It's so simple, I can't believe more people don't do this.
When you see you are approaching one, quickly whip out your cell,
& pretend you are talking to someone. I do this every single time
I come upon one & they always leave me alone.
Wouldn't you? Put yourself in their shoes. If you interrupt someone on their phone, you know they're gonna be pissed & you can forget getting any $ outta them.
It's win-win. They don't approach you & you aren't put in a potentially awkward situation
by having to turn them down.
Please, PLEASE everybody - let's all start doing this practice & who knows? maybe if enough
people start doing it, we might actually be able to make 'em go away.
Meh.
I just say "sorry, no" and move on.
Or I give them some coinage if I get a sense that they actually need it.
No need for deception IMO. Your mileage may, and apparently does, vary.
i dont have a cell phone. should i carry around my cordless home phone?
I always say, sure, got change for a hundred? no? Oh sorry, I have nothing smaller.
They so damn agressive. There was one time this lady approached me and I gave her the usual, "Sorry, no change" and she started to hurl abuse after abuse at me. Scary. I just shuffled out of her way quickly.
Do you guys get those handlers who come to your table in the food court and they put something on your table? Like a "help me, I can't speak" note on your table? So annoying.
Those low lifes aren't worth all the ENERGY you'll put into ACTING and FAKING to be talking on the phone.
Man... you're giving them even more control on your life, as if they don't have enough already.
Don't think that they have any manners that they won't interrupt. They always interrupt me when I'm talking with a friend.
A casual "Get lost" works well for me.
Don't even establish eye contact - because with an eye contact you're acknowledging them and implicitly giving them the permission to pester you.
And never, NEVER apologize for not having any change.
Spend as little energy for those scum as possible.
Firmly say "No change" and move on.
Some of those "Low Lifes" have gone through some hard times and experiences. Some of them, not all, but some would love nothing more than to NOT ask you for money. Some will, yes, use that money for drugs. But some need it for FOOD and also to FEED THEIR CHILDREN!
I try to give them food, if I have any.
I'm really surprised Vancouver doesn't have a homeless newspaper. Its a proven fact those papers help the poor.
[a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Issue"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Issue[/a]
Well, it's easier if you were a dude and can say that. If you look like a meek little bonnie lass, they kinda 'attack' you.
This thread makes the Jesus cry. Literally.
I have no experience with Vancouver homeless, but around here some of these people have actually fallen on hard times and need help. Some are scam artists and loonies, others have just had a string of very bad luck. I would be careful about characterizing all beggars as scumbags.
[a href="http://www.bigissue.com/bigissue.html"]http://www.bigissue.com/bigissue.html[/a]
Gosh now you guys are getting me motivated to start working for poor people issues.
It's true, tenkani but you know, you can't help it.
Seattle has a homeless paper. Really shocked Vancouver doesn't have one.
Its gives homeless people jobs and creates income for them it it true works.
[a href="http://www.realchangenews.org/"]http://www.realchangenews.org/[/a]
That's Seattle's homeless paper
tenkani wrote:
This thread makes the Jesus cry. Literally.
I have no experience with Vancouver homeless, but around here some of these people have actually fallen on hard times and need help. Some are scam artists and loonies, others have just had a string of very bad luck. I would be careful about characterizing all beggars as scumbags.
Good post. I agree. There are some people that are homeless these days due to retardedly high housing costs. Others with mental instability. Its a bloody joke when some Asstard calls them all SCUM!
Hear, hear.
[span class="categoryheadline"]OUR MISSION[/span]
Real Change exists to create opportunity and a voice for low-income people while taking action to end homelessness and poverty.
[span class="categoryheadline"]A REAL DIFFERENCE[/span]
[em]The Real Change Homeless Empowerment Project [/em]has many faces, a newspaper, an advocacy group, a [em]Homeless Speakers Bureau[/em], and literary workshops. We do a lot, and all of it is working toward building bridges among the poor, homeless and the greater community, while engaging the broader public in fighting for economic justice. By publishing the newspaper and mobilizing the public around poverty issues, [em]Real Change[/em] organizes, educates and builds alliances to find community-based solutions to homelessness and poverty. The [em]Real Change[/em] is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization.
