Panhandling

What is panhandling? Panhandling is “to accost passers-by on the street and beg from them” also known as begging. It is common to see many homeless begging on the streets, trains, train platforms, or outside of restaurants for spare change or leftover food because they have no other source of money.

In large cities such as Chicago, Illinois, signs are posted on the streets stating that panhandling is banned. The only way panhandlers can obtain money from begging is by getting a permit from the municipal police department. It is considered a crime if they beg within 50 feet from an ATM or make untrue statements when requesting for money.

But, on the other hand, certain countries like India encourage begging. There are families that are continuing their generation as panhandlers. Some even “employ” younger and newer beggars to beg for money. In Europe, there are organized gangs that send out members to the public to beg for money.

There is a lot of criticism of how the homeless spend the money received from panhandling. Many critics refuse to offer them money because of the fear that they will use the money irresponsibly for unnecessary items like drugs or alcohol. During 2002, studies shows that homeless beggars in Toronto earn an average monthly income of $638. Further studies illustrates that three-quarters of the panhandlers population spend their money on drugs and tobacco while two-thirds spend it on alcohol.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5231022.stm