Homelessness Ettiquette

8/12/2019 Homelessness Ettiquette

1/12

Peter Santoyo

15 May 2014

Homeless Etiquette: How To Treat Homelessness, Giving To The Homeless, Deciphering

Between The Homeless and Funding a Panhandler

After a long day at work and paying bills I find myself exhausted with a few dollars

ready to buy myself a beer and relax for the rest of the night. I start driving to the store. I’m at a

red light playing music with my windows rolled down. Then I suddenly hear an abrupt loud

voice, “Hey!” “Yes”, I tell what seems to be a homeless man. “Could you spare some money I

am really hungry?” the homeless man says. I think to myself “I only have a few dollars and I

really wanted that cold beer ” but my conscious kicks in and I figure feeding this man is worth

more than getting myself a beer. So I give the homeless man my money, only to find him later

that night drinking a beer, which was probably bought with the money I gave him. Wow! I was

so furious and felt so stupid. I was bamboozled. I am pretty sure that, like me there are many

others that have gone through this.

What is homelessness? Homelessness can mean not having a permanent home or not

having the means to provide for your nourishment or health needs. According to the U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services, homelessness is defined as “an individual who lacks

housing (without regard to whether the individual is a member of a family), including an

individual whose primary residence during the night is a supervised public or private facility

(e.g., shelters) that provides temporary living accommodations, and an individual who is a

resident in transitional housing ( National Health Care for the Homeless Council, 2014).”

Homelessness can mean a lot of things but to me homelessness means suffering,


2/12

malnourishment, pain, heartache, alienation, feeling alone, and being bullied, yes I did say being

bullied and you will see why further down.

Homelessness is a big issue locally and nationally. According to the U.S. Census Bureau

as of 2007 in Las Vegas there were about 11,417 homeless individuals and in 2009 there were an

estimated 13,338 homeless individuals, this is a 16.8% increase (Harsin, 2013). Homelessness

apparently is still on the rise. The U.S. Census Bureau also indicates that there are 20 homeless

people per 10,000 people in the nation as of 2012 (Harsin, 2013). That is a superfluous amount

of homeless individuals. According to Mathew O’ Brien there is almost a city beneath Las Vegas

of homeless individuals living in our storm drains, this alone should heighten your sense of

urgency to this matter.

Some people show little to no concern about homelessness here in the city of Las Vegas,

NV. Yet, I think everyone should be concerned with this issue. Homelessness can be seen in

almost any side of town you decide to go to. I see homeless indiv-

Figure 1 There are many homeless individuals roaming the Las Vegas streets


3/12

iduals at least twice a day. As well as I there are many others that experience the same. We need

to be more concerned about the things that are in occurrence in our lives. Some of us don’t or do

give to these apparent homeless individuals and don’t even think about what we are doing or

whom these people may really be.

Homelessness is a touchy issue. How do we treat a homeless individual? How should we

act when around them? When a homeless individual approaches us how should we react? With

all these questions in mind just remember that even though an individual is homeless, they aren’t

much different from you and I. A homeless individual by the name of John told me in an

interview that, “ being homeless does not mean that we seize to be human or that we no longer

have human needs.” What John told me impacted me. What john said was true. How often do we

go around seeing these homeless individuals and see them as something different then what we

are. We need to remember that homeless individuals are someone’s: son, daughter, aunt, uncle,

friend, or brother just like you and I. Sometimes people forget this and treat them as if they are

dogs or something unrelated to our species. I know homelessness can cause mixed emotions but

we have to remember that homeless people are just like us. So how should you treat a homeless

individual? Treat Homeless people just as you would like to be treated. Be polite when speaking

to a homeless individual they have feeling as well. Also homeless doesn’t mean dumb, many

homeless individuals are educated just like you and I. Some homeless individuals even have

degrees and are in this situation due to multiple bad situations they couldn’t help. Don’t assume

you have to dumb down to speak to homeless individuals.

