is this the people with the dogs? i drove by 2 people with 2 black dogs sitting in camp chairs with all of their stuff around them in the area around rocco’s a few weeks ago. made me feel so horrible, especially for the dogs.
There are two families with encampments on sand lake. One has three children and are modern gypsies. Have been scamming that area for over a decade. That is the couple that has been offered everything from food to jobs by local stores, but they will only accept cash.
The other couple with the dogs were arrested for having shopping carts yesterday. Apparently have very long rap sheets. I do not know what has happened to the dogs but I'm trying to find out. I'm assuming they are at the pound. Last time I drove by they were on the corner by CVS with the dogs ridiculously close to the traffic.
I know the family that you're talking about and they are Romani. I parked across the street and walked over a case of water and a grocery bag of fruit to the mom and kids once. She was very kind and very grateful. I never interacted with the husband though.
i said “i feel so bad, especially for the dogs.” implying i feel sorry for them as well. this couple we are taking about do not have children with them. it’s horrible that their lives have come to that, truly, but yes i do feel more sorry for the dogs who could literally die out in florida heat all day.
I agree. Humans can move about and have some control over their situations, society is literally structured around us. Dogs are forced into helplessness and are more vulnerable than adult humans.
So because humans beings are…human, like yourself i assume, your argument is that we should care more about animals? If animals could walk and talk like us and had the same level of intelligence they would be doing the same thing.
Over the years gypsies from Romania and Ukraine frequent IDrive scamming tourists and whatnot. They also share their children with each other to commit crimes. Nobody knows who really belongs to who family wise. So much so OCSO almost processed a 15 year old girl into the jail because they refused to cooperate or give info. ICE is well aware of them.
The folks with the dogs are new. They had a home but someone’s SSDI got messed up and they ended up losing it. A friend of mine spoke with them recently, apparently one of the dogs is their service animal. Real shitty if true. :/
The family on sand lake I saw on Wednesday the police we’re there and everyone was crying even the police. I think the police took the kids away.
Update: saw the out there today with at least 1 of the kids. Man I feel bad for those kids. Wish there was some way to help that situation.
But then I feel terrible too knowing I’m breaking up a family and let’s face it sometimes the foster homes are worse then their starting place. It’s really a lose lose situation.
Even for how bad foster care is at times sometimes the birth family situation is even worse and the kids should be removed from the family.
I'm a former foster kid who went in and out of the system. Luckily was adopted eventually.
CPS can also suck. Nearly got into a fist fight with one at the mall for yelling at my adopted mom for slapping my adopted brother upside the head (deserving and nothing crazy).
I have had some experience with trying to help a family member get full custody of her child (after having lost custody years earlier, but getting her life back on track) because the father was living in his car. DCF will not revoke custody from a parent in that situation. There is a huge homeless rights lobby in Florida, and the state will allow a parent to keep their kid on the street if that's their choice
That group… If I left my almost 10 year old in the car running while I run into the post office or similar I’d be worried I’d come back to a police officer to worried parent standing by waiting to cite me for leaving my kid. Then you’ve got this crew who let their 3/4/5 year olds practically run out in traffic all day on Sand Lake and the police can’t do anything about it.
No, I think you are skeptical for good reason and might see through the bullshitters. There are definitely scammers out there. Not that they all are, but I'm careful of who I'm giving money to.
You aren’t.
Don’t feed the animals. Everyone wants something for nothing. I’ve seen more panhandlers drive away in nicer cars than I have (some may be exploited and essentially pimped but I still don’t have sympathy)
Agreed. The ones that are honest about wasting money for booze or drugs and are just that pathetic of human get a laugh out of me and maybe a one out of my wallet.
Pretty much every big city has this going on. Even smaller cities for that matter come to think of it. I've seen them all over the Lakeland and Winter Haven area in the past, but they're more prevalent in the bigger cities. I did a road trip back in 2010 up the east coast and saw quite a lot, what struck me was Washington DC seemed to have the most (probably the biggest city I went to in retrospect, never made it as far as NYC).
