Homeless Meters - the future is here!

[faceless]

This is just incredible. To stand there on the street and put money in a machine, while the person stands there begging is just a total insult - why then would they want to get back into society? That last idea about giving homeless people credit-card swipers definitely takes the biscuit though!

[pirtybirdy]

It's of my opinion that this is a dumb idea. Coming from New York, I have to say I've never come across an "aggressive panhandler". Have I just been lucky all these years? Most times they are polite when asking for spare change, and I always give some if I have it handy to give. Yes, I may be supporting a habit, but maybe not. Maybe this person needs to eat. I'm not going to miss the loose change. My problem is, I don't trust the agencies to dole it out without putting dopey restrictions on who gets it and how they get it, how much they get. If a guy/gal wants some spare change to buy something strictly for themselves, why not? If they are an alcoholic or a druggy, it's not going to stop them anyway...Only they can stop themselves by wanting to. This smells like another bad idea.

[Brown Sauce]

[Kezza]

A lot of the panhandlers in my area have regular spots - so you know where to find them/recognise them. Instead of giving money (which I don't often have - I use a debit card for just about everything), I often give a bottle of water or buy them a sandwich (for the guy outside of the sandwich shop). But if I have change, yeah, I'll give it.

As for the rest, I often have to say, "No, sorry" but I always try to look them in the eye when I do so because they're human beings and I often think that phrase: "There but for the grace of God.....could've been me." As we all know, people are homeless for a myriad of reasons, not all drug/alcohol related.