Earlier in this article I articulated an experience that happened to me. I was panhandled.

As well as the population of homeless individuals the population of panhandlers has risen. What

are panhandlers? Panhandlers are people that find ways of cheating you out of your money.


4/12

There are many panhandlers that dress up as homeless individuals to make a profit. I personally

dislike panhandlers. They take our money without really being in need and soil the reputation of

those who really are in need. How do I know? Well, I lived on the east side of Las Vegas a few

blocks from the Las Vegas Strip. Where I lived there were many panhandlers. People that lived

maybe a block from my house that when they weren’t on the streets dressed as homeless

individuals asking for handouts they would be walking around the block in clothes nicer than

mine and in shoes more expensive than I could afford, listening to their IPods. I worked hard for

my money so these immoral people can enjoy it to the fullest. This just does not seem right.

There have been reports of some panhandlers making well over $50,000 a year, that’s more than

a lot of teachers here in Las

Vegas (Greene, 1997). (We’re

not going to get into teacher’s

wage, that’s a whole other issue.)

Even homeless individuals

dislike these people; because of

them people tend to not donate to

those really in need.

Panhandlers are not just

immoral but they are dangerous

and a nuisance. Panhandlers have

negative affects on businesses.

Panhandlers drive business away

Figure 2 This John (on the right) and Billy Ray (on the left).


5/12

from businesses, scaring people and pestering patrons (Reports, 2006). Panhandlers are very

dangerous. There has been a case in which a tourist here in Las Vegas was stabbed to death by a

panhandler for not giving him the amount of money he wanted (Bates, 1996). John the homeless

man that I interviewed told me that they tend to stay away from panhandlers, as they are very

hostile even towards actual homeless individuals. Carl graves a homeless man I interviewed said,

“ It really sucks, people don’t like to help our kind because of panhandlers and the worst part is

that I really need the money at times when I need to feed my diabetic wife.”

What can we do about panhandlers? Nothing, this is what I found. The best thing to do is

to be well informed on how to decipher between panhandlers and actual homeless individuals.

There are laws being put into affect to get rid of panhandlers (Greene, 1997). There are many

procedures being put into place to get rid of panhandlers, some gas stations in Las Vegas play a

message that helps with this problem through out the day (Greene, 1997). The message tells

patrons not to give any money to people on the premises (Greene, 1997). The only bad thing is

that some of these things are actually hurting those really in need as well.

To donate or not to donate this often seems to be a popular question. Many people just

seem to just not donate on account that they don’t even know who they would be donating to.

For all you know the person you donate to could just be a panhandler like we discussed earlier.

All I can say is, don’t let panhandlers ruin it f or those who are really in need! Some of these

individuals in need are really great people that only wish to survive and provide for others that

can’t help themselves. I spent a day interviewing homeless people around the city and I met

plenty of kind and interactive individuals. I first met Carl Graves and Monica Salas a homeless

couple. They told me that they had been homeless for more than three years. Carl told me about

the hardships that he encountered day by day taking care of his diabetic wife as he coped with his


6/12

schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder (mental diseases in my mind are very serious and should not

be taken lightly). I asked him if they preferred the homeless lifestyle and he told me, no, that no

one would even think about giving him a job due to his illnesses. Carl told me that because he

had been incarcerated that he was alienated from his family and could not come to them for help.

“ It’s hard out here, It’s hard getting used to the weather, everyday I risk being jumped and

beaten I really don’t like the way I live but because I have this hernia that I need surgery for and

my old age I can’t find work so I collect cans to survive in which I get stolen from at least once

every two weeks” said Billy Ray. Billy Ray is a 51-year-old homeless man that needs medical

attention and can’t obtain any because he tells me that between all the paperwork and the lack of

funds for transportation it’s nearly impossible to obtain medical help for his severe hernia. As I

continued interviewing homeless individuals I later met Brandy, she claimed to be a homeless

prostitute.