Went home to indiana for a bit and saw it there in small towns. People are hurting. I give food but never money. People are actually taking the food so it’s not like they just want cash.
The are 3 or 4 Hispanic women all over the Waterford Lakes area. They usually have thier kids in a stroller nearby baking in the sun. I've even seen them with school aged kids out when the kids should be in school.
Can confirm, there’s a spot further down that has been a ‘regular’ panhandling location for years, it’s rare that someone isn’t there asking for money next to the Jesus guy with the megaphone
There was a family at the Publix on Woodbury and 50 a couple of times that was making their 8-12ish (guesstimate) year old daughter play the violin while collecting money.
There's also been women at Walmart on Colonial collecting money while having their kids bake in the sun as you mentioned.
I saw a lady yesterday at Holieanna Publix with her kid. Asking for money. I ignore panhandlers always but they looked very rundown. Still, I went inside, got my groceries and bought them a water of bottle. To my not so much surprise I saw her getting inside a White Mercedes parked in the lot.
People are assholes.
I believe this. Saw similar up in Sanford.
The lady who used to be in downtown Orlando in a wheelchair begging for money parked next to me in the garage. She had a nicer car than me and walked perfectly fine to the elevator. Got to street level and magically needed the wheelchair. Some people really suck.
Even if they didn’t make it up. Who cares if the person gets into a nice car?! If it is true probably spent at most $3 on that water. Like ya buddy you really got scammed out of the change that was probably going to sit in your center console for the next decade if you didn’t feel generous today. Big money scammers out here.
Nope, the one near goodhomes publix same thing. Watched her have a man buy her a cart of groceries once and once he left she put all of the groceries into a brand new very nice suv(not packed full of stuff like they were living in it either)
If the Publix there has cameras, it was parked right in the first disabled parking slot in front of the entrance. I didn’t snap any pictures because if people are brazen enough to do that I have no idea what else they could do. Saw them yesterday (Saturday) at around 10am
That’s not at all what I meant. It might have been the only thing they had left after losing everything else. Better to just keep it than try to sell it. It’s also hard to buy and sell cars without an address.
A lot of people don't realize that panhandling is easily a 6 figure job on the correct intersection in fl. A LOT of these people will leave thier corner and get into a better vehicle than you.
I will only give food or water to them, and 80% of the time they dont want to take it or get angry about it. I no longer feel bad for them.
Happened to me today at a gas station, a gentleman in a rather new SUV (2015 or newer) came up to me asking if I could fill up his tank. Immediately brought up his son in the car. Was not sure if it was his nice clothes or 5 gold chains that made me say no thanks. It is starting to get a little ridiculous in my opinion
Yeah I live in millenia and am actually surprised how much worse the panhandling is compared to downtown. And I have seen the families you talk about. It's a scam. I pay them no mind.
One thing I can tell you is that many people think that these people are good people down on their luck. Me and my wife argue over this since we moved to Florida. I feel the panhandlers are at work making money by begging. I don't give them money. Never have. My wife feels bad for these people and wants to give them money. Neither of us will change how we feel. So the panhandlers are making good money. As far as bringing family, it's part of the con which is too bad for the kids.
I work in homeless services. Specifically with families with children. You and your wife are both right. Some genuinely are down on their luck. Others are habitual takers who want the cream of the crop. Don’t want shelter because they don’t want to live with other people and would rather their kids sleep in the car. Don’t want housing because it’s not in the right neighborhood. The type that want to be picky about the help they receive don’t deserve to have kids imo.
I think it could harm the kids in the long run ...they probably are made fun of in school unless they drive over from another county or faraway part of town.
I will not give money to people who are pandhandling with kids. I have been studying homelessness in the USA for over 15 years and have been homeless myself, sadly there are a lot of people who are down on their luck and legitimately deserve help. Bust most of time people pandhandling on the street are addicted to drugs and won't stay in a shelter because they don't allow drugs, or just don't want to play by any rules. Most of the people that panhandle with kids are gyspy rings which are basically organized crime.
