News that make you say WTF?

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: News that make you say WTF?

If your hustle game is that strong that you got a debit card reader and formed a homeless people union for you and your boys can take shifts to optimize your panhandling profits on those different corners, then yeah, your hustle game is strong enough to hustle your way into a job. That is all I am saying.

[redsox4evur]

Re: News that make you say WTF?

If your hustle game is that strong that you got a debit card reader and formed a homeless people union for you and your boys can take shifts to optimize your panhandling profits on those different corners, then yeah, your hustle game is strong enough to hustle your way into a job. That is all I am saying.

What if he slipped a disk or something and he can't physically work? And I wouldn't even call it a union, it's more of a partnership. Also how do we know he was the guy that came up with the idea to optimize the panhandling? Maybe it was somebody else that he lived near and he said yea this is a great idea.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: News that make you say WTF?

What if he slipped a disk or something and he can't physically work? And I wouldn't even call it a union, it's more of a partnership. Also how do we know he was the guy that came up with the idea to optimize the panhandling? Maybe it was somebody else that he lived near and he said yea this is a great idea.

He shovels snow during the winter also. He said it himself. If he was disabled, they have SSI checks for that.

[redsox4evur]

Re: News that make you say WTF?

He shovels snow during the winter also. He said it himself. If he was disabled, they have SSI checks for that.

Yea I was just using that as an example of why someone couldn't get a job and still be homeless, not this guy personally. And I highly doubt those checks are enough to make it month to month.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: News that make you say WTF?

Yea I was just using that as an example of why someone couldn't get a job and still be homeless, not this guy personally. And I highly doubt those checks are enough to make it month to month.

They are actually......I know many injured military vets who get them, including my wife.

[p_rushing]

Re: News that make you say WTF?

They are actually......I know many injured military vets who get them, including my wife.

yeah today with all the help the government and charities provide, you usually have to choose to be homeless that long ... you won't have a great life, but you will be able to get by each week

[l3ulvl]

Re: News that make you say WTF?

Yeah the SSI checks won't afford someone a life of luxury but they're enough to pay for a small apartment and essential needs as long as you're frugal

[NDAlum]

Re: News that make you say WTF?

You know what I give to homeless people? Resource guides of what the city I live has to offer. There are 100+ organizations out there that help the homeless.

[Phobia]

Re: News that make you say WTF?

Completely agree with GMSS, ZERO excuse many can't get out and work. Around my city, I've seen more and more lately of 20 to 30 something-year-old men just begging for money.......You know why? Sheer laziness!!!

Now I've stated this numerous times throughout the years here on OS, I work in the hood. My office is located 3 blocks from the free food diner and homeless shelter. I deal with it day in and day out with men & women coming in begging for money. So maybe I'm a tad bit bias about it but I see PLENTY of able bodies to work just straight lazy begging, I hear some of the biggest scams over and over. I mean how long have you been trying to get bus money so you can get to Houston for your dying aunt's funeral?!?!?

I had one in Walmart using his baby as a ploy, walking around with a basket with ONLY his baby in the basket, going up to people begging for money. Here is the kicker, I've seen him running this same scheme for weeks. I would go to subway in Walmart and he would hit me up many times & when I would tell him he already hit me up "Ohhhhh no not me, you have the wrong man".

Screw that, man up and get a god **** job like all the rest of us. I'm sorry it drives me up the wall!

Edit: Now I will edit this to say, I'm sure there are some good ones out there who caught a bad situation. Now from my consistent dealing with them, many have substance abuse issues, no drive, mental issues, or something which got them to this point. Very few got in that situation because they are great upstanding citizens who got unlucky, sure it happens, but its the exception not the rule.

[kehlis]

Re: News that make you say WTF?

Completely agree with GMSS, ZERO excuse many can't get out and work. Around my city, I've seen more and more lately of 20 to 30 something-year-old men just begging for money.......You know why? Sheer laziness!!!

Now I've stated this numerous times throughout the years here on OS, I work in the hood. My office is located 3 blocks from the free food diner and homeless shelter. I deal with it day in and day out with men & women coming in begging for money. So maybe I'm a tad bit bias about it but I see PLENTY of able bodies to work just straight lazy begging, I hear some of the biggest scams over and over. I mean how long have you been trying to get bus money so you can get to Houston for your dying aunt's funeral?!?!?

I had one in Walmart using his baby as a ploy, walking around with a basket with ONLY his baby in the basket, going up to people begging for money. Here is the kicker, I've seen him running this same scheme for weeks. I would go to subway in Walmart and he would hit me up many times & when I would tell him he already hit me up "Ohhhhh no not me, you have the wrong man".