[a href="http://www.realchangenews.org/board.html"]Board of Directors[/a]
[span class="categoryheadline"]OUR PROGRAMS [/span][a href="http://www.realchangenews.org/"]
[span class="categoryheadline"]REAL CHANGE NEWSPAPER[/span][/a]
[em]Real Change[/em] is Seattle's weekly activist publication with an ear to the street. [em]Real Change[/em] readers are educated, socially-concerned, and loyal. Our publication is sold by Seattle's homeless, and helps them earn the money they need to get ahead. Each month, more than 200 different vendors are out selling our paper throughout the Seattle area. [em]Real Change[/em] is a hand up, not a handout.
Our publication strives to create fairness, opportunity and community by covering issues that socially conscious people want to know about, from topics surrounding poor and homelessness, to stories about labor, the environment, public health and civil liberties (to name a few). After ten years, [em]Real Change News[/em] went weekly (from bimonthly) in Feb. 2005, and carries a paid circulation of 12,000 per issue. Our vendors pay 35 cents a copy for their papers, which are then sold on the street for a dollar donation.
[a href="http://www.realchangenews.org/firstthingsfirst/ftfhome.html"]FIRST THINGS FIRST[/a]
Builds grassroots support for a more humane Seattle, by advocating that creating low-income housing and providing adequate shelter for all should be among our city's highest priorities. First things First is working to ensure that elected officials know voters care about homelessness.
[a href="http://www.realchangenews.org/hsb/" target="_blank"]HOMELESS SPEAKERS BUREAU[/a]
Arranges for homeless and formerly homeless people to speak to schools. businesses, civic organizations, and religious groups. Speakers are drawn from the homeless and formerly homeless community.
[a href="http://www.realchangenews.org/otm.html" target="_blank"]OUT OF THE MARGINS[/a]
Out of the Margins is a project developed in partnership between Real Change and the Seattle Public Library. This ongoing series of literary arts workshops aims to empower and build confidence through offering the underserved public access to educational and creative opportunities at the Seattle Public Library.
healthy guy wrote:
Good post. I agree. There are some people that are homeless these days due to retardedly high housing costs. Others with mental instability. Its a bloody joke when some Asstard calls them all SCUM!
Oh fuk off already with your guilt trip! If you love'em so much take'em into your home. So STFU!
We've been through this HUNDREDS of times on DV.
You don't live around those asswipes. I do!
You don't get pestered by them as SOON as you step outside your home. I do!
Get this through your THICK head, moron: They don't need any food. They're not hungry. Some of them are better fed than I am.
They get FREE food. With my tax dollars!
Most of them have better shoes than I do!
Every single penny you give to these parasites go directly into feeding their DRUG habit. Got it?
Don't fool yourself into believing that you're doing a good deed by giving them your spare change.
You're only contributing to street level drug trafficking.
It's precisely because of goofballs like YOU that keep feeding these fk'ing low lifes, that they ended up multiplying beyond control.
Shitheads like YOU reinforce the idea that they can live the rest of their lives without working and shooting up in plain daylight, because no one has the balls to tell them "Enough is enough!"
[img style="CURSOR: pointer" onclick=url(this.src); src="http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/more/bigs/a043.gif" border=0]
Yeah, hey I also don't mean to minimize the annoyance of having somebody up in your face and getting aggressive, or pulling a scam. I'm just saying generalizing doesn't go anywhere positive. And I don't happen to think that decieving someone or telling them to f*ck off when you don't know their story is a classy thing to do.
Then again, I don't have to deal with beggars very often anymore.
Raging Poodle, do you really find it necessary to be a complete prick about this?
I can tell you're just venting, as you can't honestly believe that EVERY street person is a drug addict as you just claimed. I think our point was not to make assumptions based simply on the fact that someone is dirty and asks you for help. Hatred is the easy way out. Grow up.
yes some of the homeless in Vancouver have drug problems but statistics have PROVEN that most homeless in Vancouver HOMELESS because of mental diseases (depression) and job loss. They had a big 5 part series on CTV about this.
tenkani wrote:
Raging Poodle, do you really find it necessary to be a complete prick about this?