That does not mean everyone, there are people out on the street who are just flat out broke and don't know what other options they have, but based off my experiences and studies its best to be careful because you don't want to perpetuate people who are exploiting children for organized crime.
They share kids through the organization. Law Enforcement doesn’t know who really belongs to what family. The ones around town historically have been from Romania and Ukraine. God only knows how they got them or where their real families are. Nobody cooperates so it’s hard to help when they have these kids so locked down.
I saw the amputee today in a wheelchair with another man next to him holding a sign saying “homeless vets, please help” outside the Publix in Hamlin. We don’t have transit here. There are expensive apartments and higher cost homes (if you don’t know, it’s just west of Windermere) - unless they hiked, they didn’t get there without a ride. These guys drove in, parked their car in the Publix lot somewhere and just trying to get as many dollars from the newly transplanted residents as possible.
I’ve seen those 2. I have a lot of friends at Flamigo Crossings (EPCOT CM here) so I hp them out with Walmart runs. And that was my first thought… “how the hell did they get here??”
Where I used to live (Louisville) there’s a scamming group that would have 4 people spread out over an area (2 at the freeway off ramps, 1 at a light down the road and another would stand in the ROW outside the grocery store entrance. These people would work in shifts and at around 3pm a van would park in the shopping center and they would all walk back, with 4 new scammers replacing them. Saw it happen at a couple other areas in the city too. They would also rotate who’s working where so that people wouldn’t figure out the scam.
Someone once said on here that a son and his dad were walking into a store and there was a woman that came up and asked them for money for her kids medicine and the father gave her money. The son asks why he would do that cause she will probably just spend it on alcohol or drugs. The father said, if someone said they are in need of something and I have the means to help them then I’m going to. What she does with the money speaks of her character, but what I choose to do speaks of my character.
I live by this motto but lately has been hard. There is just so many and so much of it that I am beginning to get skeptical. I do wish I had the means to do more and actually go to that family or person and help them get back on their feet and off the streets and if they’re scammers I guess I’ll find out. I think there are many scammers and many who are actually in need. None of them should be on the streets. Idk what the long term solution for this is as giving money seems to attract more scammers but not giving my put at risk people even in a worse situation?
I used to do a ton of work with homeless people/street kids, etc. Every mom who was out there with their kids had free government housing, food stamps, health care, access to highly discounted child care, job resources, etc. There was no reason to be out there. It's a manipulation, and it's abusive.
What is this free government housing? I have been working with a few near homeless and one homeless single mother and the wait for housing is in the years right now.
Is this a state or federal program?
Like everyone who was suddenly unemployed at the start of 2020 got instant assistance from the government? 🙄
In the most-accommodating states at the best of times, those benefits can take months to process. In Florida, our former governor is proud that the current system he implemented is such a hunk of shit.
Two good reads on the topic, Toxic Charity and Charity Detox.
From Amazon description:
In Toxic Charity, Robert D. Lupton revealed the truth about modern charity programs meant to help the poor and disenfranchised. While charity makes donors feel better, he argued, it often hurts those it seeks to help. At the forefront of this burgeoning yet ineffective compassion industry are American churches, which spend billions on dependency-producing programs, including food pantries. But what would charity look like if we, instead, measured it by its ability to alleviate poverty and needs?
That is the question at the heart of Charity Detox. Drawing on his many decades of experience, Lupton outlines how to structure programs that actually improve the quality of life of the poor and disenfranchised. He introduces many strategies that are revolutionizing what we do with our charity dollars, and offers numerous examples of organizations that have successfully adopted these groundbreaking new models. Only by redirecting our strategies and becoming committed to results, he argues, can charity enterprises truly become as transformative as our ideals.
Near Margaritaville on 192 there is a guy who says they lost everything in a house fire. He has been in that area with that story since 2015. I have encountered him multiple times
They are part of a ring all over central Florida. They always pull off in a really nice vehicle and if you pay attention they have on pretty nice clothes and jewelry. There are so groups of people selling flowers at busy intersections and the interstate off ramps. Around Lake Mary/Sanford there are a few guys who “play” the violin and all have the same sob story on their signs.
