What can we do to deal with the beggars all over Detroit?

[ragnarok1981]

I don't want to come down on the poor or the homeless, but I think that if Detroit wants to make people like the city and encourage tourism that it really needs to do something about all the homeless not just downtown but all over the city. Downtown it has gotten progressively worse year after year and walking a few blocks from your one place to another you get at times at least 5 or more people asking for money. It is one thing in my opinion to ask for a handout, but lately the guys and sometimes women are getting really aggressive about it and harassing people who don't give them money. In particular there is that one guy who drives me nuts, the guy with the fading red beard who will follow you going "sir, sir, sir, can I have some money for a coney? sir, sir, sir" and he does not stop until you basically scream at him in frustration or relent and give him something. Some of the homeless are clearly in bad health and personally I don't want to get too close because it looks like they have something contagious. When you see someone passed out in a doorway to a office building, or even worse taking a piss on the street or preferably in an alley I think it really makes the city look and quite frankly smell awful [[especially when it gets warm outside). Outside of the downtown area it seems that every major freeway exit/entrance is being staked out by beggers, and at some intersections they are at every corner.

So my question is what do we as a city and community do about this issue? One option talked about in the past was a pan handling ordinance but that does nothing to help solve the homeless problem, it just stops them [[in theory) from begging. Should the city create work programs to employ the homeless and give them jobs? What about those who are clearly in ill health, should we be willing to pay for their health care?
I do not mean this post to be a bitching session about the homeless because they are people too, and have rights, but with that being said I think the problem has a negative effect on the city and needs to be addressed.

[LodgeDodger]

"Sir, Sir" will leave you alone if you intimidate him.

The others? When they ask you for something, just tell them, "No thank you." I'm not sure if it confuses them or if they think I'm a demented old woman.

It works.

[Neilr]

"Sir, Sir" will leave you alone if you intimidate him.

The others? When they ask you for something, just tell them, "No thank you." I'm not sure if it confuses them or if they think I'm a demented old woman.

It works.

I look him/her in the eye and say, "Thank you; but not today." And I keep on walking. And like LD, I find it works.

[Danny]

What to do will all the beggers in Detroit?

1. Let them beg.

2. Provide medical and psychological treatment.

3. Give them housing.

4. Give them a job.

Then the beggers would go away. Until then let them beg and for us to give them some quarters, nickels and dimes.

WORD FROM THE STREET PROPHET

While the rich and the poor in Detroit are divided.

Neda, I miss you so.

[detroitbob66]

"Sir, Sir" will leave you alone if you intimidate him.

The others? When they ask you for something, just tell them, "No thank you." I'm not sure if it confuses them or if they think I'm a demented old woman.

It works.

Thats f*ckin great man! Since I live at Cass Park, I will be able to practice using his theory soon. I always tell them that it is 2010 and I dont carry cash anymore, only plastic! This really works well.

[SWMAP]

"The guy with the fading red beard" - I haven't seen him in awhile walking near washington Blvd. and Fort. I was starting to wonder if he's sick.

[RickBeall]

1. Let them beg.
2. Provide medical and psychological treatment.
3. Give them housing.
4. Give them a job.
5. Give them a full open mouth, lingering French kiss to show that you fully realize that they are human.
6. Give them Danny's address.

[Danny]

1. Let them beg.
2. Provide medical and psychological treatment.
3. Give them housing.
4. Give them a job.
5. Give them a full open mouth, lingering French kiss to show that you fully realize that they are human.
6. Give them Danny's address.

Did you beg someone for some money? I did a long time ago.

[DetLiving]

So, it's ok for you to have Freedom of Speech but not the homeless or the person begging. They have a right to ask, you have a right to say no.

I think it's more about aleaving your quilt when you walk by. Really, how much money have you given them?

[BrushStart]

So, it's ok for you to have Freedom of Speech but not the homeless or the person begging. They have a right to ask, you have a right to say no.

