This is becoming more common in my town. I just either feel like an ass saying I dont have cash, or lying, but I also can’t be giving out 20’s to everyone who asks.
I feel bad for most of them but at the same time I get anxiety walking down the sidewalk and seeing someone up ahead that I know is going to ask me for money. Its not like you can say “oh no, I donate to services that help the needy” because that person isn’t necessarily being helped by that. And ignoring completely feels so mean, plus I tried that one time and the person was screaming at me as i walked away that I ignored them.
I also dont want my city to round them up and send them to prison camps, something they are planning and that I know a lot of people would vote for just to “get rid of them” but im not supporting that at all.
Its tough.
Certainly there are people that do that or want to use the money for drugs, which is why I always volunteer to buy it for them vs give them money. And I don’t carry cash anyway.
If they’re genuinely hustling for cash they’re unlikely to walk away with you to get food, a bus ticket, whatever because they’re wasting time. I’ve had a few take me up on the offer and then still try to talk me out of cash while walking, but most hustlers just walk away immediately when you call their bluff and offer to buy it for them.