Austin Panhandlers

[seamusTX]

He looked like a healthy man, early to mid-twenties. I should have pointed him to the military recruiting office.

A lot of panhandlers would not meet the qualifications for the military. Aside from an aversion to work, many of them lack education, have mental problems, alcohol and drug problems, or criminal records.

I have no great liking for panhandlers, but with a 10% unemployment rate, they have little chance of getting a job. Employers don't have to take anyone who is uneducated, can't speak decent English, has a bad attitude, smells, is too fat, too old, too ugly, or has homemade tattoos on his face.

- Jim

[seamusTX]

So we're driving around houston, and we've got the bums walking the lines of cars at stoplights.

I seriously think this is an organized effort. On Westheimer, there are sometimes more than one bum at every intersection.

My theory is that someone picks them up around South Main and I-45 (Bum Central) and drives them out there in exchange for a cut of their receipts.

- Jim

[dicion]

So we're driving around houston, and we've got the bums walking the lines of cars at stoplights.

I seriously think this is an organized effort. On Westheimer, there are sometimes more than one bum at every intersection.

My theory is that someone picks them up around South Main and I-45 (Bum Central) and drives them out there in exchange for a cut of their receipts.

- Jim

Oh I agree it's organized. maybe not in that fashion, but I've see the bums discussing who takes what approach to an intersection, and when they rotate.

One even told one of my crew one day, while we were working on an intersection, that he makes over $40 an hour doing it.
From that point on, every time someone would roll down their window, my crewman would yell 'don't give him money, he just bragged how he makes $40 an hour, tax free doing this!'

After a dozen cars immediately retracted their funds, the bum left the intersection, presumably to find another.

Also, if you noticed, apparently 'bum leg' where they drag a foot is contagious in bum circles. Apparently every one of them has it.
I've seen a bum forget which one was supposed to be the 'bad one' and switch between vehicles.

And, of course, every single one of them is a disabled veteran with a family and kids to feed.

I don't know if I'd consider S. Main @45 'bum central'. They seem to hang out more north, like around Main@Lamar, and more south, in Midtown more and more.
If I'm working downtown, I get accosted by at least half a dozen daily. I just interrupt them and say "Look. Im working. You're not the first today, nor will you be the last. Just go"
Generally, they just leave me alone after that.

[seamusTX]

I saw two bums having a shouting and shoving match in the mall that Phoenicia is in (Westheimer near Kirkwood). Apparently one stepped on the other's turf or something.

As for how much they make, $40 is feasible at a busy intersection, but I wouldn't believe anything a bum told me.

I also see people collecting for charities or churches that I never heard of, or "drug programs." Yeah, I know how that drug program would work.

- Jim

[USA1]

As a sad indication of our current economic situation
I have recently seen on two separate occasions nicely dressed (business suits), clean cut men with signs that appear to be their resumes . They are not begging for a handout , but merely trying to get noticed by someone looking for a possible new hire .

I think it takes a little courage and humbleness to put aside pride to do what it takes to keep your head above water .
Its too bad that in the United States of America a person who wants to be productive and succeed has to face such obstacles .

[juggernaut]

As a sad indication of our current economic situation
I have recently seen on two separate occasions nicely dressed (business suits), clean cut men with signs that appear to be their resumes . They are not begging for a handout , but merely trying to get noticed by someone looking for a possible new hire .

I remember seeing a picture of a guy in a suit with a sign that said "WILL WORK FOR $50K A YEAR" back during the last Houston downturn.

[R_Comstock]

He looked like a healthy man, early to mid-twenties. I should have pointed him to the military recruiting office.

A lot of panhandlers would not meet the qualifications for the military. Aside from an aversion to work, many of them lack education, have mental problems, alcohol and drug problems, or criminal records.

I have no great liking for panhandlers, but with a 10% unemployment rate, they have little chance of getting a job. Employers don't have to take anyone who is uneducated, can't speak decent English, has a bad attitude, smells, is too fat, too old, too ugly, or has homemade tattoos on his face.

- Jim

Trust me...this guy would have got in. And the 10% unemployment rate...sure. Right next door in the Rivercenter Mall there were at least 2 dozen stores with Now Hiring signs out. Point being, in this country there is RARELY an excuse for being a panhandler. Otherwise, completely agree with your point.

-Ross

[R_Comstock]

Can't believe I forgot about this one earlier! While living in Sallisaw, Oklahoma (little town with a population of about 7000) I saw a beggar standing next to the main road with a "Hungry, will work for food" sign. Well, within about 10 minutes I watched a truck drive up and the driver offered a huge bag full of McDonald's to the beggar. The beggar enthusiastically refused over and over. Then the driver told him to leave the city before he called the cops. Didn't ever see that beggar again.

In Corpus recently, we saw a really nice car pull up to the intersection of SPID and Staples (the busiest intersection in town) and 5 "bums" got out, grabbed their cardboard signs out of the trunk and walked to their various corners. Again, I have no use for their kind anymore.

[seamusTX]

Right next door in the Rivercenter Mall there were at least 2 dozen stores with Now Hiring signs out.

I have been tracking the help-wanted ads in my town for years. Certain business have them in the paper every day, for months. With 10% employment, they should have no unfilled positions by now.

I also am aware of certain companies that post help-wanted ads with no apparent intention of hiring, just to take the pulse of the job market.

- Jim

[Skiprr]

have been tracking the help-wanted ads in my town for years. Certain business have them in the paper every day, for months. With 10% employment, they should have no unfilled positions by now.

I also am aware of certain companies that post help-wanted ads with no apparent intention of hiring, just to take the pulse of the job market.

Amen, brother.

[gregthehand]

I guess I'm not the only one who has started to notice the organized pan handling that is going on in Houston. I live around Westhiemer and the Beltway in the Westchase district and I'm pretty sick of it. I can tell someone who is actually homeless and those that are faking it. How in the heck does someone who is homeless wear nice clean white socks and clothes? There is one certain guy that I always see in such a condition on the East side of Westhiemer and the Beltway (black male, mid to late 40s, has this little hitch in his step that he fakes and just waves vigorously at all the cars).

Also now I'm seeing hordes of them out in orange traffic vests saying they are collecting for this cause or that. I notice the cause never has a website and they probably can't tell you anything about it. There is one group that wears all white suits with stripes on the cuff and a shoulder patch. I have no idea who they are or how legit they are but I see them often looking for the all important hand out. Finally there is one type that I think is some kind of new super panhandling evolution. Over by my office we had this one black male I was sure of being homeless. I mean crazy hair, rags for clothes, and just generally pathetic looking. The one thing I didn't understand was that he didn't seem to stay in the area which is somewhat normal for the ones that are truly homeless. They operate in the area that they sleep in. Anyway one day I'm driving through a shopping center up near I-10 and Wilcrest and I see the same guy getting out of a car! Not some junker either. If memory serves me correctly it was some kind of late model Hyundai. He wasn't wearing his rags either but instead had on a pear of running shorts and a t-shirt. I'm 100% sure it was him because of the crazy hair and I guess he just puts his rags on when he arrives at "work".

[Estand]

Panhandlers for God - Not all street solicitors are created equal – some owe their souls to the company church

This was in print in the Sept 25th Austin Chronicle. You can read it online: http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase ... oid:877530" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
It details about the organized panhandling in Austin which I am betting more than one of the Austin forum members ran into. I know I have.

[boomerang]

Employers don't have to take anyone who is uneducated, can't speak decent English, has a bad attitude,

But they keep doing it.

[seamusTX]

Those employees must be relatives.

I run into them, too.

- Jim

[The Annoyed Man]

Dogs beg, Men dont. End of story