I think it's more about aleaving your quilt when you walk by. Really, how much money have you given them?

It's not about their right to ask or how much I've given them, it's about what I accomplish by giving them money on a daily basis. Where I live seems to draw a lot of beggars, and I usually talk to them, and give out cigarettes and/or money. I don't generalize about them. They are each individual persons with different life stories and some are nice and some are total a**holes. My problem is that I see the same individuals day after day, usually high, drunk, or in withdrawal. I know that when I give them money, they run off to go get messed up. In this sense, I am their enabler. Virtually all of the beggars that I see need more help than $1.27 in pocket change. They need various types of treatment and someone to actually give a shit. Without a serious, live-in treatment center, most of these people will continue to suffer on the streets living penny-to-penny until they die in the gutter of pneumonia or overdose. The biggest sin of my daily handout is continuing that cycle.

[wolverine]

So, it's ok for you to have Freedom of Speech but not the homeless or the person begging. They have a right to ask, you have a right to say no.

I think it's more about aleaving your quilt when you walk by. Really, how much money have you given them?

Ehhh, careful now. If they ask and you say no, and they ask again and follow close by you, it's simple assault. Simple assault is not freedom of speech. It's a misdemeanor. For the most part, 70% of the people I've encountered will accept no for an answer, either by response or simply being ignored. But there's still an agressive bunch out there that will get up in people's faces, and I've seen law enforcement act.

[canuck]

With all the talk about a more sustainable Detroit, isnt there a soylent green plant on the way?

Sorry, couldnt reezisst.

[Bigb23]

So, it's ok for you to have Freedom of Speech but not the homeless or the person begging. They have a right to ask, you have a right to say no.

I think it's more about aleaving your quilt when you walk by. Really, how much money have you given them?

This is the new face of begging. Welcome to the new Millennia.

http://www.wimp.com/deservestip/

[mittengal]

Bailey, you deserve medal for common sense! Here in Seattle the bums have more rights than citizens who work & contribute to the community. I differentiate between homeless & bums. The "professional beggars" are who I refer to as bums. All the free services in the world won't help them unless they are willing to help themselves & they're not willing. They have a sense of entitlement--we should hand them money for their substance abuse, allow them to live on public & private property, & put up with their abuse. They give nothing to the community in return, unless we count trash, broken glass, & bodily waste. Here the police come if called but are only allowed to tell the bums to move on. They will take them to a detox facility only if the bum wants to go. There is no such thing as a drunk tank around here. If a bum is passed out on the street, a paramedic truck & fire truck come out, while people with heart attacks & injuries wait. [[The recession has caused cuts in services here though not like in Detroit) There are so many bleeding heart types in this area--it was a culture shock when I moved here. Bums are not just downtown, they're everywhere, even knocking on doors in residential areas. Some friends [[from Chicago) called the police, who told them there was nothing they could do. Some neighbors were horrifed that they called the police & defended the bums. Once a bum was camped in a parking lot next to where I lived. He threw broken beer bottles in my yard & peed & crapped there too. The police could do nothing. I got rid of him by throwing all his junk [[wearing rubber gloves) in a dumpster when he was gone. He came back & ranted & wrote obsceneties on the side of the building next door, but he went away. I think that's one sorry situation. I could go on but I won't--I think people get the picture. IMO, giving them money is the worse thing to do. Give to a homeless shelter instead. Bleeding hearts, flame away!

[EastSider]

Ship them all to Farmington Hills and other points north.

[R8RBOB]

@ragnarok1981

If you think the panhandlers here in Detroit are bad, you never want to go to San Francisco. They would put the bums here to shame. I agree that we have a problem here with the homeless but we have to mindful that Detroit isn't the worst place in the world. There are other cities who have the same problems as Detroit but Detroit gets flak because we are Detroit.

[MaxDetroit]

@ragnarok1981
If you think the panhandlers here in Detroit are bad, you never want to go to San Francisco. They would put the bums here to shame. I agree that we have a problem here with the homeless but we have to mindful that Detroit isn't the worst place in the world. There are other cities who have the same problems as Detroit but Detroit gets flak because we are Detroit.

