So I decide to stop at one of those taco trailers this morning and ordered a couple of breakfast tacos. These two guys were sitting at a picnic table, one on one side eating some tacos and one closer to me without any breakfast. I thought they were together, but apparently not. The one nearer to me starts shouting belligerently about being a marine and not wanting food and "buy me a burrito." He kept on, trying to get my attention, so I pulled my cell phone out to call the police, then thought more about it, decided I was a live and let live kind of person. Then some Hispanics pulled up in a pickup and ordered, and he went through the same routine, in Spanish and English this time, and I pulled my cell phone out again, stopped again, figured it really was the responsibiility of the girl in the taco trailer to call the police, since it was her business the guy was affecting, and maybe she sold tacos to the street people when they got a dollar or two and felt she had to put up with it, or maybe she was undocumented and didn't feel she should call the police. While thinking all this over, a constable pulled up, the one cop car, then another, then another. Someone had already called them, and they ended up getting a statement from the guy eating at the table and cuffing the belligerant guy, I assume he is now down at the iron bar hotel. I don't know why I'm posting this, but I don't know what should or can be done with these people. I don't know if he was drunk or mentally off, but he was hurting the woman's business, IMO. On one hand I feel I am kinder to the stray cats that walk up to our back porch, we will let them eat, but I don't help out the homeless people on every corner. It is just too big a problem, I don't see any solution.
They are everywhere it seems. They wait in holding patters for an airport for corners to hold their signs. It is almost like there is a sign like you see at a gym posting time limits on the cardio machines if somebody is waiting. They are there a certain amount of time, leave and another steps right up. Some intersections in town don't go more than a minute or so without somebody there. They sort of do have a job when you think about it. I still say that if a guy ever stands at the corner with a sign saying, "OU graduate, see what it got me?" I will give no less than five bucks. I think he would do quite well in Austin.
I never give money, but if i see a guy asking for change outside a Starbuck's or something, i will buy a donut or a muffin and give it to him on my way out. Most are usually very appreciative. I had one guy kind of roll his eyes and set it aside, i assume he would rather drink than eat and wanted change for booze. That put me off for awhile, but that was a one time thing. I don't know, i don't feel like it is any worse now than it has been in the past though. Many do have mental health problems obviously and belong in institutions that can care for them and rehabilitate them, but again, who is going to pay for all that.
There is a significant amount of mental health issues with the poor and homeless. But no administration or congress really gives a rat's *** about mental health (see the funding trail). I wonder it's because they don't vote. Anyway, I would not call myself progressive by any stretch but I would imagine we could get about 2-3x the productivity (participation in society, taxes, etc) out of a person for every dollar we spent funding mental health services. Now, we give them just enough to survive, no real medical care and eventually they wind up on disability for life because they never had the right intervention.
Read "Same Kind of Different as Me"; its about a couple that got involved with a man they met at a homeless shelter; really good. Which is actually not a bad idea, volunteering at a homeless shelter from time to time.
I used to do just that but usually at soup kitchens or for the big meals at Turkey Day and Xmas. I need to get back to it. It was gut-wrenching, fulfilling and informative all at the same time. i too won't give money but will give food, beverage or clothing / blankets of some sort. Old pillows not good enough for you any longer? Wash them and give them to a homeless person you encounter often. Decide to go on a diet but don't know what to do with thos mini candy bars? Ditto. I try to think of things that are conveniences likely not to be high on their priority list but something they need or would enjoy. I don't just drive around looking for somebody to help out. I encounter enough on a regular basis.
Saw a homeless woman with one leg using her crutches for balance as she tried to kick another interloping homeless guy off of her turf. I say she is homeless in a generic way as I am sure her 'On My Last Leg' placard rakes in more than enough to afford an apartment. She is always clean and dressed casual. Near that same spot a guy was gruffly trying to get my attention at a stop light. I had my window down and was the only car, really, so he kept at it. I admit I didn't 'man up ' and look at him, which apparently made him mad. Gave him nothing, which is my wont, and as I drove off he called me something-something nigger. Won't be giving that guy any muffins. I have to admit I have no patience with these guys and gals. A large percentage of them are drunkards and flim-flam artists. It is their job, and they can shove it. The one-legged lady -- alright, she gets a pass. The guy in the wheelchair who is shrivelled up like a bonzai tree, he gets a pass. The rest of those people can f**k right off.