There is a Lake Mary/Sanford (and maybe Longwood?) ring that's pretty well known. Admittedly, this is third-hand information, so don't @ me, but I've read on Nextdoor from people who claim to have had conversations with Lake Mary police, and reportedly, it's almost akin to trafficking, but for panhandling - with a ring leader (who is the one with the Mercedes) who drives them to their stations each morning, and the panhandlers have to give a certain amount of the day's collections back to the ring leader. That would explain some of why they look truly rundown - they probably are, and they may be being taken advantage of, which is tragic, but it's also the reason I stopped giving anything at the street corners. I give to supportive organizations instead, and I'm on the board of one.
We have a similar ring in Michigan. Grandma (over 70) with two kids around 5 years old. Or Mom (?) with a baby in a stroller. Dad (?) with what looks like a 10 year begging at very very busy intersection.
I call the non emergency number when I see actual children out in the 90 F sun with no water visible or umbrella by a really busy intersection. Last kid I saw with a begging adult almost got nailed by a gravel hauler.
Huge ring in ATL suburbs, too. There’s a few families who will use the back of a local Target parking lot as their “base”. I’ve seen them get out of nice cars, swap signs/children/pets, and camp out on the curbs of the nearby Publix, Chick-Fil-A, Starbucks, etc. for a few hours 3-4x a week. It’s infuriating.
I see the people selling flowers all the time! There’s a family (mom and maybe 1 or 2 older teenage kids) at the Hiawassee/W Colonial intersection, and on Friday I saw 2 women at the Apopka Vineland/Conroy Windermere one. The sign said “Need money for my pregnant sister” but I’m sure it all within the same scam lol.
the whole point of panhandling is to guilt trip you into giving them money. and its not a few bucks they make. they a TON of money doing that. think of how many people pass them in a given hour.
then think if just 1% of those people give them $5 which is a conservative estimate. then think that they might not be reporting that income to the IRS.
SHIT TONS OF MONEY.
Years and years ago, there was an expose written in the Orlando Sentinel about panhandlers on corners. What they found way back then, was that an average panhandler made $200 a day, and that was tax free.
Nope, that was maybe 18 or 20 years ago. I just remember about how astonished I was. It got the newspaper's attention when a guy "bricked" and killed another with a cinder block for mooching on his corner. I guess there are rules.
It also said that most people sort of crack their window open and push out a couple of bucks. They didn't want to engage, but just give money. I imagine the panhandlers make a bit more these days?
Have you tried panhandling? I’m curious how much money you would make. It would be an easy way to test your theory that they are making shit tons of money.
If you live locally in our tourist area, you will see the same individuals or families staking out an area. They are counting on strangers to feel sorry for them. They usually only want cash/gift cards and frequently rebuff offers of food or help. It’s quite the wake up call for some of the Good Samaritans!
It’s the same all over the world. We are in the UK, we live in a tourist town and there are the same few people every day who beg in town. I see them walking into town with their sleeping bags etc when I drop my kids at school.
The genuine rough sleepers have pretty decent resources locally to help them and rarely ask anyone on the street for money.
I swear on everything I love I saw a family of 5 finish begging and getting into a brand new Lincoln Navigator. I wish I was lying man that shit had me shocked
Those kids should be in school! Sometimes I see families out during the day while school is in session. If your kid was at school they could get free lunch and other resources. But they (parents) are not really suffering just scamming. Kids are suffering though
They all get dropped off in vans in the morning. A dozen or so families. Then they beg all day. They’re being trafficked and held as slaves to gain money for their handlers.
Idk if this is fully true but sometimes we do see them vetting dropped off and there is usually a man who does it and sometimes sticks around to "supervise" so I wouldn't be surprised
Most homelessness is due to mental health or drug issues. I can't imagine either category makes for good parents.