Figure 3 Women face many dangers when homeless.


7/12

I asked Brandy to tell me why she prostitutes and some of the stuff she faces day by day and she

told me, “Well I never wished to be a prostitute but it seems like it’s the only way I can obtain

money to feed myself and keep some sort of roof over my head, I have to deal with being raped

constantly and I am beaten ever so often, I really hate this but I just can’t escape these

predicaments.”

Brandy brought up a big issue that people are not aware of and that is that many homeless

women often face prostitution, exploitation, and abuse (Radley, 2006). “ I died once but they

won’t let me stay dead, (referring to medics) I died for four minutes after resuscitating I figured

that this is the way life was meant to be for me” this is what Robert Carbalo a 69 year old

homeless man told me. Robert told me he

died from a stress-induced heart attack.

Robert says he now takes life day by day

trying not to stress about his situation and

hoping to God that one day he will be

better off. People like this really opened

my heart and made me realize that we

need to help those in need. Just think about

it. In the summer we get well over 100

degrees Fahrenheit and in the winter we

get into freezing temperatures. Homeless

individuals have no roof to protect them

from these conditions. When it’s hot they

Figure 4 This is Robert (on the right) and I (on the left).


8/12

are in the streets. When it’s cold they are in the streets. I know what you may think, “ Well, what

about homeless shelters?” If you ask this, just remember the numbers I discussed about earlier

and how many homeless shelters you know of in Las Vegas. Do you really think we can fit all

our homeless people in the minute amount of shelters Las Vegas provides. Just think about what

I just stated. Some of these homeless individuals also have kids. Las Vegas also has a large

population of homeless children. Can you imagine children going through these same hardships?

Did you know that homeless children tend to develop psychological issues and often become

delinquents (Markos, 2003)? If we donated more we can contribute to providing a better

environment for children. I like to live by a personal motto that kind of goes something like, “ If

we can help someone, than maybe it should be our job to help them.” We can help many of these

people like Robert, Billy, and Brandy so why don’t we?

Maybe you do want to help homeless people in need but can’t decipher between

homeless individuals and panhandlers. Let me help you. In an interview I asked Matt O’ Brien

the author of Beneath The Neon Lights, what he thought would be the best way to decipher

between homeless individuals in need and panhandlers he responded, “ It seems that panhandlers

always pref er money so don’t donate money to individuals give them socks, water, or food,

individuals in need will appreciate anything you give them.” Matt also said, “ get to know them,

talk to a homeless individual and let them tell you about themselves this will help you know who

you are donating to” I agree on that one, when I was out interviewing I found that many

homeless individuals were very nice and did not have a problem conversing with me. A very

crucial thing to deciphering between homeless individuals that I hadn’t mentioned is that in my

experience on the streets interviewing homeless individuals, I noticed that many of these

homeless individuals in need hardly ever asked me for money. Many homeless individuals told


9/12

me the same thing that they don’t like to ask for things because they would rather work for it. I

came across a big thing to deciphering between individuals really in need and panhandlers. It

seems that panhandlers are always asking for handouts and scheming new stories to get you to

give them money as real

individuals in need won’t and

keep to themselves. So just

keep this in mind. Another

thing is that you don’t have to

directly donate to a homeless

individual, you can donate to a

charity. I know, you maybe thinking some of these charities are just as bad as panhandlers but

just know that that there are charity watchdog organizations that can inform you well of a charity

just look some up (Szper, 2011). Also you can donate your time to help at a soup kitchen as well,

this is also a good form of helping. It’s maybe best for people to donate through organizations

because something I hadn’t mentioned is that it can get kind of dangerous donating directly on

the streets. Understand some of these individuals are desperate and act as such, so be careful.

