I don't think they allow beggars in Plano. I certainly can't remember seeing any (and certainly haven't been approached) since moving here.
Anybody else notice the "stranded vet" at the exit to the Beltway from the Tollway? He's been stranded for 4 months at least... What makes me mad is that a lot of them have a dog. I can't afford a dog, how can they? Another thing, I can NEVER find a Sharpie when I need one, but these guys always have one. What's up with that?
If you've ever walked down the Guadalupe St. in Austin, you'll have at least 1 person ask you for change. The Hole in The Wall is notorious for a homeless hangout.
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Personally, I sympathize with these people. Not the ones who are throwing back a bottle of Jack Daniels with their hand out but the ones who appear sober and honest. I don't think beggars decided when they were a child this is what they imagined they would be doing to earn a living. When I look at these people I see someone who might had been fighting for this country at Vietnam or someone who has a family that could use whatever you hand them. If you feel compelled to give them something but are afraid they may use money to buy a 6-pack buy them lunch. I am at the bottom of the working class American and by no means have money to shell out to people but at the least you know you are helping somebody in a time of crises in their life.
When my little brother was at UT, he'd hang out on the Drag & play his guitar sometimes - he had long hair, a beard, and was fond of thrift store attire. Passers-by would throw change or whatever into his guitar case; one day this family stopped and talked to him for a minute, they thought he was homeless & gave him 2 pairs of socks, a toothbrush & paste, and a sandwich. Our parents were oh so proud.
Anyone who thinks they make good money at this is definitely the one smoking crack. By the way, jh/TJ, "junkie" is a term reserved for heroin addicts, I believe. You should try some drug other than Michelob Lite sometime, let your hair down a little. This situation is an everyday thing in San Francisco. I always look people in the eye and treat them like I would any other human being. Since I look like Norman Bates, this is usually much more scary for the homeless person than it is for me. Sometimes I have change, sometimes I don't. Sometimes, I buy some bananas and hand those out to people.
I am not Trader Jorge, as Mrs. JB is fully aware (since her husband has access to ip addresses). She is just pulling your leg.
I am with a North Houston Rotary Club Association and we regularly volunteer and fund homeless projects. EVERY volunteer that works with these shelters tells us to spread the message to : NOT GIVE HANDOUTS TO THE HOMELESS There is free food and shelter available at many of the shelters and there is adequate space and arrangements. But to stay and continually eat at these shelters you must show that you are attempting employment and that you are clean of drugs and alcohol. Most who beg are either 1.) Alcoholics 2.) Drug Addicts. So as wonderful as someone may feel giving money to an individual on the side of the road. The odds are that you are contributing to illegal drugs or alcoholism. Maybe its just the way that society is nowadays. I am building two townhouses off of Allen Parkway and i know some of my subcontractors go to these areas that just have dozens of immigrants that will just jump in your truck to get work and usually there are more people looking for the cheap labor then then there are workers. These people come from third world nations and are not spoiled with the idea of welfare, social security, free healthcare and other nonsense. They work hard and get paid for their work, they don't expect handouts. There is this one bum on 1960 and Champions area that I had seen a few times. It had annoyed me to see him close to where I live, but I wanted to investigate so I asked him if he wanted to do some manual labor around my house including cleaning my pool and doing my lawn etc.. "Look do you have any money to give me or what??" I felt like kicking that spoiled piece of sh*t's ass. Work=Food,Shelter, Life Its quite simple. On another occasion I was at the drive thru at KFC (mmmm tasty) and saw a homeless guy with a sign that said he was hungry. So I ordered another bag of food and remembered that I felt good while I was doing it and added a few side items to his meal. Then when I gave it to him, he just looked at me with disgust and took it without saying thank you and then had the audacity to ask if I was going to give him money or not!?!?! WTF!?! I felt like pounding a lesson in capitalism down his throat!
One thing that used to bother me about the "Drag Worms" (extremelly unkind term, I know, I didn't make it up) is that they could be beligerant, even violent. There was a co-ed several years back who was approached by some homeless teens on the Drag in front of Eckard's. She said that she didn't have anything to give them and went inside the store. When she came out they continued to harass her and then started to beat her. She was beaten to death by these teens on the drag.
So when I see that homeless vet buy my parents house with one leg, I'll just say, "no you junkie, but thanks for giving a limb for your country, now get a job." Not every homeless person is a junkie. A lot of them are mentally disabled and have been abandoned by our society. To classify them all in the same light only adds to the problem.
I rarely give spare change to someone who asks for it from me on the street, but I always put a dollar bill or some change in a musician's case or cup when I see a musician busking.
There is this one Saxaphone player downtown near Main and Texas that is just great! I can appreciate the effort and will many times toll a buck in and request a tune! What I hate is when the guys come up and start trying to clean your windshield with their who knows what mixture after you just spent $100 getting your car detailed!!