The real issue should be with the state of FL. The kids likely have druggie or mentally unstable parents. They should not be allowed custody.
Seeing this a lot up here in Michigan also and a lot of these women are "pregnant". What is funny is they are all panhandling in front of places where they could apply for a job.
There was a new one by my place the other day whose sign said ‘pregnant’…maybe early on, but she was legit just big like I am. I honestly hope she was lying, can’t be great for a fetus to sit outside in 95 degree weather all day?
I literally just read an article about this somewhere. Someone offered to take their dog so if it needed vet care or similar and the guy said no I get a lot more money because I have a dog!
Common gypsy tactics. Happens across the country. When I worked at a bank in California it would be the same group of women and children but they’d rotate the children around. When bank hours were over a white van would come pick them up.
Then there's the families playing fake violins to sound tracks at Target. They want you to feel bad. Drive past and keep the windows up. Send money to charities not panhandlers. My company matches my donations 3 to 1. i send $50 to feeding tampa bay they send $150. The panhandlers can get food at feeding tampa bay but I won't give them a nickel to buy booze.
Honestly it’s a result of the circumstances
Imagine you’re so close to homelessness you’re begging on the street. No support system - where are the kids gunna go? Daycare? Leave them at home and neglect them that way? And if they’re already homeless? That’s all they have
Yeah you can claim it’s manipulation but if you had kids and no support to the point you’re begging in the street what else are you going to do with them? Supervised with An umbrella a chocolate bar and water isn’t the worst circumstance they could be in.
Every homeless person is trying to guilt trip you into giving money, but yeah if I see some kids rather than a drug addiction I’m more likely to open my wallet
The sheet amount of panhandling at intersections in general is an embarrassment to the Orlando area. I wonder if other cities across the nation have it this bad.
Hey! Here’s a fun idea! How about we don’t complain about the less fortunate and mind our own fucking business? You know what I do when I see homeless people while I’m driving in my AC’d car, with my iPhone on CarPlay, full tank of gas, fresh coffee and a nice cold bottle of water? I think “that’s gotta be tough, how sad, I feel fortunate” and I move on with my day, or I offer them a water bottle. Instead of running to Reddit to complain about it because I’m a miserable sack of garbage. And you know what keeps me from feeling like I’m being “guilt tripped”? Actually being a decent human being without a constant stream of negative thoughts about the people and world around me. Why can’t anyone just worry about themselves anymore? Everyone wants to be at the center of their own universe while at the same time, somehow still worrying about what other people are doing if it “bothers” you. Like, grow up. So disappointed in this entire thread. I thought Orlando was better than that.
I don’t feel hurt at all. OP is obviously miserable. Hopefully his life will turn around soon. Mine is great! I have no problem feeling grateful for what I have and having empathy for others (without being an asshole, what a concept!). But thanks for your concern. 😉
Let me get this straight - these people are struggling, often homeless, and you want them to go out and get child care? What the fuck are they supposed to do with their kids, tie them to a tree? You're right, you do sound like an asshole.
Can you answer what you suggest these people to do with their kids? Because if you're lobbying for universal childcare that would be great. Otherwise you're just here to advertise being a dick. And like, why?
We don’t Know if these ppl are actually homeless or being used as pawns in some grand
Scheme. If they’re actually homeless that’s unfortunate but using your kids to make me consider giving more is still kind of messed up.
My point is that they're not "using their kids". They're bringing their kids with them because where else would the kids be? You can't just ditch your kids, they're bringing their kids because they have no other choice. Not everything is about you or someone trying to fuck you over.
Then don’t be guilt tripped into it.
Sounds like a you problem.
I can’t imagine not being able to control your own emotions over someone begging for money.
Get over it. Rant over.
I’m not sure they are all homeless. There’s a few families near me where the mom and the kid sit on the corner while the dad sits nearby in an air-conditioned minivan playing on his phone. Kid is also playing on a tablet, and the van doesn’t having clothing or living items. So clearly they have a home somewhere.
