[PinkString]

Every time we go to the east side of town, we get approached in parking lots, people asking for money. It's like a car comes into the parking lot, us, and people start walking towards us like the walking dead, only a little faster, all asking for money.
Several of these people I see each time we go to that area of town.

Also, the Trader Joes parking lot at O'bannon/Decatur, always someone trolling for money. A guy driving, his wife with no teeth at all, and 3 scraggly dirty kids in the backseat. Since I've seen them there 3 times now, I think they do this for a living. They get a little aggressive sometimes. I guess they figure since we can buy food there, we just have extra for them. I don't think so.

I think the panhandling/homeless will only increase as more and more people become homeless when they can't find work. Many do it for a living and probably pull in a really good yearly income, why would they want a real job?

[mojavedxer]

Every time I come out of Albertsons or Savon in my area. My bum radar goes off and I can see them coming out of hiding like roaches and I am their prime panhandling victim. Yesterday while at the Arby’s for an early lunch. A white male approached me to buy his lunch while drinking the serving cups of some condiment. When I told him to f@ck off. He threatened to light me up if I did not buy the combo meal he had requested. METRO later took him away for free lunch at County Detention Center.

[jfkIII]

These stories seem shocking to me...the frequnecy of it happening there.

[tom_c]

Originally Posted by vegas2005

How can I get involved with that? I would like to start volunteering in the community too.

Its time for those of us that are "well off" to step it up a bit. That piece inspired me to get up off my ass and do something for others.

Blog: My Goodness: Trying to Volunteer | The Responsibility Project by Liberty Mutual


Las Vegas Volunteer - Google Search

Volunteer Center-Southern


*|*CASA Las Vegas


Volunteers of America

Volunteer Center of Southern Nevada (http://www.volunteercentersn.org/HomePage/index.php/home.html - broken link)

Civil Air Patrol - United States Air Force Auxiliary


There's just a few ideas.

[vegas2005]

Originally Posted by tom_c

Blog: My Goodness: Trying to Volunteer | The Responsibility Project by Liberty Mutual


Las Vegas Volunteer - Google Search

Volunteer Center-Southern


*|*CASA Las Vegas


Volunteers of America

Volunteer Center of Southern Nevada (http://www.volunteercentersn.org/HomePage/index.php/home.html - broken link)

Civil Air Patrol - United States Air Force Auxiliary


There's just a few ideas.

thanks for the links!

[JohnG72]

Originally Posted by PinkString

Every time we go to the east side of town, we get approached in parking lots, people asking for money. It's like a car comes into the parking lot, us, and people start walking towards us like the walking dead, only a little faster, all asking for money.
Several of these people I see each time we go to that area of town.

Also, the Trader Joes parking lot at O'bannon/Decatur, always someone trolling for money. A guy driving, his wife with no teeth at all, and 3 scraggly dirty kids in the backseat. Since I've seen them there 3 times now, I think they do this for a living. They get a little aggressive sometimes. I guess they figure since we can buy food there, we just have extra for them. I don't think so.

I think the panhandling/homeless will only increase as more and more people become homeless when they can't find work. Many do it for a living and probably pull in a really good yearly income, why would they want a real job?

I think there is also a fair amount of people who come to Vegas with literally no clue of one or both of the following:

-Exactly how hard it is to find a job, particularly when one possessess no real skills.
-Exactly how hard life can be if you're the type to succumb to one of a variety of vices.

I think some of these people may run through a meagar/non existant savings quite quickly and begging money and preying off bleeding hearts comes second hand quite rapidly.

[rentmax]

Originally Posted by mojavedxer

Every time I come out of Albertsons or Savon in my area. My bum radar goes off and I can see them coming out of hiding like roaches and I am their prime panhandling victim. Yesterday while at the Arby’s for an early lunch. A white male approached me to buy his lunch while drinking the serving cups of some condiment. When I told him to f@ck off. He threatened to light me up if I did not buy the combo meal he had requested. METRO later took him away for free lunch at County Detention Center.

Damn. That was you majave.

Sorry 'bout that. All I wanted was the Bacon Cheddar combo

[samsite]

I think bums in SF and Las Vegas can recognize out of towners, and that is the people they target most. Although SF is infested with homeless on market street and the Tenderloin, they seldom approach me because I just grew up in the city and I guess they can sense it. However, since I'm new to Vegas,the bumbs can reconize that I'm not from around here and target me. I usually get asked for change about once every 2-3 weeks.

I've also noticed bumbs who aren't dressed that bad, but are beggin for money, telling me that they just need a few more bucks to fill their gas or pay for a hotel.

And there is this guy on Lamb and Nellis who limps around, but walks normal after his pan handling shift is over.

[unf0rgiven6262]

The scammers are the visible homeless. There are droves of truly homeless people rotting in unseen areas trying to do the best they can. There's a guy around here that spends all day going from dumpster to dumpster pulling out old cans of dirty garbage. Not everyone can just up and decide to stop being homeless. Not even McDonalds is going to hire someone with no address that smells horrible. Not everyone is mentally ill either. Although I suspect similar to prison, it's quite easy to develop a mental illness when you're literally thrown into the s**t. Not for nothing but I'd be buying booze too if I was homeless.

Most people are correct in saying that if you want to help, stop giving cash to people making begging their career. Nobody in their right mind is going to give up anywhere from $30-100+ a day in easy money for a crap job that takes away their freedom and pays less. If you want to help, support shelters, mental health funding and education. Volunteer in any number of places or at the very least offer food/shelter and not money.

[vegas2005]

Reminds me of the day I was in my car, having lunch...

some young kid, in a bike, knocks on my door and wants to know if I have some money. This kid was cocky about it too. I couldn't bel. it.

Well, I almost got out of my car and punched him in the mouth. Lucky for him, I was having a good day, and politely told him to get the **** away from my car.