How bad is Pan Handling in both Vancouver and the lower mainland?

[storm rider]

In Calgary it is pretty bad.On a consistent basis when you are waiting at a red light it is routine to have a guy/gal walking between traffic with a cardboard sign asking for money.The CPS has clamped down on this activity with ticketing but it is still widespread.Last thing I want as a motorist is a pan handler who was begging for money to get clipped by me going by and then getting sued.This relates to traffic and driving of course.

The last time I lived in Vancouver I lived and worked in North Vancouver and the only time I took the Sea Bus to Vancouver was for a lodge meeting once per month and I got used to dealing with the panhandlers on Granville.The last time I dealt with a guy asking for food I went into the McDonalds on Granville and bought 3 cheese burgers and gave them to the guy and he snapped on me and said "give me MONEY and not FOOD".....after that I decided to have no pity.

SR

 

[manni]

City of Vancouver should put money into equipping firetrucks with high powered water cannons
such as the ones used to subdue riots. blast water at the riff raffs while making our streets
clean and presentable again. these fuckers need to go.

 

[badbadboy]

It's no worse than similarly sized cities on the West Coast. I'd say Seattle is worse but that's based on being around the downtown Safeco Field, CenturyLink Stadium and Pike Place Market. It's the same as Vancouver in that regard around Rogers Arena, BC Place or east towards Chinatown but I'd give first place to Seattle.

Calgary has always been bad downtown as far back as I can recall.

 

[clu]

Last thing I want as a motorist is a pan handler who was begging for money to get clipped by me going by and then getting sued.

Those last four words really changed the tone of that sentence. I almost thought you were concerned about their well being for a second...

 

[Caramel]

I regularly buy food for them, they all seem to accept it and come and wait for me to get it for them. I can usually tell when someone is on drugs or just homeless, but honestly I don't care...drug addiction hurts just as much as being hungry. But all the ones I've encountered I've bought food when I don't have money or change on me and just a credit card or something. They've been very grateful, but I've come across some picky ones lol, like picky eaters One time I accidentally spent like 20 bucks on a&w because the order was so weird, I was like whatever it's all good it will make someone happy. And if I don't have change or time, I usually have a few dollars winning on a lottery ticket somewhere...

It's not that bad IMO in Surrey, I really do not mind giving it to them, I even do it to the same person on several occasions. But I am not the type to get duped by friends or acquaintances into giving borrowed money and stuff, I am poor myself and never have money hah! Vancouver's probably a different story, and lately I have seen some performers at the skytrain stops, like guitarists or violinists, I definitely try to give to them they deserve it for their talents! One time I was working in downtown at the vancity near hastings and there were homeless people sleeping on the sidewalks, I almost tripped over them a few times

 

[storm rider]

It's no worse than similarly sized cities on the West Coast. I'd say Seattle is worse but that's based on being around the downtown Safeco Field, CenturyLink Stadium and Pike Place Market. It's the same as Vancouver in that regard around Rogers Arena, BC Place or east towards Chinatown but I'd give first place to Seattle.

Calgary has always been bad downtown as far back as I can recall.

Actually downtown Calgary is not that bad these days....hell you encounter more people that work for corporate charities that try to get you to donate via public shaming.....pretty bad that corporate charities do this but they are a business really.The people in the top slots of the charities make 7 figure salaries and at the same time they distribute 15 cents on the dollar donated to the people they purport to "help"....the other 85 cents goes to "adminstration costs"

Personally I give nothing to pan handlers.....sorry my pay check I work for 12 hours a day 5 days a week did not come with any "spare" money.....just what I worked for and I foolishly need to spend that on bills/food etc since I worked for it.

SR

 

[SeekSteadyRegSP]

It's no worse than similarly sized cities on the West Coast. I'd say Seattle is worse but that's based on being around the downtown Safeco Field, CenturyLink Stadium and Pike Place Market. It's the same as Vancouver in that regard around Rogers Arena, BC Place or east towards Chinatown but I'd give first place to Seattle.

Ha! You should acquaint yourself with Portland.

 

[J-Dogg]

Its not the passive ones you need to worry about...it's the aggressive scammers on Granville from the Children's Joy Foundation

 

[MissingOne]

Last time I was in the evil city, I was on a bus when a drunk basically ran in front of the bus to force the driver to stop and pick him up. The guy got on without paying but didn't really bother anybody. Just went to sleep. He and I got off at the same stop. I went into a coffee shop and he hung around outside the place. A very nice woman noticed him out there. She bought a drink and some food and took it out to him. He turned down the food and drink, who knows why, but I really admired the woman for doing it.

The guy came into the coffee shop a couple of times, walked through from door to door looking at everyone, and went back outside. Strange behaviour, but harmless I guess.

When I see guys like that I realize that, were it not for having had some very good luck in my life, I could be in similar straits.

 

[luvsdaty]

I hand out cash, gloves , toques, food. They're just people trying to get through life just like you and me, no reason to hate them or look down on them.
Even with addiction issues and theft. I've had my truck broken into , and while it maybe an inconvenience to me it's just a petty little thing in the grand scheme of things. Having had loved ones in the grasp of addiction i have empathy for them and especially their loved ones.
It's a social issue that can be treated but they tend to be socities whipping boys and forgotten people.

 

[jamasianman]

I used to give change but then I stopped. I offer to buy them food now, and sometimes they are extremely rude. I offer a granola bar, he demands McDonald's. I'm walking into a Save on Foods to get chinese food for dinner, I offer, he demands we go all the way to McDonald's. If a person has so many offers they can say no to certain foods they dislike, like granola bars, fruit etc, healthy stuff and hold out for fast food, then they aren't as hungry as we think. The big city has given me rougher edges when it comes to people who ask for money. Some of them get in your face and keep asking.

 

[badbadboy]

I used to give change but then I stopped. I offer to buy them food now, and sometimes they are extremely rude. I offer a granola bar, he demands McDonald's. I'm walking into a Save on Foods to get chinese food for dinner, I offer, he demands we go all the way to McDonald's. If a person has so many offers they can say no to certain foods they dislike, like granola bars, fruit etc, healthy stuff and hold out for fast food, then they aren't as hungry as we think. The big city has given me rougher edges when it comes to people who ask for money. Some of them get in your face and keep asking.

Celina Rai said she handed out $5 McDonalds gift coupons. Seems like a great idea to me.

 

[CanineCowboy]

Personally, I have nothing against poor people and don't feel like I can judge other peoples life circumstances. Like luvsdaty, I know people who have struggled. Two people that I know of, started struggling from schizophrenia post highschool, their families were unable to cope with them and both have ended up living in SROs and are chronically poor. Is that their fault?

I give something when I can, a couple of bucks if I have it, or a beer if I am walking out of the liquor store, it is just about compassion.