Handling Panhandlers: Ways to Give Without Getting Got

July 15th, 2011 - By Victoria Uwumarogie

So you’re sitting on the subway, minding your business, flipping through a new romance novel (or real talk, nodding off to it), when through your car walks an individual in need. They’re attire is a bit on the grimy side, and they’re shaking a cup near your face asking you to help them. What do you do? Depends on the person right? It also depends on your mood. You can choose to pull out your dollars, and/or your hard-earned quarters usually reserved for laundry day, OR keep that head down and say to yourself, “maybe next time.” Giving is an awesome thing to do, and it also makes you feel awesome too for the most part, but with scam artists out on the streets begging and then driving off in Volvo’s, people are becoming less and less willing to quickly provide a handout. Here are rules you need to know when dealing with panhandlers, and also some tips to help you determine when to give, how to say no, and how to help someone in need on the streets without going broke or getting played.

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  • gina

    Rflol….it ain’t compulsory but its cool. Some folk just wanna cry foul. They all have check:-)
    Y’all being played :-) They are one of the reasons SOCIAL SECURITY IS BANKRUPT…..LOL DO JUST A LITTLE RESEARCH

  • Tierra

    He who shuts their ear to the cry of the poor himself will cry out and not be answered Proverbs 21:13

  • gina

    Dollface0000

    Where you are you on drugs? If not your most likely making up stuff as you go along about having anything! You need to fall back with your crap! People can and do hit ground zero! But your lying and talking yang! Pan handling and prostituting is illegal in America….Dollface3000. Your a hoe, a drug and a hobo ….and yes there are charties in America that help your kind.

  • gina

    @Dollface you dont know me…your right. And sounds like you have not been out of your hood or worked in a profession where the truly poor are helped! State your opinion ok but leave “me” accept the enlightenment and not get played for your “FEW” DOLLARS! You post did not make clever or benevolent …..ok! Open your mind!

    PAN HANDLING IS ILLEGAL! AND WHEN YOU GETS BUSTED IN THE HEAD FOR HELPING A PREDATOR BREAK THE LAW STFU AND GO LICK YOUR WOUND don’t call law enforcement. Americans give more of their salaries and personal wealth than any nation on earth to their POOR AND AROUND THE WORLD. Americans are taxed heavily and donate their personal wealth so that we dont have our truly poor begging in the streets….like the children that are part of scams in some other countries! YOUR UNINFORMED AND MIS GUIDED. We dont want citizens or tourist harassed or harmed or set up for scams and robbery! Check it out the vast majority pan handlers have government benefits checks! It’s the working class that make $12 too much to qualify for food stamps that are truly struggling….the folks that have lost their jobs and are looking for work. Go to a mission ask the men standing outside to come work with you today…..THEY WONT! IF THEY WERE ASKED TO DO MORE THAN PRAY AT THE SALVATION ARMY THE WOULDN’T GO INSIDE. Do you know what LCMSW is???? I earned one! I know what I am talking about. MSWs are not given away….we earn truly them….especially the certification.
    Do what you want with your “FEW” dollars…..we are trying stop people from being harmed. killed and supporting illegal activity! Pan handling is illegal in AMERICA! If certain cities reported pan handler “setup” robberies tourist would NOT visit! Professional organizations would be less inclined to hold conferences in those cities.

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  • dark & lovely

    My aunt is the queen of helping those in need. We live in downtown Atlanta an there’s lots of ppl there. She will give a few dollars, buy food an give a couple cigarettes

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  • Dollface3000

    CORRECTION — Sorry. My post was so long, I had to cut & paste. It SHOULD have said: I hate to hear people say things like, I'll buy them a sandwich, but I won't give them a dollar OR they'll just spend it on drugs or beer.

  • Dollface3000

    Trust me, it can happen to ANYONE and after that experience I learned to not only count my blessings, as well as make a conscious effort to help others when I could. I will never take life for granted again and if you can afford a $5 latte at Starbucks, you can certainly see yourself fit to help a person in need, without all the judgement and regulation. These are still people, not dogs or animals, and somewhere along the line they lost their way. Sure, be cautious when helping any stranger — there are still bad people in this world, always looking for their next victim. But when it comes to homeless people and panhandlers, most times they are just looking for sincere help and a little compasion. You NEVER know if you'll find yourself in a similar situation and you would definitely want the same.

  • gina

    Pan handling is a form of bullying and intimidation! The vast majority of them that are truly disabled receive social security or SSI. Real disabled veterans receive decent VA CHECKS. THE MENTALLY ILL RECEIVE GOVERNMENT BENEFITS! SALVATION ARMY AND MENS SHELTERS AND FREE FOOD KITCHENS ARE ALMOST EMPTY THE FIRST OF THE MONTH WHEN GOVERNMENT BENEFIT CHECKS ARE EMPTY. Generally disabled newly released ex-con receive benefits after their release date.

    • Dollface3000

      …You got all the answers, huh? Regarding your theory that "panhandling" is a form of bullying — all I can say is STFU, please. Leave it to the high & mighty to proceed to think they have it all figured out. Well let me ask you something sweetheart, with all theses free ish and government benefits — why is homelessness still a huge problem in the most powerful nation in the world??? Why are many of these disabled vet and mentally ill still sleeping under bridges, on park benches and in subways. They must like the sceneray, huh?

      I don't know you, Gina but frankly you (and people like you) simply disgust me! My hope and prayer is that find yourself in a situation very soon in which you are in NEED and cannot receive human compasion or empathy. Be sure to let us know how it works out…

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  • DEEEEEEE

    Ive been taught from a young age that when givin money to the poor its not my place to judge it God's. So i give money when i can

  • JustAshley

    I will buy them food, or something to drink usually. Its rare that I actually give them money.

  • Shels

    I don't give money. I give food when I can.

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