Homeless in Austin

Many years ago, the captain or general or whatever they call the head of the Salvation Army here in Austin came to my workplace to talk to us. He gave his usually spiel about all they do and how much it costs and please donate, etc, and at the very end, he said (paraphrasing), "If there is one thing you can do to help us, it is to not give money to the people you see panhandling at the intersections. It only helps them stay in a lifestyle that is not good for them, and keeps them from seeking legitimate help."
 
I believe there should be a camp they get taken to outside of Austin (30 miles or so). Then, anyone that wants to give them money can come park at the camp (for a fee) and then hang out to their heart's content. Stay off of my intersection....Anyone taking a homeless person out of camp has to pay a fine/fee....at least $100...
 
I once went to a Subway for lunch. As I was about to walk in, the guy standing just outside talking on his cell phone stopped talking and said, "hold on." He then looked at me and asked, "Do you have any spare change?"
 
Horn6721 said:
Even if your thanks to me for the advice was sarcastic I hope you stop and think if you are really helping them by giving them a buck.
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It was not sarcastic, just a thank you. You have your way and perceptive which I do not share. Maybe because so many Nam vets ended up homeless.

This is the way I look at it. If I give someone $5 and they use it to buy drugs, I am not injured in any way. If I give someone $5 and they get to eat that night, I am still not injured. I do not lose in either scenario. In one case. someone wins.

There is also an obvious reason so many homeless end up on the west coast, weather.

I do not share your your centrism, that is my choice.
 
PE
Thank you. I know old65 was virtue signalling that he was helping the homeless bu giving a buck here and tnere and 5.00 at Christmas. I only have local understanding.
To hear the head of the Salvation Army explain it helps.
These are people needing help and in many if not most cases will not accept help.
Giving them money at stoplights is not helping them

It may take isolating them. Libs would go ballistic
 
Old 65
You giving them money does not help them
At all
Period

If you really care get involved.
Edit to ask
So you are not hurt if a person uses the money you gave to buy drugs
And that is important to you?
What about the harm the person does to his body?
Wow sad you do not care
 
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My boss had a funny story once. It was a cold day in Philadelphia and a homeless looking guy accosted him as he was about to walk into Popeye's Chicken. Arthur told the him ... "I'm not carrying cash... I'm buying lunch with a debit card" and walked into the restaurant. As he did, he felt pity, walked back outside and asked the guy to come in and he would buy him lunch. The panhandler shook his head and said "I was really wanting some Chinese."
 
I can never forget when I was a kid traveling with parents from E Paso to East Tx stopping at a hamburger joint late at night. A panhandler came up to car, after we’d gotten our burgers, asking for money for food. The burgers were huge and dad handed him one, saying we wouldn’t eat it. The man said thanks, went into the restroom (outside the burger stand) and came out immediately without the burger. My dad being who is was just dismissed it but my mom was furious he would throw away a perfectly good burger. I was only 8 or 9 but remember it vividly. It has affected my attitude to this day.
 
nashhorn said:
Build low income housing that requires one to work.
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the problem is not homelessness....it is drug addiction....go to YouTube and search "Is Seattle Dying"....tells you what to watch out for when you come this way....love to hear your take on the video after watching....
 
Horn6721 said:
Old 65
You giving them money does not help them
At all
Period

If you really care get involved.
Edit to ask
So you are not hurt if a person uses the money you gave to buy drugs
And that is important to you?
What about the harm the person does to his body?
Wow sad you do not care
Click to expand...
Funny, I had the same take on you.
 
? Did you ignore where I said I volunteer with agencies that try to help homeless?

BTW if you do not believe me or the Salvation Army person ask any LEO if in their experience giving money to panhanders helps them in any way.?
It is good of you to give money. I hope you will give that money to places tbat are trying to help the homeless .
 
Horn6721 said:
? Did you ignore where I said I volunteer with agencies that try to help homeless?

BTW if you do not believe me or the Salvation Army person ask any LEO if in their experience giving money to panhanders helps them in any way.?
It is good of you to give money. I hope you will give that money to places tbat are trying to help the homeless .
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I ignore everything you say. I just wonder if you see the irony of your mantra.
 
Old5
Actually I do not. I would appreciate if you would explain for us "the irony of your mantra. "
BTW if you ignore everything I say how is it you find irony in what I say?
But do explain that irony.​
 
When I was living in Austin a few years back, I had been working on an outdoor project and needed to take some papers to a law firm downtown. I was pretty grungy looking from the work I had been doing, but it was only a drop off I needed to do, not a meeting. I was standing on a street corner waiting for the light to turn so I could cross. I took my hat off to smooth back my hair and some lady walking past dropped some change in it. I was stunned, but then I started laughing. Didn't realize I looked that bad.
 
Sangre Naranjada said:
Does that necessarily mean the rest of us have to bear the burden of their choice to abdicate responsible adulthood?
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The solution is build a fake city in each state and ship the homeless there. People who are trained to help those wanting to improve themselves can “work there” as fake citizens.
 
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Texanne said:
I work daily with homeless people who would love nothing more than a job that pays them enough to be able to afford rent. Even crappy-*** apartments have gotten out of hand, and there is a waiting list for public housing. My church is a member organization for Family Promise, a homeless ministry that allows families to stay together. They sleep in churches every night, a different church each week. I recognize many of our guests because they come to Workforce to try to find jobs. Not all homeless have abdicated responsibility.

And I also work with folks who have been laid off and are terrified of losing their homes.
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True but are these people causing problems to the public at large?
 
I once went to a Subway for lunch. As I was about to walk in, the guy standing just outside talking on his cell phone stopped talking and said, "hold on." He then looked at me and asked, "Do you have any spare change?"
Click to expand...

What's the rest of the story?
 
Stat
Do not confuse panhandlers with homeless. They are not always the same.
A panhandler with a cell is not likely to be homeless.
 
3G Cell phones are very cheap and minutes are very cheap. Buy at the flea market for $5 and load minutes by text at any conv, dollar, gas station, supermarket etc

Everyone on this board with a smartphone has probably discarded 10+ previous phones.
 
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