I wonder if panhandling pays better then gofundme?

[baboon]

A recent thread has me wondering.

 

[Mowingmaniac 24/7]

If your family needs help, help if you can.

My Daughter and 2 Grand children were thrown into hard times as my Daughter went through a divorce after 24 years of marriage. Her husband had gone abusive and bonkers. Daughter and kids had to move over 200 miles away to get away from him.

My wife and I constantly help them with support in the way of money and other stuff I don't want to go into, but it's substantial.

A close by neighbor who wouldn't ask for help if he and his were starving, I/We helped with groceries, mortgage payment, utilities help and other things that I again won't bore you with the details.

Now, some random stranger wants me to donate to his cause that sounds highly suspect to me, but assures me he's on the level.

Nope.

I've been taken advantage of before because I thought 'hey, they're in trouble so I'll help' cuz I can, only to find my kindness was rewarded with a sort of 'thanks sucka'......

 

[toddnjoyce]

According to this, yes.

https://www.georgefox.edu/journalonline/spring14/alumni/panhandling.html

 

[easy rider]

I don't know, but I have been pondering changing my name to "Border Wall".

 

[Mowingmaniac 24/7]

How many stories are published regarding those who need help, but instead of begging, do what they have to do to overcome their problems?

Answer: Many.

Working at 'fill in the blank' while not complaining, 'you' must protect my seniority while I expect 'you' to send me money while I only make an effort at...........begging. (I can't possibly work at something below my station) why, why, why, that's for the peasant class, not me....

I need my benefits protected so you must help me keep them by way of sending me money....

Uh-huh.

Nah, neither scammers or socialists are going to convince me to help their vague interest in fixing their own problems, while I'm supposed to give a ..., if in fact I accept their efforts are honorable.

Which I don't......

 

[ZX9RCAM]

I quite often carry dog food with me.
If someone on the corner has a dog, that's what I'll give them.

 

[sidebite252]

When I see the panhandlers on the corner I most always hand them some cash. $5 to $10 bucks. I figure majority of them are there because they are down and out. I used to not do this because I figured they were just drunks, druggies, lazy, bums, con artist but I’ve changed my opinion. I’ll give them some help. Cash & a bottle of water. It would suck to have to stand on a busy corner and ask for help. I’ve tried to stop judging and start helping. I can’t control what they do with the little but I give but who am I to judge. What if they really need the help? That’s enough for me.

 

[Lunyfringe]

Missing an option for "maybe not, but it's a lot easier to hide from the Tax man"

 

[Dawico]

When I see the panhandlers on the corner I most always hand them some cash. $5 to $10 bucks. I figure majority of them are there because they are down and out. I used to not do this because I figured they were just drunks, druggies, lazy, bums, con artist but I’ve changed my opinion. I’ll give them some help. Cash & a bottle of water. It would suck to have to stand on a busy corner and ask for help. I’ve tried to stop judging and start helping. I can’t control what they do with the little but I give but who am I to judge. What if they really need the help? That’s enough for me.

Not me but more power to you.

They seem to be multiplying. I refuse to partake.

For the maybe 1 in 10 that really are trying there are plenty of better options to find help.

 

[avvidclif]

When I see the panhandlers on the corner I most always hand them some cash. $5 to $10 bucks. I figure majority of them are there because they are down and out. I used to not do this because I figured they were just drunks, druggies, lazy, bums, con artist but I’ve changed my opinion. I’ll give them some help. Cash & a bottle of water. It would suck to have to stand on a busy corner and ask for help. I’ve tried to stop judging and start helping. I can’t control what they do with the little but I give but who am I to judge. What if they really need the help? That’s enough for me.

And when they finish their gig for the day and walk around the corner to get in their new Cadillac??? Happens more than you realize.

 

[digger]

Or you see a van come by and drop off the next shift and they exchange signs. You see those off duty opening a cold beer as they drive away!! Witnessed this several times in Big Country area.

 

[easy rider]

There isn't enough people for all the jobs they have around here. If you need money, apply.

 

[baboon]

And when they finish their gig for the day and walk around the corner to get in their new Cadillac??? Happens more than you realize.

