicer than I was. I thought at first that he was advertising a new business going in at this empty car lot across from my apartment complex. I was surprised to see that the sign said: Homeless--Need money or work. Something like that. I was shocked! Here this guy was, dressed better than I was and asking for help. I would be mortified! Have you ever had an experience like this? Have you ever wondered what the story was behind alot of these people you see out with signs on the street corners? Do you believe them? Do you stop?
[question posted by celticeagle]
responses and comments:
Hello celticeagle Of course I feel bad for those people but i have my own family and my own struggles to worry about so while I know it is polite to help out and give to ones less fortunate I am not in the position to do that so I do not stop.... [froggieslover]
I feel the same way. [celticeagle]
Its hard to take anything seriously because you never know what the motive is. There was a guy who used to ask for money all the time but I never knew if he needed it or not. There are programs to help people who need it but somebody abuses the system it messes it up for everybody else. It turns a warm heart cold. [gitfiddleplayer]
Very true! And if this guy was so bad off why wasn't he down at the government office? Too good? [celticeagle]
Last week I did see a guy on the corner and he was in bad shape. He was so skinny that it was scary and his face was like..peeling and discolored from being out in the weather. He had a sign that said Hungry..help. I went over and boought him a pizza and a 2 liter bottle of Sunkist. I know it wasn't nutritional but it was a meal nonetheless. I am usually skeptical of people that are holding signs but this time...I just knew. I don't normally trust the fact that they are in such a bad way. If I had been you..I would have felt the same way though. I may have been completley buffaloed but I think this guy was really in a bad way. I have heard that there are people that make a great living off the pity of others. It's a shame that we can't trust the fact that they are really hurting because there are some people that are. Take care. [JenInTN]
years ago I made comment to a co-worker about poor looking, desheveled old lady I saw down town all the time hauling around a grocery cart. She laughed and told me she was actually rich. This lady made hundreds of dollars a day. I recall one day she actually followed me down the street and was asking for change. I actually said no and she started swaring at me. I was so surprised. I couldn't believe it. She was taken off the streets. It is an amazing world! [celticeagle]
I've seen them before when we lived in the city and I would rather give to a shelter that could help them rather then just hand them money. You don't know if the money would be used for alcohol or drugs. At least if you gave it to a shelter you know it would go to help these ppl if they really need it. As for how the guy was dressed, it may simply be that he is newly broke. With all the ppl losing their jobs like they have, some have turned to panhandling and just b/c they still have nice clothes doesn't mean they don't need help. He would probably get more help if he wasn't dressed up, but if he's new to it he might not know that. **AT PEACE WITHIN** ~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~ [twoey68]
And someone could have given him the coat. I just couldn't believe the way he looked and he was begging for help. I find it very hard to trust these people. [celticeagle]
No I dont beleive them any more! as I have seen that they run in gangs and try not to hit the same people twice. One takes over when the other one takes the money they have some where . and they dont have to pay taxes on it!!!! [Lakota12]
most of them are good people just down on luck. We had them all lined up and living on MAin Street by my smoke shop they have now moved them for they are going to do some construction there. Dont know where they moved them too. I wanted to know how they sent up theri tents on the cement side walk but never got out to look1 [Lakota12]
Not sure what this man's story is. I do know that many people who once were working and had nice things are now struggling and barely surviving. It could possibly be that this man had nice clothes from when he was working and maybe lost his job and everything that he'd worked so hard far. It could be that the clothes he is wearing are what little he has left. Or possibly someone gave them to him? It's hard to say. I have talked to a few homeless people. Some of them actually choose that lifestyle but there are so many desperate people these days. I hope and pray that I don't end up to be one of them ever. I do see how it can happen tho. All it takes is a bad set of circumstances. If you lose your house or apartment then the state will not help you because you don't have a permanent address. it happens. If I can help them, I do and I don't doubt their need unless I have reason to. I'd rather help regardless of whether or not they are being truthful than to NOT help and walk away from someone that maybe really needed the help. [sid556]
Me either. Practical jokes and all! [celticeagle]
Yeah its hard to decide if they're really broke or homeless or whatever, especially if they look nice and are clean. I've seen some like that before, it makes it hard, I try to do what I can, I give to different charities, its not much what I give, but I hope it helps in some way, and I know for sure that it will be used in the right way. Mostly I don't stop. [walijo2008]
Sadly I don't either. [celticeagle]
There have been times when my old roommate and I or my husband and I have stopped to give people food. I'm talking going to the nearest place of business that will sell me a sandwich and some milk then taking it back to the person holding the sign. Only once did a man refuse the food and get nasty because my old roommate and I would not give him cash. My husband and I once did this for an old man holding a sign, he was clean, but wearing farmer clothes standing in the cold and snow. We could tell by his hands and face that he had always worked hard. We took the last money we could spend (saved the gas money for us to go to work the next day), bought him a sandwich and some milk at the convenience store where we were meeting his ex to drop of their son. I still get tears in my eyes when I think about it, like right now. I don't care what a person is wearing, that man more than likely had that suit in his closet before he fell on hard times. Probably a smart man that knows few, if any, employers driving by are going to hire someone wearing rags. I'm always grateful that it is not me or my husband standing there with that sign. [visitorinvasion]
I am grateful also. I just don't trust like I used to. [celticeagle]
After all those years of living in the French Quarter, New Orleans, LA, USA, I do not believe a word of it. We would see "homeless beggars" getting dropped off in new cars and do a quick-change from their designer clothing into "street clothes". I will say though, that I have a soft spot for Veterans. I will give to Veterans. But only after they show me their Veterans Card as proof. After-all, I may have been born at night, but it certainly wasn't last night! [jands1]
Ya, see this guy I am talking about had on a nice ski jacket. Gotta love New Orleans though! [celticeagle]
I try not to judge people by their looks. I was homeless and had a shearling coat and gold earrings in my ears. I went to welfare for a space in the shelter. The worker told me I did not look homeless. I broke it down to his azz right on the spot. I can't believe people think you have to look a certain way to be homeless. That shows ignorance on their part. I got my spot and went about my day. I would ask him a few questions if I wanted to help him. But to judge him would be a waste of my time. [SharonJohnson]
And how can you be sure that the answers were true? I don't believe for one minute that this guy was homeless. [celticeagle]
sad truth is i dont stop because there are hundreds in phoenix here and i would gladly help them all except i cant. my kids that also need help just keep me broke.i do believe it because so many people are in the same situation these days. i know first hand because of several family members and friends [bunnybon7]
Ya, my family has to come first. [celticeagle]
I don't really know for sure. I wonder why he would be dressed so nicely than you. I think he should be nice enough to go fill out an application or do a job interview. ITs better than standing outside in the cold and waiting for someone to stop for you. [nijolechu]
I agree. I was just dressed in my everyday clothes and he was dressed more for an interview. New jeans, nice shoes and a very nice ski jacket. [celticeagle]
i ever experinced this kind of man also and he dressed a suit and wear a neck tie. then ask for several dollar to buy the movie ticket. ofcourse i refused it since he still can live without watch the movie or why do not him sell his good quality clothes to buy anything he want? [celebratelifeh]
I wondered that myself. [celticeagle]