I can tell you're just venting, as you can't honestly believe that EVERY street person is a drug addict as you just claimed. I think our point was not to make assumptions based simply on the fact that someone is dirty and asks you for help. Hatred is the easy way out. Grow up.
Calling me a "prick" won't make you any less of a goofball.
Nor could I care less about all the negative karma points you want to give me.
You're not involved in the situation, you don't even live here - so what the fuk do you know?
YOU need to grow the fuk up, because you're talking out of your arse as usual.
[h3]Who are the people living in streets and shelters?[/h3] [p class="timeStamp"]Updated Wed. Dec. 6 2006 10:00 PM ET[/p] [p class="storyAttributes"]CTV.ca News Staff[/p] Yogi Chandra is one of Vancouver's homeless, but he doesn't suffer from drug addiction, mental health problems or even unemployment. He simply can't afford housing in Canada's most expensive city. [/p] [/p]According to one charity worker, up to 20 per cent of Vancouver's homeless have jobs. [/p] [/p]Chandra lives in a Surrey shelter called Hyland House -- a place he heard about from a homeless person he once gave food, before he lost his own home. [/p] [/p]"I felt sorry for that gentleman and I helped him out," Chandra told CTV Vancouver. "I never thought this would happen to me." [/p] [/p]He now works as a landscaper three or four days a week, but lacks the money to afford rent. His free time is spent helping other homeless people at the shelter. [/p] [/p]"The reason I'm here is because I can't afford to have a basement suite at the moment, because I'm not financially rich," said Chandra. "And that's my goal: to save up enough money so I can get out of here very shortly." [/p] [/p]When a new poll asked Vancouver residents why individuals become homeless, only 27 per cent blamed a lack of affordable housing. By contrast, 57 per cent thought drug or alcohol addiction. [/p] [/p]The survey was conducted by the Strategic Counsel for CTV, the [em]Globe and Mail[/em] and CKNW Radio. [/p] [/p]Saira Khan leads a program called Project Comeback that helps the working homeless find housing. She said that 20 per cent of homeless people are employed, usually as day labourers or through temporary employment. [/p] [/p]The program is overseen by the Newton Advocacy Group and is the only one of its kind in Canada. [/p] [/p]"We assist them with damage deposit, first month's rent, work boots, whatever is required," said Khan.
[/p]According to Peter Fidos of Options Hyland House, the high cost of rent in Vancouver is forcing some employed people to live in shelters. [/p] [/p]"People are working and they can't afford to live," he said. [/p] [/p]"When you're paying $700 to $1,000 a month and you're working at $8.50, you're not cutting it anymore. People being told that a job leads to independence is starting to sound like a hollow lie." [/p] [/p]The Greater Vancouver area also has the highest average price for homes in Canada at $518,176, according sales recorded by the Canadian Real Estate Association's Multiple Listing Service. [/p] [/p]That's far higher than Toronto, which has the second-highest average price at $365,537.
[/p]The minimum wage in British Columbia is set at $8 per hour. Michael Beckley makes $9 per hour, but like Chandra he still found himself living in a homeless shelter. [/p] [/p]"It was a little degrading, but I figure the ends justified the means, and it's better to be in a place like this than out on the street," he said. [/p] [/p]Thanks to Project Comeback, Beckley was provided with a damage deposit and able to find an affordable basement suite. [/p] [/p]Chandra is also hoping the program will help him move out of his Surrey shelter room. [/p] [/p]"Everything costs so much these days," he said. "And ten bucks doesn't get you around." [/p] [/p]For more information about Project Comeback, please phone 604-596-2311 or 604-916-5112.
