Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin

jonb.org

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

41–50 of 216 posts

Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin

#41

Post by walkon »

benwerd wrote: post #10

Every so often, I'll buy someone a meal: Subway, or some noodles, or something like that. Or I'll give them $5 for the BART, or whatever. Absolutely no skin off my nose; a big deal for them. And every single time, the look of joy and surprise on their faces completely cuts through any cynicism I might have had about the interaction. I figure, every single person who's out there begging is in need. I wish there were b…

> I figure, every single person who's out there begging is in need.

Then you've figured incorrectly. There are absolutely a high number of these people who are scamming. A major reason they persist and misdirect resources from those that are truly need, is because of those who blindly assume "every single person" is in need.

Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin

#42

Post by jrochkind1 »

CamperBob2 wrote: post #18
jianghong wrote: post #9

I usually try to help out and give the less fortunate the change in my pocket when I can, but this one instance really made me reluctant to continue giving. He was inside starbucks and was walking out the door while I was waiting for a chance to enter. He stopped me and told me his name was Marcus, he was really hungry and needed some money for food. I gave him what was in my pocket, about ~2 bucks. He took it, looke…

I see a lot of people in this thread who don't seem to have heard that many, if not most, of these people are scammers. I also see a lot of people who don't seem to understand that you get more of what you subsidize, whether you want it or not. Just putting that out here.

What does it mean for a panhandler to be a 'scammer'? They're not really homeless at all, they actually live in a mansion in Beverly Hills with a two car garage, and manage to pay for it all by asking for change on the street all day pretending to be homeless?

Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin

#43

Post by eob »

mjallday wrote: post #28

Is SF atypical in the number of mentally unstable homeless people? I moved to the US a year ago and am still blown away by the shear number of drugged up or crazy people living in the middle of the city. I've seen plenty of homeless people on my travels around the world but usually they are poor, not mentally unstable (to my knowledge).

Yes. It's shocking for Americans from other parts of the country as well.

Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin

#44

Post by brnstz »

As others have said, in many cases the request for food is a bluff hoping for money. There is a guy in my Brooklyn neighborhood who stands on the corner every day asking everyone, "Hey, can I get $3 to get something to eat?" We call him $3 guy. In large cities, there is not a lack of food for the homeless. (Although, to be honest, maybe it's not so easy to get to the right place at the right time, if you are strung out.)

I used to call the bluff, and have bought many sandwiches and slices of pizza (except for that guy begging in the pizza place who said he didn't like pizza [cash only, please]). At this point, I almost prefer giving out cigarettes.

This is case of "give a man a fish / teach him to fish" on a grand scale. I'm far from an expert on homelessness, but I really like things like The Doe Fund: http://www.doe.org/

Getting people out of drug/alcohol/crime/convict-status-induced homelessness is not an easy task. Helping people get their shit together, finding a purpose, and getting a job they can do is exhausting, soul-crushing work. The people who do this work are saints. Buying a guy a sandwich is no big deal.

Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin

#45

Post by wwweston »

rosser wrote: post #11

This is just me, and my approach to the homeless or destitute, but if someone asks me for money, the answer is some form of no (if I even acknowledge the asker). Yeah, you tell me you're hungry or whatever, but I'm not going to risk participating in your next fix. If they ask me for food , however, it's always a yes, assuming I can do it right then (not late for something, have money or my card on me or whatever). Yo…

I know someone who's been experimenting with the same rough idea, but trying to be a bit proactive about things by putting together small kits of food/water/stuff (granola bars, raisin packets, water bottles, gift cards for chain restaurants, socks, toiletries) and keeping a few in the car to just hand out when he gets asked.

This is in LA, where you're usually in the car when you see unfamiliar people (down on their luck or not), so YMMV in places like SF where foot traffic is more the rule and you may not be habitually carrying lots of extra baggage.

Carrying a Subway gift card specifically to give away might work out, though. Maybe pair it with the card of addresses for local help institutions (shelter, food, addiction treatment, mental health if we still have any of these) for extra mileage.

Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin

#46

Post by rdouble »

jrochkind1 wrote: post #42
CamperBob2 wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I see a lot of people in this thread who don't seem to have heard that many, if not most, of these people are scammers. I also see a lot of people who don't seem to understand that you get more of what you subsidize, whether you want it or not. Just putting that out here.

What does it mean for a panhandler to be a 'scammer'? They're not really homeless at all, they actually live in a mansion in Beverly Hills with a two car garage, and manage to pay for it all by asking for change on the street all day pretending to be homeless?

It's more like a guy who has been living in a $400 rent controlled 2BD apartment on Fell since 1991. He charges his roommate $800 a month, then goes and scams people on Haight for pizza money, but mainly just for kicks.

Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin

#48

Post by sbov »

djmdjm wrote: post #30

What's remarkable about this is how the poster finds these casual encounters with homelessness "unremarkable". No other western city that I have visited has the massive, in-your-face homelessness as SF. I don't know enough about the causes of this phenomenon in SF to suggest what can be done about it; I'm sure they are complex, multi-factorial and politically fraught, but the level of homelessness in SF and (almost)…

Some cities in the US just make it illegal to be homeless. Problem solved.

Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin

#49

Post by Osiris »

chao- wrote: post #39

You can't help everyone you see, or even half the people you see, and still have the time and resources to help yourself. What's important is to know what you're comfortable with doing, why you're comfortable with it: Personally, I will buy or give food, but never give money. Sometimes, when asked for money, I will offer to walk with them to get them food instead. Sometimes I remember that I'm pinching pennies on dam…

I agree. If someone asks for food, you know that they are hungry (they can't turn around and sell the food for profit). However, if they ask for money, you don't really know what their needs are.

My mother works at a seasonal food bank that provides meals in the winter and I think that's one of the best services we can provide for people that cannot provide for themselves. Food is also relatively less expensive than other aids, such as rent controlled housing.

Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin

#50

Post by chao- »

djmdjm wrote: post #30

What's remarkable about this is how the poster finds these casual encounters with homelessness "unremarkable". No other western city that I have visited has the massive, in-your-face homelessness as SF. I don't know enough about the causes of this phenomenon in SF to suggest what can be done about it; I'm sure they are complex, multi-factorial and politically fraught, but the level of homelessness in SF and (almost)…

Honolulu comes close. As you say, it's complex in origin, but contributing factors are the constant influx of outside money (tourism), significant pedestrian traffic, and moderate climate (you can live outside year-round and the weather will never be completely unbearable, or kill you outright).
Post reply on HN