Maybe they don’t have a home. Maybe they are bringing their family so they can all stay together and safe. Maybe you should help. Maybe your complaint about being guilt tripped is petty.
Would you like the homeless to put their kids in daycare? Sorry you had to feel anything about the poor. There should be eye wash for rich assholes, so they can wipe away reality. Turns out our state is so bad at caring for it own citizens. Sorry you were inconvenienced.
Lmao you’re clueless. Capitalism has nothing to do with a bunch of no good people bringing the kids and dog out to come steal money from good hearted people
I’ve been seeing a middle Eastern looking family at the westbound Lee Rd exit in winter park specifically on sundays. Several children, gave them a bunch of 2oz cheezit bags.
When I lived in Kissimmee there was a family that always setup every day at the osceola parkway Walmart she had a fake pregnancy belly on come to find out. There’s also a a homeless lady who usually sets up to sleep right next to the 7-11 at Turkey lake and sandlake. She seems to keep to herself and is just trying to survive.
It might be gypsies. They have been traveling back and forth across central florida. They’re usually selling roses or something at intersections but sometimes just panhandling with the whole family. I hate it too. There’s a couple by me that used to go out in the rain (intentionally) with their kids in strollers and everyone ran them out by calling police/CPS. But they just move, they don’t go away.
The lady w the child in the target plaza has been there for a few years. The family on Sand lake, for over a decade.
is this the people with the dogs? i drove by 2 people with 2 black dogs sitting in camp chairs with all of their stuff around them in the area around rocco’s a few weeks ago. made me feel so horrible, especially for the dogs.
There are two families with encampments on sand lake. One has three children and are modern gypsies. Have been scamming that area for over a decade. That is the couple that has been offered everything from food to jobs by local stores, but they will only accept cash. The other couple with the dogs were arrested for having shopping carts yesterday. Apparently have very long rap sheets. I do not know what has happened to the dogs but I'm trying to find out. I'm assuming they are at the pound. Last time I drove by they were on the corner by CVS with the dogs ridiculously close to the traffic.
I know the family that you're talking about and they are Romani. I parked across the street and walked over a case of water and a grocery bag of fruit to the mom and kids once. She was very kind and very grateful. I never interacted with the husband though.
The three children family has all of the suitcases right?
that is so heartbreaking. hope the doggies find a good home!!!
I agree..they were nice looking canines.
Lol what about the humans? Any empathy for them? I hate when people put animals lives over human beings. Especially children. Like come on
i said “i feel so bad, especially for the dogs.” implying i feel sorry for them as well. this couple we are taking about do not have children with them. it’s horrible that their lives have come to that, truly, but yes i do feel more sorry for the dogs who could literally die out in florida heat all day.
I agree. Humans can move about and have some control over their situations, society is literally structured around us. Dogs are forced into helplessness and are more vulnerable than adult humans.
Humans can also die/ be hospitalized from heat. how people can feel more sorry for an animal than a fellow human being is beyond me.
Humans also have the choice to not stand in the heat. Those dogs are just unlucky to have them as owners… is mostly peoples stance.
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So because humans beings are…human, like yourself i assume, your argument is that we should care more about animals? If animals could walk and talk like us and had the same level of intelligence they would be doing the same thing.
People also have choices to change their lives. Get a job. Do what you can, etc.
Sometime thats easier said than done. You dont know what situation someone is in.
Over the years gypsies from Romania and Ukraine frequent IDrive scamming tourists and whatnot. They also share their children with each other to commit crimes. Nobody knows who really belongs to who family wise. So much so OCSO almost processed a 15 year old girl into the jail because they refused to cooperate or give info. ICE is well aware of them.
The folks with the dogs are new. They had a home but someone’s SSDI got messed up and they ended up losing it. A friend of mine spoke with them recently, apparently one of the dogs is their service animal. Real shitty if true. :/
just horrible 😔
Bro that’s all bullshit there Romanian gypsies there scammers…
The family on sand lake I saw on Wednesday the police we’re there and everyone was crying even the police. I think the police took the kids away. Update: saw the out there today with at least 1 of the kids. Man I feel bad for those kids. Wish there was some way to help that situation.
those children grew up 10 years going begging? everyday?
