San Francisco Panhandlers Question
 

What do you do when asked for spare change by a panhandler? We are going to be visiting SF next week and have read a lot about the homeless situation on this board. My children (9 and 13) have never been to a really big city and have had little exposure to homeless people and panhandlers. While I want to raise them to be compassionate and generous to people less fortunate than they are I'm also concerned for their safety.

They won't bother you too much. Some are bums, some are mentally ill, some are addicts. It is quite sad to see so many homeless, I guess the best is to use your intuition. We give money to those who seem most in need. Also we always wrap extra food from dinner and give it away.

Last Christmas we took our daughter to SF for the first time and again this year. She was afraid and just stuck very close to us. We usually ignore them or give some spare change. This year we had two panhandlers point out the fact that my husband resembles Bill Clinton!!! It's not the first time this has happened but its funny since my husband is a die-hard Republican.<BR><BR>

I just say &quot;sorry&quot; and continue walking without stopping. If you want to teach your children to be compassionate let them write a check to a charity, just explain that most of them can't handle cash and depend on shelters, kitchens, etc. <BR>

Well they are going to get alot of exposure to homeless people on their trip to SF. It seems as if the problem has been getting worse. Ignoring them is the best approach. If you start giving money to one, you will have a crowd following you. For the most part these are mentally ill and/or drug addicts. You definitely want to be aware of your surroundings and exercise common sense with your belongings as it can be quite an intimidating experience dealing with the homeless.

Just ignore them. And DON'T give them money. Give it to a legitamate homeless charity that can put it toward food, shelter, rehab programs, etc. All employees of homeless organizations advise to not hand out money to the homeless, they will probably not spend it on food. Many are diabetic so take that into account if you're going to give them any food/beverage. Teach your children about charity by getting involved in your own community in some way.

When you see the unfortunate site of the misery on the streets of SF you will come to realize why Herb Caen, a local newspaper columnist, came up with the nickname of Baghdad by the Bay for San Francisco.

I went to the Orpheum Theater last night and in a 2 block walk was asked 3 times for money.<BR><BR>Don't give them money, however kindhearted you may feel. There are places for them to get food and a place to sleep. When they can no longer rely on the &quot;kindness of strangers&quot; they might stop preying on those areas.<BR><BR>Raising your children with compassion and charity is wonderful. There are a thousand and one things you can do to convey that message.

Just explain to your kids that the bums usually use the money to buy drugs and booze, so it is best to not give them any (hey, it's what my mom told ME). Instead, save your doggie bags from restaurants and give them to the homeless as you walk back to your hotel after dinner. Of course, if you see someone who really tugs at your heart strings (like a homeless mama and baby) you might feel good about handing them a few coins. But when I see people doing that in my neighborhood, it makes me furious. Why? Because if no one gives them anything, they'll go away. <BR><BR>Most homeless people are safe, but the ones that are really drugged can be scary. But these ones you can see &amp; hear from blocks away because of their erratic behavior. You can always just cross the street.<BR><BR>I'm practically blind to homeless people these days. The past year, they have been back in droves in NYC. I have no reaction...I just keep walking.

You can tell your children about the condition of homelessness and say sorry or nothing to the panhandlers. There might be some tough sights like people panhandling with small children or with animals. This might be especially hard for your kids to understand. Make a point of doing commmunity service with your kids in your home town. You can teach them compassion in a variety of ways. There's a great 4th grade level book called &quot;A hundred dresses&quot; that is a good place to start teaching(you probably already have started actually). Mary Pipher also has a good book out on the importance of family and teaching a sense of community. It's tough times and only going to get tougher IMO.