While I'm sure that does happen most the bridge trolls I see are truly human waste that has yet to be flushed. If you can't tell a junkie/crackhead on site you are a luck person.

Sure there are down on their luck folks who end up under the bridge, but most times mental illness, drugs, alcohol & a combination of them has brought them to rock bottom. And what really pisses me off are they are allowed to occupy their turf by the powers that be.

It was pretty funny leading up to the Stupid Bowl being in Houston how quick the city/county managed to clean up the bums & street walkers around the stadium.

 

[sidebite252]

I doubt very many drive off in Cadillacs. If they need a little help I’m glad to pitch in. If they’re driving off in a new car at the end of the day and laughing at fools like me that’s ok too. To each his own.

 

[F350-6]

It all depends on if you have a story that can go viral. Gofundme is the homerun, swing for the fences thing if you can get it to go viral. Remember the homeless vet who gave his last $20 to some lady to buy gas that turned out to all be a scam? They got a lot of money from go fund me.

I lived in Austin a few decades ago. I remember reading a story in the newspaper (back when newspapers still did investigative stories) where they followed panhandlers and discovered many of them walked to a parking lot at the end of the day, got in their car, and drove home to their apartment each night.

I remember the story since at the time, one of the main panhandlers in the story had a nicer car and nicer apartment than I did at the time.

So in my mind, it's more of a get rich quick scheme vs. a just make a living scheme ( or a just getting by thing if you're blowing it on drugs).

 

[benenglish]

I've told my stories before. Short versions, sans details -

• I've known of people who pretend to be handicapped, complete with totally unneeded wheelchair and neck brace, who would drive off (literally) in a Cadillac at the end of the day.
  
• I've been hit on more than once by the same panhandler in the same parking lot with the old broken fan belt scam. (This has actually happened to me twice, meaning 4 solicitations by 2 different guys. A basic "You tried to pull the same scam on me 3 weeks ago. Scram or I'll have the Federal Protective Service come out here and make your life miserable." was enough to send both of them running. I never saw them after that.)
  
• I've had people with a "Hungry" sign curse when given food instead of cash.
  
• I've seen large crews of professional panhandlers blanket an area, working shifts under a supervisor that dropped them off and picked them up, all as a part of an organized business.
  
• I've been hit up at gas pumps by people driving brand new trucks who claim to have insufficient money to get gas to get home.

I'm not against charity. My mom taught me to help the poor. Heck, before Houston made it essentially illegal to feed the homeless, she used to regularly make giant pots of stew, take them downtown, and park under the Pierce Elevated where she'd feed all comers until she ran out. I, OTOH, because of my experiences, direct my charity to organizations that I know do good things with my donations.

But panhandlers? I won't give 'em a dime.

PS - In response to the question in the thread title, it varies. Panhandling can pay very well and almost always makes some money. A gofundme is usually a waste of time unless it goes viral, in which case it will make you rich. Generally, panhandling is a better bet if you just want to make a living wage, year in and year out.

 

[Big Green]

I don’t contribute to either.

I was on gfm me the other week and saw one the trending donations and was curious about the backstory. I’m gonna say mid to late 30 year old father was crazy and rushed cops only to be killed. Absolutely horrible story and he got to a place where he thought that was the way out of his troubles. GFM story was all roses about him and his family now left behind after his “passing.” Again, I feel for the family but personally honesty would do a lot more to open my wallet than a feel good story hiding the truth.

There was also a really good story I read about a couple or some people who were panhandling in front of a car dealership by the road. Manager offered them jobs and they turned him down.

I’ve given a burger or bottle water out before but no cash.

I’ll donate to an organization or through my church, that’s it.

 

[Shady]

the guys on the same corner with a sign are not the mentally ill, They are a part of a group or tribe that stake out the place and beat the crap out of anyone that tries to work the area.

Guys that hit you up at the gas station are usually crack heads and if you think the cash is going to feed them err well I guess it is going to feed the habit.

If you want to help the people who really want help and to change the life they are leading donate time and money to local shelters.

 

[ekim]

Even people bed bound can do useful work if they want to. Offer/help them get a job, not cash in their hand.

 

[karlac]

I'm surprised that Beto hasn't made them signs and paid them to hold'em.