[/p]
[/p]
(http://images.ctv.ca/archives/CTVNews/img2/20070104/465_house_070104.jpg)[/p]
[/p]
(http://images.ctv.ca/archives/CTVNews/img2/20070104/160_yogi_chandra_070104.jpg)[/p]Yogi Chandra is trying to save up enough money to get out the shelter and into his own home
(http://images.ctv.ca/archives/CTVNews/img2/20070104/160_homeless_shelter_070104.jpg)
Some residents find sleeping in shelters 'a little degrading,' but better than living inthe streets
(http://images.ctv.ca/archives/CTVNews/img2/20070104/160_peter_fidos_061229.jpg)
Peter Fidos of Options Hyland House
(http://images.ctv.ca/archives/CTVNews/img2/20070104/160_michael_beckley_061229.jpg)
Michael Beckley makes $9 per hour, but still found himself living in a homeless shelter.
Once when I was in SF Chinatown and was getting out the elevator of the parking structure, a panhandler greeted me with his hand out and with two quarters in his palm. Thinking I don't speak English he didn't say a word. I just took the two quarters and pocketed them and walked away.
EDIT: DELETED DUE TO ANNOYING PREACHY CONENT (AND RAT FECES IN EXCESS OF GOVT. STANDARDS).
Hmmm....I thought it was well written tenkani. I wonder what that means. [img style="CURSOR: pointer" onclick=url(this.src); src="http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/more/bigs/c028.gif" border=0]
tenkani wrote:
EDIT: DELETED DUE TO ANNOYING PREACHY CONENT (AND RAT FECES IN EXCESS OF GOVT. STANDARDS).
I thought that it was well written, tenkani. :) You often have a great way of articulating your words.
Thanks. I don't trust myself to touch this topic right now.
Not here anyway.
Same here. I was hesitating to post what I just posted. I might delete it. Who knows?
well I thought both posts were great.
This one time, I was buying some candies at a 7-11 in Vancouver and there were a few bums camped out near the entrance of the 7-11 who pestered me as I went in the store. I was second in line to pay, and the guy in front of me was a 6'4" fully uniformed RCMP officer and I made small talk with him.
I told him, "see those bums outside there, they threatened me". After the cop paid for his items, he went outside the store and started yelling at the bums and then the cop looked back and winked at me.
That made my day!
oh angel likes men in uniform ;)
LOL. I remember a thread (actually a couple) on DV about women likeing men in uniforms and this one gal was looking to date a man in a uniform. LOL, good times.
[span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"] Sportsdude wrote:[/span][br style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"][span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"]yes some of the homeless in Vancouver have drug problems but statistics have PROVEN that most homeless in Vancouver HOMELESS because of mental diseases (depression) and job loss. They had a big 5 part series on CTV about this. [/span]
You'd think the government would provide for people who have mental disorders. That isn't something they can help.
yeah there are girls like that out there, I guess they like authority figures.
This one, he was tall, blonde, blue-eyed, nice smile & he had those smile dimples.. u know what i mean? :)
*drool* That is absolutely divine. I haven't seen a good-looking cop for a LONG time. Firemen on the other hand... *melt*
lol speaking of fireman my dad thinks I should go to fireman school lol
Raging Poodle! wrote:
healthy guy wrote:
Oh fuk off already with your guilt trip! If you love'em so much take'em into your home. So STFU!
We've been through this HUNDREDS of times on DV.
You don't live around those asswipes. I do!
You don't get pestered by them as SOON as you step outside your home. I do!
How can you say that? You don't know the first thing about me f*ckface!
I wish homelessness upon you and hope you die slow in a back alley, choking on your own vomit!
Wow! Angel sounds like a shallow person.
Cookie Cutter Canadian?
do you mean, white, English values, and the type of Canadian that actually makes Canada, Canada?
maybe he doesn't cater to every immigrants needs and Sell Out the once beautiful country!
My granparents told me once of a "real" Canada.
Sounds like he is much better offf without you.
LOL The Angel. What a story! Hotties are usually eye candy for me and nothing beyond (ie dating/becoming lovers, etc) I'm generally speaking though, but I find that a guy who is just "too hot" is arrogant.
I've always believed in being yourself.
Sportsdude brought up a good point earlier, alot of these panhandlers are on the streets due to mental disease.
