Hide Transcript Show Transcript

WEBVTT JOINS US LIVE IN THE STUDIO.REPORTER: THE THEORY IS THATWHILE THE ECONOMY HAS BEENIMPROVING, IT GENERALLY HASN'TBENEFITTED THOSE WITH THE LOWESTINCOMES.AND THERE ARE JUST NOT ENOUGHEMERGENCY RESOURCES TO HELP.SO, ENTER PANHANDLING, WHICHADVOCATES FOR THE HOMELESS SAYMAKES US ALL FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE,AND THEY ADD -- IT SHOULD.THERE ARE CERTAIN ROADWAYS WHEREYOU KNOW YOU WILL SEE THEM.STANDING IN BUSY INTERSECTIONS,PACING MEDIAN STRIPS, ASKING YOUWITH THEIR CARDBOARD SIGNS ANDTHEIR EYES FOR HELP.WE MET RYAN ON NORTH AVENUE.HE SAYS HE SLEEPS IN ANABANDONED VEHICLE AND IS AGRADUATE OF MICA.>> I'M TRYING TO DO WHAT I CANTO SURVIVE.REPORTER: DOWNTOWN, WE METMICHAEL.>> I DONE HAD PEOPLE SAY, GETTHE F OUT OF MY FACE, F.U.,STUFF LIKE THAT.OTHER THAN THAT, I STILL SAYHAVE A NICE DAY AND KEEP MOVING.REPORTER: HOMELESS, HE BEGGEDFOR $49.77 TO PAY FOR THISMONTHLY STORAGE UNIT.IT KEEPS HIS BEDDING DRY AND HISSHOPPING CART SAFE.>> I'D RATHER WORK FOR IT OR NOTASK, BECAUSE IT MAKES MYSELF-ESTEEM FEEL LOW.REPORTER: IT IS DIFFICULT TOQUANTIFY THE NUMBER OFPANHANDLERS, WHO EXPERTS SAYPROVIDE THE MOST VISIBLE IMAGEOF HOMELESSNESS AND POVERTY.BALTIMORE CITY IS IN THE MIDSTOF ITS ANNUAL COUNT, BUTOFFICIALS ESTIMATE THAT ON ANYGIVEN NIGHT MORE THAN 2500PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS.GENE LIVES IN THIS TENT.>> I'M ON THE HOUSING LIST.BUT THEY SAID EIGHT OR SEVENYEARS.REPORTER: KEVIN LINDAMOOD RUNSHEALTH CARE FOR THE HOMELESS.HE DISCOURAGES THE TENDENCY TOGENERALIZE THE REASON SOMEONEHAS TAKEN TO PUBLIC BEGGING.>> WE HEAR IT ALL THE TIME.MOST OF THE PEOPLE ARE ON DRUGS,MOST HAVE A MENTAL ILLNESS.THAT'S NONETHELESS AN INDIVIDUALIN NEED OF HELP AND CARE.BY ENGAGING IN A CONVERSATION,MAYBE YOU CAN HELP CONNECT THATPERSON TO THE CARE THEY NEED.REPORTER: AND WHAT ABOUT THEISSUE OF MONEY?TO GIVE OR NOT TO GIVE.LINDAMOOD SAYS THAT IS A VERYPERSONAL DECISION.>> THERE ARE SOME TIMES WHEN YOUSHOULD AND THERE MAY BESOMETIMES WHEN YOU SHOULDN'T.BUT THERE ARE ALWAYS TIMES WHENYOU SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THEHUMANITY OF SOMEONE WHO ISASKING YOUR FOR HELP.REPORTER: MICHAEL, WHOSE NEEDSARE COUNTLESS, INDICATEDSOMETIMES JUST EYE CONTACT FROMA STRANGER IS ENOUGH.>> IF YOU GET TO TALK TO ME,LIKE I'M TALKING TO YOU, YOUUNDERSTAND I'M NOT THAT TYPE OFPERSON, BECAUSE LOOKS AREDECEIVING.REPORTER: YOU ARE A HUMAN BEING.>> YES, FIRST AND FOREMOST.REPORTER: HEALTH CARE FOR THEHOMELESS ALSO SUGGESTS IF YOUARE COMFORTABLE WITH IT,OFFERING A BOTTLE OF A WATER ORA SNACK, TOILETRIES, OR EVEN APAIR OF CLEAN SOCKS.THEY ALSO SUGGEST PROVIDINGPHONE NUMBERS FOR INTERVENTIONAND THEY OFFER THIS PAMPHLETWHICH THEY PROVIDE IN ENGLISHAND SPANISH.WE HAVE A LINK ON THE WBAL-TVMOBILE APP IF YOU WOULD LIKE TOGET SOME TO KEEP IN YOUR CAR.LIVE IN THE STUDIO, DEBORAH

Advertisement Panhandling appears to be increasing Panhandlers ask people to not judge them, their hardships Share Shares Copy Link Copy

The theory is that while the economy has been improving, it generally hasn't benefited those with the lowest incomes, and there are just not enough emergency resources to help. Enter panhandling, which advocates for the homeless said makes us all feel uncomfortable, and they add that it should. Perhaps people have noticed an apparent increase in the number of people begging in public. There are certain roadways where people will see them, standing in busy intersections, pacing in median strips, asking people with their cardboard signs and their eyes for help. Ryan, on North Avenue, said he sleeps in an abandoned vehicle and is a graduate of Maryland Institute College of Art. "I'm trying to do what I can to survive," he said. Downtown, the I-Team met Michael. "I done had people say, 'Get the F out of my face. FU.' Other than that, I still say, 'Have a nice day' and keep moving," Michael said. Michael, who is homeless, said he begged for $49.77 to pay for this monthly storage unit. It keeps his bedding dry and his shopping cart safe. "I'd rather work for it, or not ask, you know, because it make my self-esteem feel low. I be like disappointed in myself," Michael said. It is difficult to quantify the number of panhandlers, who experts say provide the most visible image of homelessness and poverty. Baltimore City is in the midst of its annual count, but estimates are that on any given night, more than 2,500 people are homeless. Gene lives in his tent. "I'm trying to get housing. I'm on the housing list, but they're saying eight, maybe seven, years," Gene said. Kevin Lindamood runs the Health Care for the Homeless. He discourages the tendency to generalize the reason someone has taken to public begging. "We hear it all the time, 'Most of the people are on drugs, most have a mental illness,'" Lindamood said. "That's nonetheless an individual in need of help and in need of care. By engaging in a conversation, maybe you can connect the person to the care they need." What about the issue of money -- to give or not to give? Lindamood said that is a very personal decision. "There are some times when you should. There are maybe some times when you shouldn't, but there are always times when you should acknowledge the humanity of someone who is asking your for help," Lindamood said. Michael, whose needs are countless, indicated sometimes just eye contact from a stranger is enough. "If you get to talk to me like I'm talking to you, you understand, I'm not that type of person, because looks are deceiving," Michael said. Michael said he is a human being. "(I'm) a man, first and foremost," Michael said. Health Care for the Homeless also suggests, if you are comfortable with it, offering a bottle of a water or a snack, toiletries or even a pair of clean socks. It also suggests providing its phone numbers for intervention and has a pamphlet, which it provides in English and Spanish. People can go to the Health Care for the Homeless front desk at their downtown clinic at 421 Fallsway in Baltimore to pick up clinic info cards, or tap below on the electronic versions: English clinic information cardSpanish English clinic information card Also, learn more on how to help people experiencing homelessness in Baltimore here.