Case Studies on Homeless People and Scam Artists
Although Americans have lived with homelessness for more than two decades now, the debate about where to place blame--if any--for their situation remains as hotly debated as ever. Begging is as old as human history itself, yet trying to weed out the scam artists playing on people's consciences has become less of a priority for communities seeking to crack down on the practice. With few studies having been commissioned, most of the existing evidence is anecdotal, but even then, some uncomfortable truths tend to emerge.
Other People Are Reading
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History
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Two reasons are cited for not giving money to beggars or panhandlers. One is that they will spend it irresponsibly for items they do not need, such as alcohol, tobacco or other drugs; the other is a suspicion that many are able-bodied scam artists preying on people's emotions. A 2002 survey suggested at least some foundation for the first concern. Fifty-four Toronto panhandlers surveyed claimed to take in $638 per month, of which they spent $200 on food and $192 on alcohol, other drugs and tobacco. A similar 2006 study by outreach workers in downtown Winnipeg, Canada, determined that 3/4 of all contributions went towards tobacco and 2/3 for solvents or alcohol.
Types
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Getting a feel for the number of pure scam artists has proven more difficult, with most information coming from anecdotal data. Not surprisingly, many scammers ply their trade in big cities--which offer a larger potential donor pool while allowing them sufficient anonymity to minimize their fears of getting caught. Common scams range from begging under false pretenses--such as asking for money for bus or gas fare back home--to shining shoes, carrying luggage or other "services" that are performed before the would-be recipient can object. Many scammers focus on bus and train stations, where constantly mobile crowds greatly expand the number of potential victims.
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Features
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Ironically, some scams affect the advocates who are striving to improve people's lives. An October 2006 Boston Globe report found that editors of that city's street newspaper, "Spare Change News," were having to buy aprons for vendors and remind them to wear photo identification. Newspaper officials took these actions to fend off impostors who were reselling used or stolen copies of the paper. In other cases, the bogus vendors claimed to be selling their last copy, and simply asked people for money--a tactic they repeated with the next customer. These problems naturally cast suspicion on the newspaper's efforts to educate its readership and promote its goal of helping homeless people escape their situation.
Considerations
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Other attempts to survey the reach of scam artists have yielded surprising results. In Minneapolis, interviews conducted with panhandlers found a clear correlation between the length of time they had been homeless (averaging 6-1/2 years) and how long they had been on the street. Of the 45 panhandlers surveyed, 27 answered positively when questioned if they would rather work a minimum-wage job. Results of the effort, known as the Minneapolis Panhandling Survey, were credited with convincing the City Council to focus a proposed ordinance on verbal solicitations instead of beggars using signs, who had been the interviewers' main focus.
Effects
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Sadly, the Minneapolis City Council's response has proven exceptional. Weary of trying to tell the difference between the scammers and those with real needs, most communities have simply slapped an outright ban on panhandling--as Chicago has done--or imposed an array of regulations designed to discourage the practice. In 2004, for example, the city of Orlando, Florida required panhandlers to obtain permits from the police department. The ordinance also banned panhandlers from begging in the downtown area, making false statements or spending their donations for a purpose other than the one they had stated. Advocates for the homeless and constitutional-law organizations have denounced these efforts as too vague for their own good and unlikely to dissuade the behavior being targeted.
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Resources
- Photo Credit http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/10/12/scams_hurt_newspapers_mission/
