OT> A mile wide and an inch deep

jabman wrote:I have a friend that took a different aproch to helping people like this out and I have adopted it ia well. He would carry extra food in his lunch expecally when he knew he would be passing one of these people. They used to hang out ( and probably still do but I havn't been by there in a long time) at a certin busy off ramp with a sign that said will work for food. so my frind would pull up to them and give him the extra food he had for the day.
I don't think it wise to give them money because you don't know if they are legit or not. But doing nothing is not right eather. This way if they are trully hungry they get food and if it is a scam then they get a free lunch and you are not supporting their habit.

This is my approach too, except I adopted just one guy who was always at a particular corner. He was polite and friendly and never seemed strung out. My rule was if I saw him, I bought and brought him lunch or dinner. Over the years we got to know each other a little bit. He saw my amp in the back seat one day and his face lit up and he allowed as how he used to play. I told myself that if he ever got clean and sober I'd give him my guitar. I didn't tell him - thought it might be too much pressure.

So one day he shyly said he'd been clean and sober for 13 months, and was trying to get a job but nobody would consider him because he didn't have an address. So I asked around and without my knowing it, one of the community activists I asked went right over to see him, got him a spot in transitional housing, and eventually he got a job and got off the street for good.

He got a guitar, too.

Awww... wonderful holiday story, RG!

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Hi NightMonkey, good to see your nic.

And hello to all.

NightMonkey wrote:It is a bad practice to give money to people on the street. I have been in cities where even women and children were begging on the streets. My hosts asked me not to give them money. It only contributes to abuse and more people on the street begging.

That used to be my thinking too.

They are likely drug addicts or scam artist, (and often smelly to boot), so why bother?

But now I've changed my mind.

With practice, you can become a pretty good judge of character.

To my mind, better to give three one dollar bills to three addicts, and let the fourth dollar bill buy something for someone is need . . . than not give at all.

Besides, many of them seem terribly lonely, and any kind of human contact is welcome.

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With practice, you can become a pretty good judge of character.

Besides, many of them seem terribly lonely, and any kind of human contact is welcome.

I agree with that sentiment and will occasionally give cash to someone.

Where I live it is mainly guys on the interstate ramps holding up little signs. It is the same guys every day. Some of them live in the woods near the ramps. To my estimate all of them are alcoholics. I see them in the grocery store next to the ramp buying cheap wine.

These guys I will not give cash. That action perpetuates their lifestyle.

There is plenty of help available from local, state, and federal governments - housing, welfare checks, food stamps and much more. But these guys don't want it. They prefer (in a perverse and maybe mentally ill way) to live the lifestyle on the street and in the woods as compared to obeying some rules in government housing.

I never had enough experience to know how to solve this problem. Maybe no one else has either as plenty of taxpayer money has been thrown at the problem and the problem seems to be worse than ever.

(keep your eye off my nic)

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NightMonkey wrote: But these guys don't want it. They prefer (in a perverse and maybe mentally ill way) to live the lifestyle on the street and in the woods as compared to obeying some rules in government housing.

NightMonkey, have you asked these folks why they choose to live as they do?

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NightMonkey wrote:(keep your eye off my nic)

Untill a week ago, it wasn't your nic that I lusted after, but your "Location: Three seats, orchestra right"

Then (just talking up strangers, like I always do) I met a violin trader, and he gave me a truly vivid and hair-raising description of what it's like to be actually in the orchestra when it's in full throttle.

Like surfing the Deep Web, talking up strangers has it's risks, but I've found that the benefits far outweigh the downsides.

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