“Little Jake asked, “Did you hear what happened to me? I was panning in front of the pharmacy. This fat woman panhandler told me to move. Lots of people pan there. It’s not her spot, so I waved her away and said, ‘Fuck off. get out of my face. Anyone can pan here.’ That was one day. The next day when she saw me she flagged down a cop. She said that I had verbally assaulted her then stood up and kicked her in the stomach. I didn’t lay a finger on her. Now I have to go to court. Can you imagine that, a panhandler calling the cops on another panhandler. That’s just wrong.”- Court Appearances
Who the hell thought this was a good idea? Using jail or the threat of jail to collect debts from individuals who are too poor to pay? Incarcerating individuals does not address the bigger issues of individuals sleeping in parks, their unemployment, or their level of education. I also can’t help but wonder if giving these individuals money without providing resources to help them find low income housing, employment or understand the basic fundamentals of budgeting and banking causes that cycle of homelessness to just continue.
Real Life of an MSW 
I don’t know what panhandling is, but this seems definitely wrong
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Panhandling is an American term for begging. Thank you for reading.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=panhandling
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What a sad story 😦
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Hi, thanks for reblogging this. I generally don’t give money to panhandlers. I carry $5.00 meal cards that can be redeemed at a local restaurant chain (Tim Horton’s). There are other panhandlers who don’t drink, smoke or use drugs. To them I’ll give a $5.00 bill. Most of these people are on fixed disability, or old age pension — enough money to cover rent and housing expenses but not enough for food.
I have visited these friends on a near daily basis for the past six years. Their circumstances, education, health, family upbringing and job skills vary, but they have all been victims of abuse.
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It’s is a great post and a serious social issue that needs to be addressed. I stop giving money to panhandlers. A while back I was verbally assaulted by one who thought I was trying rip him off, due to my not knowing the price of the local homeless paper went up. This has, however, not stopped me from purchasing water for innocent pets or verbally sharing local resources like free meals and food bank locations.
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Reblogged this on Real Life of an MSW.
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