How much money do you think pan handlers make?

[disneysteve]

You know to be honest, I see these people but I've never witnessed anyone ever giving them money.

Not here. I rarely see a cycle of the lights where the guy (usually a guy, not a gal) doesn't get at least one driver to drop something in the cup. Even if it's only a quarter, if you get a quarter every time the light changes and you stand there for 4-6 hours/day, those quarters add up. And I've seen dollar bills handed over plenty of times.

[Tabs]

I am going to sound biased, but I happen to know several professional panhandlers by their names because they would eventually wind up in jail.

The core issue is that panhandlers can easily make more, and with much less effort, than actually holding down a job. On top of that, because the money they make was considered gifts, they didn't have to pay any taxes on it. Given the circumstances, can you blame them for continuing to hold up their cardboard signs?

However, my city realized this "loophole" and has since been regulating it as a profession. Not only is it taxable like any other jobs, but the regulation specifies that they need to get a license as well as wear a traffic vest for their safety. This also, by law, prevents them from panhandling in places that are unsafe for them or you as a driver or pedestrian. In a way, it's a win-win.

However, not all of them abide by such regulations. Also, not all of them use the money they make to invest in their own future; but instead opting to purchase alcohol, drugs, and hookers instead. Cliched but true.

In either of these cases, that's how I end up meeting them face-to-face. Some of them may have mental issues, but I think most are just used to that street lifestyle.

Indeed, someone somewhere can always find an example of a good, honest person who is just down on their luck, and would honestly put that money to good use somewhere. However, by and large, I do not find that to be the case.

Remember, even if you are homeless in my city, there are already places they can go for shelter (especially winter), and soup kitchens that can give them 3 meals a day. There is even a facility that the fair city pays for that allows drunk people to stay and detox for 24 hours for free. The conditions are far from ideal of course, but most homeless people / professional panhandlers already know all this and use these services on a regular basis.

And on top of that, there are plenty of good Samaritans that are willing to buy lunch for them if they so desire. In other words, they are usually all set, and that's before they start panhandling.

Finally, it does bother me that their means is by exploiting the goodness of people's hearts. People should not take advantage of the good will of others in such a manner.

My conclusion based on my own, again, admittedly biased experience is that I should not give anything to professional panhandlers. To do so would only to help enable and continue any bad habits that got them to this point in the first place.

If you truly want to help, try finding your local soup kitchen and ask the pastors or whoever is in charge how to best help out. Even if you have no money to spare, you can still help serve food, or you can simply donate money to the church or organization. If you really want to help people directly, go to these places, and learn their names and hear out their story. I think the time and attention is worth more than any dollar you can give them. You'll also quickly learn who you can trust (and thus who you can direct your money towards) and who you will want to stay away from.

Oh yeah, but before you start giving them $20 bills in front of everyone else, remember that a lot of theft and fights also happen in these places sometimes. To help ensure their safety, be sure to discretely ask them how they want the money transferred first, as some may have preferred ways to hide their money from everybody else.

Least but not least, keep in mind that they can also lie to you.... Remember that, for a lot of panhandlers, their profession inherently requires some level of deception and image manipulation, to seem as worthy of your free money as possible. My personal favorite is this guy with crutches and a leg cast. As soon as it was "lunch break time", he would remove his cast and walk across the street to a nearby McDonald's. Hilarious to me, but I wonder how many people he has fooled with that trick?

[rennigade]

I was on the metro yesterday and a lady walked up the aisle and asked every single person if they could "spare $2." She did appear to have some sort of mental issue. Anyway...some people did give her money...it was paper so not sure if it was $1 at a time or $2 like she wanted...but even after people handed her money she kept asking each person for $2.

Ive been hit up on the escalator by people asking for money but never someone in a train car before. Either way...doesnt bother me to say no.

[disneysteve]

Ive been hit up on the escalator by people asking for money but never someone in a train car before. Either way...doesnt bother me to say no.