To imply that Herb Caen nicknamed San Francisco &quot;Baghdad by the Bay&quot; because of the homeless situation is absurd. Read about it in his own words at http://research.compaq.com/SRC/perso...n/caen-SF.html

It is a very hard task to teach your children compassion and kindness while seeming to ignore human suffering. My inner hippie always wants to invite sad-story panhandlers to join us for dinner, but I know that this is not the best response. Without looking to blame the victim, here are some of the realities in this sad social situation:<BR>1. You can't tell by appearance who is sincere and who is looking for their next fix; the most masterful manipulators will have you in tears. <BR>2. Professionals who work to address homelessness advise NOT to hand out in response to street begging, for reasons previously cited.<BR>3. If you do submit to one of the sad stories, be prepared to be approached more often.<BR><BR>If this is new to the kids they may well have a hard time not gawking, pointing, even giggling to relieve their anxiety. Good that you are concerned for your children's safety, but most of the street beggars are harmless. Some, especially if mentally ill and off their meds, may be verbally abusive but the best response is not to respond - not even eye contact. <BR>By all means do demonstrate to your children the quality of compassion by making a contribution to a recognized charity.

And..if you want some information on a homeless shelter (actually called &quot;transitional housing&quot;) for families..contact Hamilton House, San Francisco. They are very good at sending information on their programs and have always been quite responsive when we have sent donations.

Many of the &quot;homeless&quot; are there because they have made that choice.Alkys have also made that choice their choice.

Homelessness and drugs have been a problem in San Francisco for some time, but now it is the worst I have seen it in about a decade. It's difficult to ignore their pleas for a handout, especially when you are walking out of a restaurant. Lately, I have been going to SF less often because of what they have done to the city. The homeless in and of themselves are not too bad, although you will find the occasional ones who chase you down the street cursing at you. The main problem comes with the unsanitary nature of the streets and sidewalks from the trash they leave behind and the problem with public urination. The business community is trying to get the city to clean things up, but it will take some time.

I would just ignore them. Most are not agressive and don't speak up. If they do ask directly, I just say sorry and keep walking. They are used to plenty of &quot;sorries&quot;. I sometimes give money to the ones that sell &quot;Street Spirit&quot; a homeless newspaper printed by a charitable organization and provided to them for free to sell. You buy the paper for $1.00. <BR><BR>In the 8 years I have worked in SF, I have only encountered one agressive panhandler.<BR><BR>While in Montreal last year, I ran into many agressive panhandlers. I gave a very generous $5 Canandian dollar note to a person, only to have him follow me a block and start a new story and ask for more. I told him I had already been more than generous and he left. I have not had a similar experience in SF ever.

No doubt that the panhandling population has increased by leaps and bounds in recent years. I live in a middle class area of SF, and we are even starting to have problems with the homeless in these types of neigborhoods. Of course, ground zero is still Union Square with Fisherman's Wharf a close second. I too have encountered alot more aggressive panhandlers than I used to. I don't know what it is. I think that since the city will be decreasing the monthly check that they give to these people, they in turn are becoming more aggressive in their approach of trying to get a handout.

I've never had problems with aggressive panhandlers in SF either. Growing up in Santa Cruz I had a couple run-ins, nothing bad though - just homeless people who yell when you don't give them money. <BR><BR>I just ignore them or say sorry when I pass by.

Oh, by the way, don't buy from the homeless &quot;San Francisco Art Monthly&quot; and &quot;Examiner&quot;. These are free newspapers and sometimes they sell them to unsuspecting tourists.

They all must of been on vacation when we went to San Francisco in July! When we went we stayed at the St. Francis, The Palace, and Sheraton at FW. Not ONCE were we panhandaled in the city (5 days). We saw some homeless, not any more than Atlanta, and felt very safe and comfortable. I got harrased 50 times as much when I was in Jamaica. San Francisco is a wonderful city and I truly don't see all the fuss. Maybe people are mad because they get paid?

In northeast cities where I've encountered pan-handlers, I often purchase a cheap item, like bagel &amp; peanut-butter, or hamburgers, and give that to them. I want to believe each has good intentions (but know that to be false), but will not give money, nor do I feel right about giving scraps.<BR><BR>I figure that I could always find myself in their shoes someday.