Amen. I've recently been to SF, LA & Seattle, places where supposedly the $hit Don't Stink. They have panhandlers all over the place, much more aggressive than the ones here. It isn't unusual to be literally accosted by them. This dirty little secret is swept under the carpet by armies of marketing specialists hired by the tourism industry to continually burnish the city's reputation and make sure the tourism dollars continue to flow.

[stasu1213]

One begger paid me back months after I had given him money. I put it into the collection place. I had tried given the money back to him but he refused. They are people too eventhough some are too aggresive. I hate the new trend where strangers are asking people to borrow people's cell phone. I tell them that I only have minutes for myself. no thank you

[MichiganMan]

This a story about the panhandler in downtown Detroit known as the "Sir Sir" guy.

http://www.npr.org/2013/06/03/186897...unclaimed-dead

http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2013...0c8-s6-c30.jpg[/IMG]

[Kevgoblue]

Aaargghhhh!!!! You beat me to it, EastSider. Great idea. And as LBP is such an incredible executive I'm sure he'll come up with a new highly efficient way to deal with the homeless, all the while preserving their dignity. Maybe a new shelter in the heart of downtown Birmingham.

[DetroitPetanque]

New York has aggressive beggers who "interact" with people constantly - yet there's plenty of tourism in New York. That's the same for Chicago; Los Angeles; and most cities that have a large amount of tourists...

Beggers and homeless people aren't typically physical - though they may at times be vocal. That doesn't seem very threatening... at least not to me, a New Yorker.

Beggers and homeless people don't impact tourism; lack of a reason to visit a city is the problem. If people think that there is no attraction then they won't come to Detroit. If there is a good reason to visit Detroit, people won't care about the aggressive beggers and homeless.

[iheartthed]

New York has aggressive beggers who "interact" with people constantly - yet there's plenty of tourism in New York. That's the same for Chicago; Los Angeles; and most cities that have a large amount of tourists...

Beggers and homeless people aren't typically physical - though they may at times be vocal. That doesn't seem very threatening... at least not to me, a New Yorker.

Beggers and homeless people don't impact tourism; lack of a reason to visit a city is the problem. If people think that there is no attraction then they won't come to Detroit. If there is a good reason to visit Detroit, people won't care about the aggressive beggers and homeless.

Agreed. Detroit beggars are nothing compared to NYC beggars. And in NY they literally make it into an art form. It's a very competitive field.

Heck, even Ann Arbor has a significant beggar population.

[bartock]

Agreed. Detroit beggars are nothing compared to NYC beggars. And in NY they literally make it into an art form. It's a very competitive field.

Heck, even Ann Arbor has a significant beggar population.

Interesting that someone who has asked me to explain things further and provide statistics would use such conjecture to talk about "significant" "beggars" in Ann Arbor.

Let me strongly suggest with the lack of "evidence" you've provided that Ann Arbor's "beggars" are largely different than Detroit's. You have your own opinions about NYC's, which I would not have the direct statistics or personal knowledge to comment on.

[Barbara_10]

Agreed. Detroit beggars are nothing compared to NYC beggars. And in NY they literally make it into an art form. It's a very competitive field.

Heck, even Ann Arbor has a significant beggar population.

I spent 4 days, earlier this month in NYC,granted it was Manhattan, but only saw one homeless person. He was diging through trash cans, and didn't ask anyone for anything.
Where do you see all of them?

[MidTownMs]

Agreed. Detroit beggars are nothing compared to NYC beggars. And in NY they literally make it into an art form. It's a very competitive field.

Heck, even Ann Arbor has a significant beggar population.

You're right about Ann Arbor. When I was a student at U-M the panhandlers said they love panhandling on campus because the students will not only give them money, food and cigarettes they will also sit down and talk to the panhandlers about their classes.