In the next page I will be providing a listing of local charities in Las Vegas and their

numbers. Not every charity will be listed but I will provide a copious amount. Remember we are

not helping homeless individuals. We are helping fellow human beings. “ If we are able to help,

then maybe, just maybe it is our job to do so.” Also don’t forg et to look up charity watchdog

organizations so that you can be more informed on the different charities. Together we can make

a difference in these people’s lives.

Figure 5 This is a picture of a man giving to the homeless.


10/12

Charities Name: phone number:

God In Me (702)-285-7797

Safe Nest For Women (702)-646-4981

Las Vegas Rescue Mission (702)-382-1766

EOB Project HOME (702)-647-3307

Salvation Army PATH (702)-639-0277

Salvation Army Las Vegas, Nevada (702)-399-4403

The Shade Tree For Women (702)-385-0072

Parson’s Place (702)-383-0847

Family Promise Of Las Vegas (702)-638-8806

Curcarlin House (702)-836-9046

Nevada Homes For Youth (702)-380-2889

Women’s Development Center (702)-796-7770

Innovative Concept Transitional Housing, Inc. (702)-689-1508

Nevada Partnership For Homeless Youth (888)-907-7888

Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada (702)-385-2662


11/12

Works Cited

Bates, Warren. "Panhandler Sentenced for Deadly Encounter." Las Vegas Review - Journal Nov

16 1996: 0. ProQuest. 4 Apr. 2014 .

Greene, Susan. "PRESSURE ON PANHANDLERS." Las Vegas Review - Journal Jan 03 1997:

0. ProQuest. 4 Apr. 2014.

Harsin, Stephen. City of Las Vegas. 2013 Web. 14 Apr. 2014. Markos, Patricia A., and Nichole

R. Lima. "Homelessness In The United States And Its Effect Onchildren." Guidance

& Counseling 18.3 (2003): 118-124. Academic Search Premier . Web. 15 May 2014.

National Health Care for the Homeless Council. 2014. Web. 4 Apr. 2014.

O’Brien, Matthew. Beneath The Neon: Life and Death in the Tunnels of Las Vegas. Las Vegas:

Huntington Press, 2007.Print.

"Panhandlers." Los Angeles Times (pre-1997 Fulltext) Dec 11 1994: 4. ProQuest. 4 Apr. 2014.

"Panhandlers." Los Angeles Times (pre-1997 Fulltext) May 30 1988: 6. ProQuest. 4 Apr.

2014.Web.

Radley, Alan, Darrin Hodgetts, and Andrea Cullen. "Fear, Romance And Transience In The

Lives Of Homeless Women." Social & Cultural Geography 7.3 (2006): 437-461.

Academic Search Premier . Web. 15 May 2014.

Reports, Staff. "Panhandlers." Tulsa World Jun 30 2006: 0. ProQuest. 4 Apr. 2014.

Review-Journal. "Gas Station Warns of Panhandlers." Las Vegas Review - Journal Jun 16 1994:

0. ProQuest. 4 Apr. 2014 .

Robinson, Catherine. "Homelessness Felt." Cultural Studies Review 15.1 (2009): 167-72.

ProQuest. 4 Apr. 2014 .

Scott, Cathy. "Las Vegas neon streets: more people call them home." Christian Science Monitor


12/12

02 Aug. 2001: 2. MasterFILE Premier . Web. 15 May 2014.

Szper, Rebecca, and Aseem Prakash. "Charity Watchdogs And The Limits Of Information-Based

Regulation." Voluntas: International Journal Of Voluntary & Nonprofit Organizations

22.1 (2011): 112-141. Academic Search Premier . Web. 15 May 2014.

Thompson Jr, Ronald G., et al. "Substance-Use Disorders And Poverty As Prospective Predictors

Of First-Time Homelessness In The United States." American Journal Of Public Health

103.S2 (2013): S282-S288. Business Source Elite. Web. 4 Apr. 2014.

Homelessness Ettiquette

Documents

Transcript of Homelessness Ettiquette