To tell healthy, fit looking, well dressed beggar to get a job?

[duvetcovereddissident]

He is not a local beggar, all of whom I know, and he does not in any way look homeless. He looks to be about 30, healthy and fit, - much fitter than me! Well dressed and clean - much better dressed than me!

He is sitting outside the door to the local supermarket, and put his leg out in front of me as I tried to enter and asked for money.

Less than 6 feet to his left is the door of a cafe, with a sign on it saying "waiter required - apply within". I know those cafe owners, and I am sure that if he had gone in there and asked for a trial shift, rather than settling down outside the supermarket, they would have taken him on for the day to see how he did. They have needed a new waiter for months.

I have every sympathy with homeless and rough sleepers, and people down on their luck. I just think this is a scammer though. He has arrived in the area looking for somewhere to beg, and will probably be going home tonight. He isn't a local man, as I said.

I buy homeless women food and give coins to buskers. Anyone else I say no, I cant sorry.
I don't think you were wrong to do what you did, but men are strong and can be dangerous. So best not to.

You say you have knowledge of homeless shelters? So you must have equal knowledge of the mental health problems many face and that lead them onto the streets? You come across as judgemental and nasty. Get yourself educated on such matters.

OP, you sound like a delight. You know absolutely nothing about this person and yet here you are judging him.

I live in a very affluent area and the town is full of homeless people, not all of them look homeless, but have been there for years. They are known homeless people by the local shelters and the police. One guy sits and reads classic literature and yet is a Heroin addict, but the most polite, articulate man you could speak to. He's homeless by choice, he seems to prefer living on the streets. He doesn't beg, but people know him so give him food and warm clothes etc.

Please don't judge someone until you have walked a mile in their shoes. After all, most of us are a pay check or two from being in the same situation, and you don't suddenly start dressing like a bag lady after becoming homeless.

I'm with you OP. I've seen professional beggars in London, at the end of the day they pack up and their associates come round and collect them.

So what is stopping this guy working? He can stick his leg out aggressively, but can't go next door for a job?

It's not always that simple, don't be so judgemental

Where I live people come to your car demanding money, follow you into the shop too. I hate it. I just say "Sorry I have no cash" on repeat. Don't help anyone anymore. It's really intimidating

If it's sooo easy for a beggar to get a job, why don't you tell those you claim to work with? If the place has been advertising for so long then why didn't you let anyone know?

I’d be really surprised if the cafe just gave him a job on the spot with no proof of ID, no CV, no work experience and no references. It isn’t as easy as you think to just walk into a job like that - certainly not where I live anyway

I've said sorry I have no cash and they have whipped out a card reader!!!

I doubt that they are well dressed, clean, and looking fit, and healthy though. What the OP has described does not sound like a professional beggar.

There's always one who'll defend the shit the OP is spouting.

Experience my arse

And more fool him, can't even be bothered to look the part.

I wonder if he sticks his leg out in front of men that pass him? Or is it just the women?

I think you’ll find him begging isn’t the problem of the cafe owners.

There’s no chance a legitimate business that does things properly is going to give a paid shift - trial or otherwise - to someone who walks in off the street without checking their paperwork.

Haha well said, this was obvious!

run, goats! run!!

I honestly doubt begging on the street earns more than a job as a waiter. It will be a whole lot more complicated than that. Not all beggars are homeless and many are feeding an addiction. Regardless it's a shitty position to be in.

You don't have to give and you are not being unreasonable to feel uncomfortable BUT you are being unreasonable to think he can just get a job instead.

He might have a job and still need to beg though

Oh FFS. Another one.

Who knows? He could have just been adjusting his legs for all I know. The OP hardly sounds like someone whose word I would take for gospel.

Yes, another one that's been round the block a few times and doesn't fly to the "everyone is a precious angel" defence.

It is possible, just possible, that some people are lazy feckers who would rather beg for money than work for it.

But noes, he must have an invisible affliction.

OP, if you had actually worked in homeless shelters before, as you claim, I do not believe for a moment that you would have said what you said, because you would know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it just isn't as simple as looking at someone and deciding that they should go and get a job. I just don't believe you.

This is hilarious. So you would rather construct a multi-layered backstory and complicated present for a person you didn't see in a town you weren't in, than believe someone who came on to Mumsnet for a bit of a moan?

And sticking his left leg in, his left leg out ......

Who said he was homeless?