Screw that, man up and get a god **** job like all the rest of us. I'm sorry it drives me up the wall!

Edit: Now I will edit this to say, I'm sure there are some good ones out there who caught a bad situation. Now from my consistent dealing with them, many have substance abuse issues, no drive, mental issues, or something which got them to this point. Very few got in that situation because they are great upstanding citizens who got unlucky, sure it happens, but its the exception not the rule.

Yep, I work downtown and see dozens every day.

Went to happy hour downtown one night when I was staying in town for a Pirates game and a guy came in and sat a few seat from me at the bar.

He was drinking beer and was on the phone with a fellow panhandler talking about money spots and what was working and what wasn't working.

I too agree that there are some that are honest and just fell into bad luck. But what little money you get shouldn't be spent on a freakin cell phone. I can't believe some even tried to justify that regardless of the cost of it.

[mgoblue]

Re: News that make you say WTF?

Yep, I work downtown and see dozens every day.

Went to happy hour downtown one night when I was staying in town for a Pirates game and a guy came in and sat a few seat from me at the bar.

He was drinking beer and was on the phone with a fellow panhandler talking about money spots and what was working and what wasn't working.

I too agree that there are some that are honest and just fell into bad luck. But what little money you get shouldn't be spent on a freakin cell phone. I can't believe some even tried to justify that regardless of the cost of it.

I can understand how a cell phone might be a good way to keep in touch with people and be safe....

I agree with everyone else though that I'd rather give money to some group that helps the homeless, not give it to people directly....that money doesn't do **** IMO, just buys them beer or whatnot.

I've heard stories from friends that actually bought guys food and they didn't want it, they wanted cash.

[kehlis]

Re: News that make you say WTF?

I can understand how a cell phone might be a good way to keep in touch with people and be safe....

I agree with everyone else though that I'd rather give money to some group that helps the homeless, not give it to people directly....that money doesn't do **** IMO, just buys them beer or whatnot.

I've heard stories from friends that actually bought guys food and they didn't want it, they wanted cash.

I agree with everything else you say here but do you think they have people to keep in touch with? If there is anyone that wants to talk to them and cares about them would they still be homeless?

I KNOW that's a very broad question based on circumstance but with all the homeless this country has which was outlined in the article originally posted I have to imagine most homeless are either with the only ones that care about them or don't have anyone else.

[BurghFan]

Re: News that make you say WTF?

I live right next to Pitt's campus and am on campus regularly and often see this one homeless person who 'camps' on this one street corner I often pass. Also a number of panhandlers who frequent that block which is a high pedestrian traffic area during the semesters. I haven't really had any encounters with them except this one time when I was sitting in an otherwise empty Subway eating when this guy comes in, sits down next to me and starts talking to me like we're friends and gives me this long spiel about needing bus money. I check the the campus crime and fire logs regularly though and have seen plenty of citations for aggressive panhandling as well as homeless people being charged with defiant trespass for being in various campus buildings.

But back on topic,

Man accused of defecating in library stairwell

According to this and the report I saw on the news the other night, he actually did it twice.

[Bmore Irish]

Re: News that make you say WTF?

I work in an area with a fairly large homeless population. There's a homeless shelter down the road and several tent camps in nearby wooded areas. There are many times I'll get to work in the morning and someone will still be sleeping in the side door alcove outside.

I can't paint these people with a broad brush because there really are a variety of situations and stories, some true, some not. Mental health is an issue, and I'd say drug addiction is one of the more common culprits. Some of them are making a choice, but many really are in a situation they can't get out of, even if something like drug abuse got them there in the first place.

We've hired a number of homeless folks for temporary work when it's available. The one guy couldn't work with us last year because he actually got a job at McDonald's. That was nice to hear, and it goes to show that they can make it work. Idk how he's been doing since then though. I'm sure some of them just keep ****ing up or relapsing though, and couldn't hold a steady job anyway.

[Hassan Darkside]

Re: News that make you say WTF?

I agree with everything else you say here but do you think they have people to keep in touch with? If there is anyone that wants to talk to them and cares about them would they still be homeless?

I KNOW that's a very broad question based on circumstance but with all the homeless this country has which was outlined in the article originally posted I have to imagine most homeless are either with the only ones that care about them or don't have anyone else.

Good lord man, are you serious? You ever try to apply for a job without a phone number or email address? And just because you care about someone doesn't mean you can or are even in a position to open your home to them.

The homeless shade in this thread is pretty disappointing. Phobia just went on a Trump-esque rant. Reminds me quite a bit of the old welfare queen stereotype. Some of y'all should really look at the "why's" rather than relying on your biases to create a narrative for all of them.