Could someone give me a few tips on beggars?

Question

I was recently begged to in Chicago and it was quite creepy. This creepy looking lady limped after me to my car and then said something is wrong with her mother and that i could help. Now I don't even know if she was lying or not but i pulled away, and i kinda feel bad now. Could someone with a load of street smarts give me a few common beggar lies and maybe what i should do when I'm around them. (I'm from the suburbs)

Answer 1

Simply state you can not help.

A couple years ago, a man came up to me in the parking lot of Wal Greens and said he was having car trouble, and that he was in town for his father's funeral and needed money to get some repair to get home. The red flags were:

1. He had a dog with him. Who brings a dog to a funeral?

2. If his father's funeral was in town, wouldn't friends and family also br in town?

3. There was an auto repair shop next door. wouldn't they know more about car repair than a middle aged lady?

I went back into Wal Greens and told the manager.

Never give them money. They just buy cigarettes and alcohol anyway.

If you really feel compelled to help, carry some granola bars, packs of crackers, etc. If they are REALLY hungry, they will be grateful.

Answer 2

Well, some fake beggars are pretty good.  Best thing to do is to not give ANY of them money.  They can go to the nearest soup kitchen if they need food.  Even if a beggar really is an actual homeless person, you aren't safe.  Some have untreated mental problems, and that is why they are homeless.  (They can't hold a job and so they lose everything.)

Answer 3

Sorry lady I dont have cash or change.

I'm so sorry to hear that, I really dont have any money right now.

You dont always have to be rude.

Answer 4

I've been told the sick mother story about four times.  Hungry kids at home and car troubles are also pretty common.  You have nothing to feel bad about.  Your not obligated to give money to every person who asks for it.  There is a good shot you were being lied to anyway.  If you want to give, its probably safer to donate through a shelter or something.

Answer 5

Yeah...but give me a dollar first

Answer 6

as an ex-begger chances are they are lying. but they prolly need the money for something important, like drugs or booze so if you can spare a buck give it up

Answer 7

I was taught that instead of giving them money, offer to  buy them some food at McDonald's.  If they accept, then they are really hungry.  If they just want the money, then there is a good chance they want to use the money for something else.

Answer 8

I deal with this daily, I live downtown.

Anyways, most people get it if you just keep walking and say, "I don't have any money".  Trust your gut, your gut told you that this lady was a little "off", so you want nothing to do with her.  Just keep walking.  You can say, "Sorry, I don't have money".  

Honestly, there are so many "sob" stories.  There was this one guy who was around the gas station carrying a gas can and he said, "My car just ran out of gas.  I was just wondering if you could pass me 5$ so I can get some gas"...and then I saw him there the following day...then at another gas station.  

If you feel guilty, volunteer at a soup kitchen, donate to low income programs or support your church.  Honestly, your quarter isn't going to change this beggar's life.  It just helps them sustain for another day of begging.  It's an endless cycle.

Don't feel bad.  Don't be rude either.  Just say you can't help them.  

Answer 9

I see the same people begging on the streetsall of the time.

I am here in Hungary and for years now I see the same old lady wearing the same old clothes sporting the same old black eye.

Either the cops keep hitting her or someone in her home is doing it or it is good makeup on her. It has been 8 years and she still has the black eye.

I have seen a group of young Gypsy's begging leaning on cructhes,oly to later see them walking just fine in the alley.

I don't pay any attention to them any longer and my husband is sort of rude to them, he always asks them how business is.

We believe it is up to the government to take care of these people not have them reley on others.They are counting on you feeling bad, how else can they beg.

Answer 10

When a panhandler asks you for money, give him/her the human dignity of recognition and a kind answer, even if the answer is no. "I'm sorry, but I can't help you today." If someone won't accept your courteous and respectful "no" then you -- respectfully, of course -- tell them "Really, I can't help you today, please stop following me" and whip out your cell phone.

When dealing with homeless people, keep in mind that good judgement and reasonable behavior may be too much to expect. Remember how muzzy and dumb you felt after not getting any sleep for two nights in a row? Homeless people feel like that all the time. True, their behavior can be inappropriate but that doesn't necessarily mean that the behavior is hateful or malicious -- just confused.