Comments?
Ha ha ha. Even dear ol' poolife got in on the action! (http://discoverseattle.net/forums/richedit/smileys/Other/13.gif)
I had a few things to do, so I stepped out. When I got back back, I caught glimpses of the two deleted messages. Thought "Oh I can read them later"... went on to do my own stuff.
Had a great meal, which put me in an unbeatable mood. [img style="CURSOR: pointer" onclick=url(this.src); src="http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/more/bigs/c027.gif[/img]
When I got back on the 'puter, both messages were gone.
One would think that after all this time you guys would know better than trying to flame me over this matter.
I also see whatshisface (scrawny guy? healthy guy? whatever) is still at it. LOL.
The only thing I remember is Tenk's mentioning that he wasn't giving me bad karma.
If that wasn't him, then it must've been SD. He had smitten me before, and he loves doing it to people. Bad boy...
[img style="CURSOR: pointer" onclick=url(this.src); src="http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/more/bigs/c045.gif[/img]
hi moo:) glad you're here!
i didn't flame you this time.
i was posting my fireman stories but then i deleted them. :)
what was for dinner??
I was about to respond to you.... both privately as well as on DV.
TheAngel wrote:
i was posting my fireman stories but then i deleted them. :)
Why???? [img style="CURSOR: pointer" onclick=url(this.src); src="http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/more/bigs/a093.gif[/img]
Tell us what you did with the firemen.
Just like you got the cop to yell at them, did you get the firemen to hose down the low lifes in front the 7/11?
(http://discoverseattle.net/forums/richedit/smileys/Teasing/12.gif)
[img style="CURSOR: pointer" onclick=url(this.src); src="http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/more/bigs/a130.gif" border=0] That was the best top eva!
Whoah..... y'know, I haven't seen a thread this flaming hot in a long time. Do continue. And incidentally, speak your mind no matter what. We're all good buddies here.
Raging Poodle! wrote:
[p style="font-style: italic;"]I was about to respond to you.... both privately as well as on DV. [/p] [p style="font-style: italic;"]TheAngel wrote:
i was posting my fireman stories but then i deleted them. :)
[/p] [p style="font-style: italic;"]Why???? [img style="cursor: pointer;" onclick="url(this.src);" src="http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/more/bigs/a093.gif[/img][/p] [p style="font-style: italic;"]Tell us what you did with the firemen.[/p] [p style="font-style: italic;"]Just like you got the cop to yell at them, did you get the firemen to hose down the low lifes in front the 7/11? [/p] [p style="font-style: italic;"](http://discoverseattle.net/forums/richedit/smileys/Teasing/12.gif)[/p]
[/p][span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 191); font-weight: bold;"]He would have done that for me, too. [/span][img style="color: rgb(0, 0, 191); font-weight: bold;" src="richedit/smileys/Teasing/12.gif[/img][span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 191); font-weight: bold;"] Oh man, you have no idea!!! Poor kid.. He tried so hard. :)[/span]
[/p]
I don't get it... why are you so bitter Raging Poodle? You seem bitter here, and on DV. Bad day?
Raging Poodle! wrote:
Ha ha ha. Even dear ol' poolife got in on the action!
I am just amazed someone as gimpish as mooorah knows how to use a computer?!!!?
There's definitely a 'charged atmosphere' on here today. Full moon ?
f*ck these so called homeless. They're all scammers. Real homeless people don't ask for money. Ever hear of the "shaky lady".
Your compassion is heart warming.
Too many people are only a pay cheque or two from trading their roof for an alley. Be careful what you wish for these people.
I agree that there are some individuals who are not homeless but who take full advantage of the homeless situation. I don't see the reason why a young person who has full use of his or her hands and relatively 'healthy' should be begging for change when you could use the time to search for jobs. In the time you spend asking for spare change you could be doing work and getting $$.
On the other hand, I guess it's kinda hard to past judgement on these people without knowing their background. I try not to but you can't help it. Maybe next time I should be more symphathetic and learn not to judge a book by its cover.
