Comments on: Positive Panhandling – Is Information As Valuable As Cash? http://dissociatedpress.com/2010/08/positive-panhandling-is-information-as-valuable-as-cash/ Fri, 04 Jul 2014 04:16:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: admin http://dissociatedpress.com/2010/08/positive-panhandling-is-information-as-valuable-as-cash/#comment-2215 admin Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:05:41 +0000 http://dissociatedpress.com/?p=2446#comment-2215 I'm glad you mentioned the transportation issue Kristin. It's amazing that Ann Arbor's transit system is so useless to those who need it most, especially given the amount of funds they have at their disposal. I'm gonna try my crazy idea; I've gotten some interesting emails on the topic. And regarding the woman I was describing? I have a strong hunch it was heroin. I've experienced the results of THAT enough for one life, and she had most of the basic traits of a junky... I’m glad you mentioned the transportation issue Kristin. It’s amazing that Ann Arbor’s transit system is so useless to those who need it most, especially given the amount of funds they have at their disposal.

I’m gonna try my crazy idea; I’ve gotten some interesting emails on the topic.

And regarding the woman I was describing? I have a strong hunch it was heroin. I’ve experienced the results of THAT enough for one life, and she had most of the basic traits of a junky…

]]> By: kristin http://dissociatedpress.com/2010/08/positive-panhandling-is-information-as-valuable-as-cash/#comment-2214 kristin Mon, 30 Aug 2010 03:36:44 +0000 http://dissociatedpress.com/?p=2446#comment-2214 this is fascinating to me, too. your story about the panhandling woman is just as compelling to me as the experiment that was done with giving out debit cards. as someone who works with people in economic stress, i don't think there is an easy answer. one of the difficulties that comes with giving the resource cards out is access to these resources. does the person have transportation and/or a phone? we do have an okay bus system in this area, but full fare one way is a buck fifty. there are "minute phones" that are available to people who otherwise couldn't afford one, but one intake with an agency could eat up monthly minutes. the idea of re-marketing one's panhandling strategy is done, i imagine, more often by the panhandlers than we think. i don't think offering sanitizer is the way to go. i think the idea that you started with - giving to others has it's own reward - is enough (at least for me). i do think that the chronically poor do need assistance in learning how to get jobs - any jobs. there are programs in the area that do help with getting a resume together to send online, but what i'm seeing is needed is someone to help with polishing resumes, cover letters, and helping the person become employable (this is broad, but it covers things like dress, punctuality, etiquette, follow-through). i admire that panhandler's willingness to show her desperation with you. i just wonder where the desperation springs from. this is fascinating to me, too. your story about the panhandling woman is just as compelling to me as the experiment that was done with giving out debit cards. as someone who works with people in economic stress, i don’t think there is an easy answer. one of the difficulties that comes with giving the resource cards out is access to these resources. does the person have transportation and/or a phone? we do have an okay bus system in this area, but full fare one way is a buck fifty. there are “minute phones” that are available to people who otherwise couldn’t afford one, but one intake with an agency could eat up monthly minutes.

the idea of re-marketing one’s panhandling strategy is done, i imagine, more often by the panhandlers than we think. i don’t think offering sanitizer is the way to go. i think the idea that you started with – giving to others has it’s own reward – is enough (at least for me).

i do think that the chronically poor do need assistance in learning how to get jobs – any jobs. there are programs in the area that do help with getting a resume together to send online, but what i’m seeing is needed is someone to help with polishing resumes, cover letters, and helping the person become employable (this is broad, but it covers things like dress, punctuality, etiquette, follow-through).

i admire that panhandler’s willingness to show her desperation with you. i just wonder where the desperation springs from.

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