So certain charitable organizations can stand at the Willow intersection and solicit change from unsuspecting motorists in the name of good will, in the name of feeding the homeless, but the homeless cannot stand at the Willow intersection and solicit change from unsuspecting motorists to feed themselves. Yikes, systemic regulation of the poor at work. Gross.
—F. Mahoney
This article appears in Sep 17-23, 2009.
Well when I give it to the charity, I know it’ll actually go towards people in need and the correct things(as long as it’s not the United Way).
Most of the homeless bumming for change are only looking to feed one thing: their addiction. Giving them money doesn’t help you, me, or them. Giving money to reputable charities helps us all.
Plus, those squeegy kids are getting damn annoying! Clean up that fucking garbage you leave all over the Commons and former Queen Elizabeth High School, too.
I’m sure it’s not as black and white as this, but I do prefer to give to trusted foundations. I can wholly sympathize with someone who’s just had a bad run of luck – I’d love to help someone get back on their feet, just don’t want to sustain someone who’s going to stay on their ass. I think anyone who is seriously seeking aid would be aware enough of the stigma of panhandlers using the money they’re given for substance abuse to separate themselves from that scene.
Most of the “homeless” are already getting my tax money through their monthly welfare check. Really (and yes I am generalizing) the homeless I see are not actually homeless. They get a monthly welfare check and supplement their laziness and habit by panhandling. Charities on the other hand are trying to help people who NEED it.
Yea, I think it’s because the homeless just take their money to the NSLC, whereas organizations tend to buy food and clothes and all that. Just a thought.
Dude if you don’t have a place to live…you don’t get a welfare cheque…so homeless means no home…no welfare cheque…(its in the rules)as well many of these organizations, use the funds collected to cover staff and admin cost even leather chairs, trips and “business” lunches costing more than a person on welfare makes in a month(I know I worked for a few of those places)
solid social programs, good jobs with decent wages, affordable child care, affordable housing, cost effective transportation are what help the poor move out of poverty – charities maintain the status quo and rely on poverty as much as big business to keep going…I would rather give my money to the guy who will at least invest it in the local economy
Susanle63, you sound young and idealistic. Kudos!
Charities are OK as long as you check them out. The good ones make their budget public.
And no amount of social programs will eliminate poverty. The more resources you put in place and the more accessible they become the more people will abuse the system. Some people just want something for nothing. That’s the balance that you need to find with socialism…how do you create a social safety net that keeps people from slipping through the holes yet doesn’t trap them in it? I think there are limits to what can be reasonably done, especially with taxpayers dollars, to help the poor.
but herein lies a problem. some of these”homeless” people actually have very nice,and some have fairly expensive homes to go to.i know for a fact, that there is a guy out downtown, renting spaces out,and collecting a lot of cash for this.some of these poor souls can rake in up to a hundred grand a year, all tax free.don’t believe me,find one or two,keep your eyes on them all day,and follow them, and see what they do after work. a lot of people would be very surprised at some of the places they live, and cars they drive, later in the evening.seriously, i have seen one guy, a short little fuck, bumming on barrington all day, the about 6 or so,take off for about 15 minutes,only to emerge again, in fucking designer clothes. tere are actually people teaching them how to look really wretched, to get more money.these people are taking from the ones that really are hard up, and i think that is just awful. but how do you tell which is which sometimes? you have to know them, and follow them, otherwise, that buck you just passed out, will go for another kids big screen.and some people are just to fucking lazy to work. we are in the wrong business people,we should all maybe, start this shit.