They are here in the suburbs of Houston, and in the places I frequent. So it is definitely a culture shock for me to see this. It makes me feel uncomfortable. The signs that they hold are handwritten on cardboard. Most of them say "please help". I haven't seen any of them say "homeless".
There's a guy who frequents the same spot every day. He has a long beard and his face/hair looks generally unkept. He has a snakeskin cowboy hat that looks expensive. The kicker - he has a puppy with him. I can't figure out if the puppy is there to help him attract more business, or if the puppy is his companion, or what. The puppy has a collar and a leash. I do not see a dog bowl or water dish with this man. The puppy is really cute and likes to chew on the signs.
I have to be honest, my first reaction is, if you can't afford to feed yourself where you have to stand on a corner and hold a cardboard sign that says "please help", why are you taking ownership of another mouth to feed?
Another scenario: Someone that we know stopped at a corner, took out his wallet, and handed a woman holding a sign all of the cash that was in his wallet at the time. The panhandler said to him, "God bless you." He said, "God HAS blessed me. May God bless you." When this individual was questioned about whether or not this woman was a possible drug addict, con artist, etc., (essentially unworthy of the gift of the money) - that person said, "That is not for me to judge."
That really appealed to me. You should never judge a book by its cover. For example, I am an overweight woman. What do people who don't know me think of me when they first see me? That I am lazy, uneducated, and eat uncontrollably? None of that is true about me. So why then do I automatically assume that these people are drug addicts, alcoholics, and con artists?
Here's another thing. There are "organized" panhandlers at the stoplights in the suburbs. They wear bright orange or yellow vests and they walk up and down where the cars are minding their own business, stopped at a stop light. They hold plastic water pitchers filled with change and dollar bills and they are in your face when you're simply stopped at a stop light, driving to your destination.
From the Houston Chronicle: The city of Houston prohibits "aggressive panhandling" as well as appeals within 8 feet of ATMs, parking meters, bus stops, gas pumps and outdoor dining establishments, such as sidewalk cafes.
Most credible organizations will have their solicitors in uniforms and working as a team, with pamphlets or other information to place in contributors' hands. School groups, such as bands and drill teams, have a higher likelihood of legitimacy, Parsons said. (http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Advocate-Not-every-roadside-solicitor-on-the-4813742.php)
This is off-putting to me. The charitable organizations are panhandling? In a way, yes. They are seeking donations from your pocket, just like the not-so- honorable panhandlers are doing.
The difference in my mind, and how I feel, is that these people are in your "personal space" seeking donations. I am referring to the organized groups with the vests on who walk up and down the stopped cars at the stoplights. This is a very new experience for me, and I really don't like it. Yes, I have the option to ignore them and go about my business. The thing that I resent is that I am put in the situation to even have an option to ignore them. I don't want to have to be put in a situation where I need to decide if I am going to ignore them or dig in my pocket for spare change.
So, I have to say I have run into the first thing about Houston I don't like. I guess I need to get used to it? Only time will tell.
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