Step Up on Second Writers' Anthology

Panhandling: A View from the Streets

In light of the City Of Santa Monica’s recently announced anti-panhandling campaign, the Brainstorm writers group has had several intense and often heated discussions surrounding the subject of panhandling. What I’ve discovered is that panhandling evokes the same array of emotions, arguments, and prejudices in the community of the street as it does in the general population. Here are some of the views from the street. — Phil Glosserman, Brainstorm’s editor and advisor

Why I Hate Panhandlers
By Mike Gutowski

I hate panhandlers. Well, that’s not entirely honest. The truth is I hate the way I feel when confronted by panhandlers.

I hate going to the store every day, and seeing the same people sticking their hands out and giving me that "oh pity me" look!   At the same time I wonder if I am wrong in thinking it.  Am I stingy or heartless? Why do I feel offended when I see another person giving something to a homeless panhandler? Maybe I’m jealous because the panhandler, through the help of the "bleeding hearts," is probably making more money than I do. This thought fills me with shame because someone else has compassion and I feel like a cold, unloving miser!  I struggle with these thoughts every day.

As a devout Christian, I know that Jesus asks that we consider the poor as God's specially beloved people and that the more fortunate among us should help them through our surplus wealth.  The age old question is: Do we give to the hand that is open to us, or do we realize that by giving to a panhandler we may be enabling them?

I came to Santa Monica five years ago; I lived on the streets for a year, but I never had to panhandle.  There are plenty of places where the poor, disabled, and homeless can get help. O.P.C.C. and Step up on Second are the two that helped me.

Overall it's disgraceful that America is doing nothing substantial about the growing problems of poverty and homelessness. Yesterday I gave a panhandler some money and said to him, "Now you should have enough for a twelve pack!"  He surprised me when he told me he didn't drink or do drugs. He said he needed the money for food and that most of the homeless in this country are using their money for such things and that is what is wrong with America!

I will continue trying to give ten percent of my income to my local church in hopes that they will support the various organizations that provide services for the poor and needy. I hope the panhandlers will avail themselves of these services. Meanwhile, I will try to keep my emotions in-check and not rush to judge the panhandlers. 

Confessions of an Ex-Panhandler
By Allan Evans

I am writing this letter to all the well-wishing people who unwittingly gave in to my exaggerations and downright fabrications when I asked for spare change.

You became my enablers. When I was too dropped-down drunk to get my own money to drink, I was handed it by people who actually believed I was hungry…or had a flat tire… or remember my sick dog?

It doesn’t help a sinking ship when you toss another bucket aboard to bail out with. It may slow down the inevitable, but little more. When you gave me money, it was just a little slow down of my painfully quirky slow suicide. I never felt good about it. All my smiles of gratitude were forced.

Don’t get the idea that I didn’t appreciate the thought. I want to make it clear—that in my case anyway—giving me spare change only prolonged the anxiety I was trying to escape. Had nobody given in to me, I would have been forced to realign my life much earlier. It took the better part of two decades for me to see the light clearly enough that I finally put in the necessary effort to get off the streets once and for all. Having someone ready to give up their change is like showing an alcoholic where to get free beer. Please do something else with your change. Too many of us need the nudge to find what we really want.

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