For someone who works with a lot of homeless folks and low-income individuals, I’ve slowly grown less and less tolerant of the fellow on the freeway on-ramp holding the cardboard sign that says: “Need help, homeless and hungry.”
Sometimes, there’s a part of me that thinks I’m being heartless when I look the other way or roll my eyes or completely ignore the person’s existence. But I have a hard time believing that those who hold the cardboard sign are genuinely in as much need as they are to be standing on that street corner. I’ve seen some of our own clients stand on that street corner with the cardboard sign, hiding their face behind the cardboard, while they’re making a call on their cell phone. It’s a very confusing situation to watch.
The reality is that there are tons of resources available, especially when it comes to food. A huge part of my job is to link people to these resources. There are resources that will help people find affordable housing, medical care, mental health care, childcare, etc. There are tons of organizations that provide free clothes as well. In all honesty, the several of dollars you hand off to the man with the cardboard isn’t enough to find him housing or get him off the street — it’s only enough to feed him for that day.
Give a fish to a man; he has food for a day.
Teach a man to fish; he learns a skill for life. – Chinese Proverb
Maybe some folks quiet their conscience when they roll down their window and pass a few bucks to the cardboard man. But at the end of the day, your $1 donation has only contributed to rewarding this quick-fix behavior instead of putting it towards a longer term solution.
According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, approximately one-fourth of the adult homeless population have a mental illness. Ideally, if you want to make a greater difference, donate money to mental health agencies and other organizations that are trained to work with the homeless population. That $1 (or more…) will go much farther when used to help fund programs that can actually connect these folks to services that they really need.
As painful as it is to wait for hours at the welfare office (trust me, I’ve sat there for 6 hours once with a client), there is financial support for homeless people and most people are eligible for some sort of compensation. Whether it’s food stamps or general assistance, they can actually receive much more than a few drive-by donors can at the street corner.
However, as idealistic as it would be to see the government and non-profit organizations help every homeless person, it’s really not going to happen if homeless individuals themselves don’t take a step in that direction. Sometimes it really is easier to pick up a piece of cardboard and scribble illegibly a cry for help. And if it actually yields some sort of income at the end of the day, they will keep doing it.
So, it’s your decision — do you give them the money, do you offer them food or do you point them in the direction of services that provide long term solutions?
I have a huge heart for the homeless but I also know the situations they are in. Sometimes they are homeless because of bad luck. Sometimes they’re homeless because they’re lazy. Every situation is different and I do hesitate to offer a dollar. I will offer food sometimes but unless I really know them and their situation, I can’t offer too much. Those who take time to talk with me and engage, I feel better about helping them. I really wish some could help themselves when they can. But it’s a hard situation all around. My heart breaks when I see homeless people but sometimes not giving them that quick fix is helping them too.
You bring up an important piece…if we don’t give money or food, at least asking them about themselves or how they came to be where they are is incredibly important too.
I’ve offered food; never money. There’s a few of them when I’m driving back home locally who are always on the same spot, and they take advantage of the slow traffic. It’s always hard, both to meet their eyes and to drive by. While I don’t offer money, nor do I think that offering them money at that moment solves anything longer term, I can’t deny the visceral visual effect of them standing there holding those signs. If anything, it alleviates the moral guilt that one feels by offering them something, which is interesting to think about. I’ve always thought that in-person pitching for sales was mind-blowingly difficult enough that companies should just do away with it, but it works, which is why it’s still around. In this case, while said homeless person isn’t selling anything, there is a request being made, much like people who ask others for signatures or donations. It works. It doesn’t solve anything longer term, but it alleviates your guilt short-term, and whatever cravings they have..also short-term. Human beings take to short-term fixes quite easily (not always bad as it has it’s place, especially emergencies). I’ve been at a point where I would’ve done anything for a fix on a problem, even if it’s temporary, and there’s a certain desperation in regards to that, which comes about when the actual solution doesn’t feel like it’s being reached or ever will be reached. Have you ever asked those clients who do pan-handling specifically why they do it?
My guess is that it’s not even the amount of money per say- it’s the in-person instant monetary reward one CAN maybe get standing there, maybe not unlike that of someone who gambles. There’s a possibility for you to receive something, and when you feel like you have nothing going for you, that can be a pretty powerful desire….not unlike the lottery.
The gambling phenomenon is an interesting point! For most clients, it is the instant gratification or just not being able to get rid of old habits…sometimes the mentality is “if it’s worked before, it’ll work again” and we find someone on the street corner once again.
However, a majority of the people I work with have benefits and welfare and no longer resort to panhandling which makes me think that’s why it’s a great next step closer to the solution… People can get a surprisingly large amount of money from SSI of they are eligible and even if they are not, food stamps alone can be a lot of money given to anybody who qualifies as well.
I feel less guilty ignoring a panhandler now that I know the insides…although sometimes I’m tempted to justify it with them and tell them I work with homeless people…as if that’s a good reason to ignore them
Well, you’re not ignoring them if you’re telling them that you work with the homeless; you’re speaking with them, which probably involves a lot more interaction than most cases. There’s a number of them who do experience quite a bit of mental illness as you’ve mentioned, and I think that’s where this may come into play as well (not just in terms of inability to get themselves help, but refusal).