I think there is a higher discomfort level with being approached in a closed space like a train car where you can't escape. That's much different than walking past a beggar on the street where you can run away if necessary.

[sv2007]

No one knows what a panhandler makes. Terms like "I think" or "ive heard" is speculation.

Lets put it this way...I dont make $60/hr yet I have no interest in quitting my job and trying panhandling out. If you think panhandlers make that much money then I have a bridge to sell you. Ill first need a $5k deposit in bitcoin.

A lot of numbers we deal with are based on extrapolations; the entire statistics concept works on tests on surveying a subset. If you take any approved med, its safety and effectiveness would be "speculation" too (using your wording). Here, a sample was taken and a conclusion was extrapolated; it is likely very accurate for that instance in time for that location, but as parameters change, it may become less accurate (e.g. later in the afternoon on a Monday, etc)

This post isn't an ad to get people to switch jobs. In fact, you may not be any good at panhandling (well, at the very minimum one very needs thick skin). One thing my years of experience have taught me is that every job (no matter how simple it may look on the surface) takes unique talent and skill to do well. There's a saying in Chinese: "Every profession produces excellence" (Ok, I'm not all that great a translator -- again, it shows the unique skills needed for the different jobs).

[sv2007]

Last time I gave anything to a panhandler was in Hong Kong to a really old lady wearing rags with a tin can banging it on the sidewalk

It s a common belief that gangs steal children (and some mutilate them for extra sympathy) to make them panhandle in SE Asia. I can imagine similar things happen here in the US as well. So not all panhandlers are doing it by choice.

[97guns]

I think there is a higher discomfort level with being approached in a closed space like a train car where you can't escape. That's much different than walking past a beggar on the street where you can run away if necessary.

For the ones that are truly hungry, I believe there will be a time of real desperation and these panhandlers will turn to violence.

[sv2007]

My personal favorite is this guy with crutches and a leg cast. As soon as it was "lunch break time", he would remove his cast and walk across the street to a nearby McDonald's. Hilarious to me, but I wonder how many people he has fooled with that trick?

I think Trading Places (movie) had something similar where a disabled panhandler turns out to be fully able. Sometimes I miss watching movies.

[FLA]

You know to be honest, I see these people but I've never witnessed anyone ever giving them money. I'm sure with the holidays coming they will soon be out in full force.

We have a bunch of corners with pan handlers and not once since I was a child have I seen anyone give them a dime. I'm not sure why they stay with those particular intersections.

[StormRichards]

sv20007 made a comment that a person might not be good at panhandling. I don't agree with his analogy as a whole, but I definitely believe some are better at it than others.

Aside from their own skill for it, I think there are a lot of other factors that come into play that we subconsciously might not even realize. I am not of the belief that a person rolls down their window and gives to each panhandler they encounter (of course assuming they encounter multiple) on their commute. So what is it that makes them give that particular day to that particular person?

In my opinion, that varies with each individual giver.

This past summer my DH and I made the observation how a young man that looked "the part" and didn't make any money during the 3 light cycles we were stuck in traffic. About 2 miles away at another congested intersection was a young beautiful woman who claimed she was pregnant. Every day we saw her out there she made money. She didn't look the part and we even wondered if she was a college student just there to do some type of study. Of course we didn't stay and watch either of them for their entire shift.

[Tabs]

We have a bunch of corners with pan handlers and not once since I was a child have I seen anyone give them a dime. I'm not sure why they stay with those particular intersections.

They don't actually need to make much each night. $20 for panhandlers is like the equivalent to winning the daily jackpot, where it is enough to afford drugs, alcohol, and a hooker for the night. However, they usually work with less than that.

Again, basic food and shelter is already taken cared of, so if you think about it, all they need is money for recreation for the night.

(And in case anyone is really wondering, you can get a bag of heroine for around say $7. A hooker would probably party with you for about $10 if you share that bag. Less if they like you and are not busy. A Colt .45 beer runs roughly less than $2 per can, or if they can't afford it, they can always use the five finger discount. Needless to say, $20 goes a long way on the street.)