3 ms·

I really dislike it when some antecdote of an (apparently) fake homeless scammer is taken as a substantial point in these discussions on homelessness. No doubt

I really dislike it when some antecdote of an (apparently) fake homeless scammer is taken as a substantial point in these discussions on homelessness. No doubt some small portion of scammers have an effective scam around homelessness. Other scammers do better on other things. My guess is that most people become homeless through lack of skill and knowing the best scams is likely one more skill that most homeless people don't have. Obviously, income stream available for people to "make a career" out of fake homelessness is so small that only a small number of people can be doing it. And, of course, that a given person might be lying in a way that seems like they imagine will get them money doesn't mean they get much more or that they aren't on the streets through general dysfunction (homeless people aren't angels, people in general aren't angels but people face the demand to be angels much more strongly when homeless). When I lived in the Bay Area is that 90s, honestly, the scamming skills were far higher than they are now and as naive student, I'd have people scam me for a few bucks, which I generally could afford to lose, (with the worse thing being a person invited over who stole from my roommates). The beggars of today lack such skills (just pick pocketing has faded, etc). The lessen for an average here is, imo, is give to homeless people but don't give more on a sob story, don't give only to a sob story. Just giving money to portion of people really more efficient than giving to agency X. If you're not selecting for scammers, it should work well.

skinkestek 7y ago
> The lessen for an average here is, imo, is give to homeless people but don't give more on a sob story, don't give only to a sob story. My solution has become to give food if I want to give something. Unless they are honestly trying to sell something legally or perform music or something (I really have a soft spot for anyone actually trying to work): - If someone plays music I might once in a while give something along the lines of $5-10 if it isn't too bad. It actually brightens my day to walk by someone playing. - Recently I also bought a magazine from a friendly old chap. I don't know how common this is elsewhere but in Oslo severely disadvantaged people can apply for jobs as salespeople for "=Oslo" which is a monthly magazine that is only sold by people like them. Based on my first impression (this months edition) I might very well buy again. The price is 100NOK which translates to just above $10 and for that price I got some actual journalism and I get to support a person who is in a rough spot but actually want to work.
- joe_the_user 7y ago
  My solution has become to give food if I want to give something. Being on the streets can mess-up a person's digestion. A lot of homeless people won't take random food because they don't know if they can keep that food down - and, here in the US, you don't know if someone who hates the homeless might be trying to poison you.
- tatersolid 7y ago
  In Chicago USA there’s a magazine called StreetWise that homeless can apply to sell for $2 a copy. StreetWise has been sold in this manner for as long as I’ve lived here (20 years).

skinkestek 7y ago

> The lessen for an average here is, imo, is give to homeless people but don't give more on a sob story, don't give only to a sob story. My solution has become to give food if I want to give something. Unless they are honestly trying to sell something legally or perform music or something (I really have a soft spot for anyone actually trying to work): - If someone plays music I might once in a while give something along the lines of $5-10 if it isn't too bad. It actually brightens my day to walk by someone playing. - Recently I also bought a magazine from a friendly old chap. I don't know how common this is elsewhere but in Oslo severely disadvantaged people can apply for jobs as salespeople for "=Oslo" which is a monthly magazine that is only sold by people like them. Based on my first impression (this months edition) I might very well buy again. The price is 100NOK which translates to just above $10 and for that price I got some actual journalism and I get to support a person who is in a rough spot but actually want to work.

joe_the_user 7y ago
My solution has become to give food if I want to give something. Being on the streets can mess-up a person's digestion. A lot of homeless people won't take random food because they don't know if they can keep that food down - and, here in the US, you don't know if someone who hates the homeless might be trying to poison you.
tatersolid 7y ago
In Chicago USA there’s a magazine called StreetWise that homeless can apply to sell for $2 a copy. StreetWise has been sold in this manner for as long as I’ve lived here (20 years).