I think most of the best ideas have already been said.<BR><BR>There are a few chickenlittles, who for whatever reason, would paint a picture of downtown San Francisco crusted in urine &amp; poo with wild-eyed aggressive panhandlers manning every corner.<BR><BR>They're right to the extent that there are a lot of panhandlers. I don't think the poo &amp; urine comment is so accurate. I also don't think that the panhandlers are that agressive either.<BR><BR>I fully acknowledge that there are some frimy areas close to downtown, but my general feeling is that if you avoid Market and Mission between 5th and 10th, you really shouldn't have any problems.<BR>Other than the Orpheum and the Warfield theaters, there is nothing that would draw anyone there anyhow.<BR><BR>As for how to deal with homeless &amp; panhandlers I have never ever had a problem with making an acknowledging nod, and a not tonight/today. I don't give change, and I don't give food, unless the person specifically asks for the food I may happen to be carrying.<BR><BR>I think it's a good idea to talk to your kids about the people they may see. They may have some tough questions for you, good luck.

So, &quot;insf&quot;, which copyrighted material are you quoting?

By the way, I totally agree with the &quot;chicken little&quot; comment above. Homelessness has always been part of the SF landscape but it's yet to impact one of my vacations in the city. Ditto for all of my friends. I'd LOVE for San Francisco to clean up its act but, according to my dad (a Berkeley alum) it's always been a problem and &quot;always will be.&quot;

I don't know about everyone else but I just keep walking. No eye contact, no verbal contact, no nothing. I'm not insensitive but for me, giving a handout to one opens a can of worms - where does one stop? <BR>I think making donations to charity, particularly to those that serve the homeless, is a better use fo the funds. Folks in the street who choose to take advatnage of the services available to them (food, shelter, clothing etc) can do so and those choose to just ask for money in the street (for whatever they may be using it for) will have to get it from someone other than me.

Thank you all very much. I've found this board very helpful in planning this trip and appreciate your answers to my specific question.

It takes only a few blocks to realize that street people and panhandlers are as much a part of this gilded hill city as the Golden Gate, the Presidio, or the striking views of Alcatraz from Russian Hill.<BR><BR>San Francisco belongs to them as much as it does to the scions of Pacific Heights or former dotcomers now working in temp jobs. In this tolerant city, politicians who have sought to remove them from street corners have long been labeled callous - and often rousted from office. Here, urinating in public is a cherished right.<BR><BR>As the problem grows, however, San Francisco appears to be reaching its breaking point. According to some estimates, it has roughly the same number of homeless people as New York, even though it has one-tenth the population. Two years ago, nearly 200 people died on the streets - twice as many as in the state of Florida.<BR><BR><BR>This issue, perhaps more than any other, has in recent years defined San Francisco's sense of itself as a liberal-minded haven for all humanity - from immigrants to anarchists, homosexuals to the homeless. Yet as the scope of the problem becomes overwhelming, this culture of tolerance is being tested by a practical desire for peace and safety.<BR><BR>Since 2000, the homeless population of San Francisco has grown by more than a third, totaling some 7,300 people. In places such as Union Square, streets seem little more than galleries of &quot;Checks Cashed&quot; signs, strip clubs, and wobbly shopping carts packed with worn clothes, trinkets, and trash. Sidewalks double as sleeping quarters, and the smell of stale urine is rarely far away.<BR><BR>Some people say that they won't come into San Francisco because they can't take it anymore. They are afraid to walk the streets in certain parts of town. It's worse than it has ever been. It is just accepted because it has always been there, but many feel it's not safe.<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR> <BR><BR><BR><BR>

More and more in Europe I see signs near places that have a &quot;panhandling&quot; problem that you should not give money to these people, but rather support the organizations that help them. I think the same should be true in the US. Many of these panhandlers are sitting there asking for money for a &quot;meal&quot; while they are a block or two from a place that will provide them with a free meal. So do you really think it is food they are looking for?

On one trip there I was going to give a fellow my left-over package from a restaurant. <BR><BR>He asked what it was, I said pasta, he said, what kind, I said penne with vegetables, he said, no meat, I said, no, he said what kind of sauce, I said a light cream sauce. He said ah, no thanks, I dont like cream sauce.<BR><BR>True story.