You can call the police if they harass you. That is really defeating their purpose, because no one will give them a nickel if they start getting nasty to people. Yeah, I see the one legged-woman all the time, at Braker and IH-35 usually. She does always have a humorous sign about her leg.
buck, I sometimes see that lady around the 51st and 135 or Airport Blvd. areas too. I have also seen her harassed by somebody who she had to kick at. The guy was obviously antagonizing her and mocking her by staying a certain distance away. He kicked over her bag and belongings when he lured her away once. I got caught at the fast light going South on the Frontage Rd. approaching 51st. The guy was backing up towards traffic and my car when I yelled out my window that I was going to make the block and turn around. I told him that if I saw him bugging her when I got back there would be nothing the paramedics could do for him and that ll witnesses would side with me as he was bugging a one-legged woman. I was on my way to Home Depot when it was further north and missed my exit so I had to turn around. That was maybe douchey of me to say to him but when I came back from shopping and gave the lady a couple of bucks I asked if he came back. Not because I was going to do anything, just wanted to know. She said no that he ran off very quickly and thanked me. She wanted to give my money back and I refused. I have respect for her specifically though I don't see her too often. Even if she has a regular job or whatever, still, she has one freakin' leg.
choosing to be kind is between me and God. What they do with the kindness is between them and God. Still, it's hard. I don't always have anything to give and, when I do, I don't always trust they'll make good choices with it. In the winter I carry new socks in my glove compartment and give them out. They're cheep by the package and a really cold and homeless person will not pass up clean socks.
That one legged woman is married to a guy in a wheelchair for something. I worked with a guy who lived in the same apartment building with them. They are both on 100% disability and get money from Social Security every month. Begging is their playing around money. My coworker who lived near them said they are really nice people, but they aren't exactly hurting for money. She drives her husband to a corner and then goes to another one and parks the car a block or two away. She begs for 3 or 4 hours then picks hubby up and goes home. My coworker said he used to hang out with them and they have some really nice stuff in their apartment. You never know who you are giving money to.
I know that I am giving money to a woman who only has one leg and gets around on crutches. I now know that her husband has a wheelchair. It does not matter to me if it is electric and mobile or if it has wings from drinking Red Bull. She has one leg. I am sure that disability does not give them the life of luxury as they still want some "playing" around money. She has one freaking leg for whatever reason. That is enough for me to part with a couple of bucks here and there. Heck, now I may give her a couple more for gas money.
i once got in late from a flight and stopped at a boston market on my way home. a homeless guy was sitting outside (or what looked like a homeless guy). he was really playing the part, long beard, filthy overcoat, shopping cart. he asked for a meal. i said sure, come on in. he ended up ordering a whole chicken and some other stuff. i said fine although i was planning on just a meal. i turn away to check my phone, i turn around and he is checking his cell phone. i dont make a habit ogf giving to the homelss anymore unless it is through an organization.
There is nothing like the joy in the face of a homeless person when it is 100 degrees outside and I wave them over and give them a cold beer. Just makes you feel good inside helping out a person in need.
The guy in our neighborhood pretends to be blind. Maybe he has some visual impairment, but he plays it up. Waits until a mark is coming and drops his cane then pretends he can't find it. Any decent person will help a blind person find their cane when you can see it and he is flailing around looking for it. Then he has them and gives a sob story and gets $$$ from them, sometimes claiming to be lost. They drive him home to the east side and he is back a few hours later. If he can get you to let him in your car, you usually will be glad to pay some $$$ just to be rid of him. He does quite well just totaling the friends I have who admit to giving him money.