There's no doubt there are people on the streets for no other reason than bad choices, and are simply lacking ambition. I have less empathy for these people. Trouble is, how do you know which is which or who is who. I just have to believe that who in their right mind would choose living in the street and eating someone elses garbage unless there were some serious issues.
I've had experiences where I've gone into the nearest deli, and bought a good meal, and given it to someone who had just asked me for money for food, only to have it thrown in my face or given money only to be told 'is that all?'. A little discouraging to say the least, but those experiences are from only a few. Another person may have been very greatful. I don't know. I don't like being approached....but mainly because it frightens me.
I work with these people nearly all the time, most are o.k. and almost all have tragic backgrounds. Once you get on first name terms with them, you begin to see beyond the outward impression.
In almost all cases the root cause is family breakdown.
[FONT size=2]Thank you Gopher! For some sense![/FONT]
[FONT size=4][/FONT]
[FONT size=4]We've all seen the man at the liquor store beggin' for your change
The hair on his face is dirty, dreadlocked and full of mange
He ask the man for what he could spare with shame in his eyes
Get a job you f*ckin' slob's all he replied[/FONT]
[FONT size=4][/FONT]
[FONT size=4]Mary got pregnant from a kid named Tom who said he was in love
He said don't worry about a thing baby doll I'm the man you've been dreamin' of
But three months later he said he won't date her or return her call
And she sweared god damn if I find that man I'm cuttin' off his balls
And then she heads for the clinic and she gets some static walkin' through the doors
They call her a killer, and they call her a sinner, and they call her a whore
God forbid you ever had to walk a mile in her shoes
'Cause then you really might know what it's like to have to choose[/FONT]
[FONT size=4]Then you really might know what it's like [/FONT][/DIV][FONT size=4]
I've seen a rich man beg
I've seen a good man sin
I've seen a tough man cry
I've seen a loser win
And a sad man grin
I heard an honest man lie
I've seen the good side of bad
And the down side of up
And everything between
I licked the silver spoon
Drank from the golden cup
Smoked the finest green
I stroked daddies dimes at least a couple of times
Before I broke there heart
You know where it ends
Yo, it usually depends on where you start
I knew this kid named Max
He used to get fat stacks out on the corner with drugs
He liked to hang out late at night
Liked to get shit faced
And keep pace with thugs
Until late one night there was a big gun fight
Max lost his head
He pulled out his chrome .45
Talked some shit
And wound up dead
Now his wife and his kids are caught in the midst of all of his pain
You know it comes that way
At least that's what they say when you play the game
God forbid you ever had to wake up to hear the news
'Cause then you really might know what it's like to have to lose
Then you really might know what it's like
To have to lose...
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Thats a good song.. Everlast isnt it? Pretty bad I cant remember, I have the CD, lol.
I agree with you gopher.. I hear stories about some of the street people from a buddy of mine, he works at a homeless shelter and does counseling. Some of the stories are really sad.
That being said, they are in a rut.. I like the suggestion of all of them being rounded up and taken off the street to an isolated place away from the city so they can be cleaned up and kept drug and alcohol free for at least three months.. then give them a job and a place to stay when they are admitted out.
I don't know what the conditions are like in Seattle and Vancouver but here in the Bay Area there are many church groups, organizations and public assistant programs that are making food and lodging available to the homeless. Many turned down these assistances because they do not want to participate in rehabilitation programs or follow rules in the shelters.
I help the unfortunate by donating to many of these community programs or to needy families. I really feel strongly that giving to panhandlers is not helping them or the community.
I think that once self-esteem has been lost it's very difficult to get it back again, the nearest parallel I can think of is depression: when it strikes, it overwhelms and is very hard to get out of.
I help the unfortunate by donating to many of these community programs or to needy families. I really feel strongly that giving to panhandlers is not helping them or the community
That's a really good point 49er. I've heard this angle expressed before, how in the long run, we are perpetuating their situation. Donating to the organizations who work closer with these people, is a far better idea.
^^^^ What she said.
I didn't mean to imply earlier that giving handouts is the best way to deal with the situation.
49er puts it very well.