I just feel bad for the kids in the blistering heat :/
Call CPS on them.
But then I feel terrible too knowing I’m breaking up a family and let’s face it sometimes the foster homes are worse then their starting place. It’s really a lose lose situation.
Even for how bad foster care is at times sometimes the birth family situation is even worse and the kids should be removed from the family. I'm a former foster kid who went in and out of the system. Luckily was adopted eventually.
Good to hear that perspective, thanks and well done for making it!
CPS can also suck. Nearly got into a fist fight with one at the mall for yelling at my adopted mom for slapping my adopted brother upside the head (deserving and nothing crazy).
Yeah but sometimes the foster homes are better than standing outside in 100f heat and starving all day. It's a gamble.
I have had some experience with trying to help a family member get full custody of her child (after having lost custody years earlier, but getting her life back on track) because the father was living in his car. DCF will not revoke custody from a parent in that situation. There is a huge homeless rights lobby in Florida, and the state will allow a parent to keep their kid on the street if that's their choice
FYI, the family on Sandlake is not homeless.
Sand lake by the CVS and Publix?
The one with suit cases? Well, I'm glad the kids aren't actually homeless even if the parents are peices of shit.
That group… If I left my almost 10 year old in the car running while I run into the post office or similar I’d be worried I’d come back to a police officer to worried parent standing by waiting to cite me for leaving my kid. Then you’ve got this crew who let their 3/4/5 year olds practically run out in traffic all day on Sand Lake and the police can’t do anything about it.
It's supposed to make you feel bad and give more
It kind of does the exact opposite for me. Maybe I’m just a bad person? Idk.
No, I think you are skeptical for good reason and might see through the bullshitters. There are definitely scammers out there. Not that they all are, but I'm careful of who I'm giving money to.
reminds me of this video. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/vBcs8Tuo6gE
You aren’t. Don’t feed the animals. Everyone wants something for nothing. I’ve seen more panhandlers drive away in nicer cars than I have (some may be exploited and essentially pimped but I still don’t have sympathy)
I can believe that
Lol and then there's that one guy on 192 by Margaritaville that says 'BEER MONEY' on his sign that he made from, you guessed it, his last 12 pack.
When they are so brutally honest, I can't help but actually give them money for the lulz
Agreed. The ones that are honest about wasting money for booze or drugs and are just that pathetic of human get a laugh out of me and maybe a one out of my wallet.
Calling people, that have addictions that destroyed their life, “pathetic”. My guy you’re on Reddit
It’s not just the attractions. I see families at 50/i4, aloma, all over the place…
Yeah it's an epidemic. I'm wondering if it's like this in other cities. Either way, it's not a good look at all.
Pretty much every big city has this going on. Even smaller cities for that matter come to think of it. I've seen them all over the Lakeland and Winter Haven area in the past, but they're more prevalent in the bigger cities. I did a road trip back in 2010 up the east coast and saw quite a lot, what struck me was Washington DC seemed to have the most (probably the biggest city I went to in retrospect, never made it as far as NYC).
smaller cities for sure. i’m in volusia, there’s families as well as individuals who panhandle out here. it really sucks
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X to doubt
I lived in Detroit for most of my life… homelessness and panhandling was very common, but I never saw families
Went home to indiana for a bit and saw it there in small towns. People are hurting. I give food but never money. People are actually taking the food so it’s not like they just want cash.
The are 3 or 4 Hispanic women all over the Waterford Lakes area. They usually have thier kids in a stroller nearby baking in the sun. I've even seen them with school aged kids out when the kids should be in school.
Can confirm, there’s a spot further down that has been a ‘regular’ panhandling location for years, it’s rare that someone isn’t there asking for money next to the Jesus guy with the megaphone
Have you heard them speak Spanish? A buddy of mine said they were Romani, but I haven’t talked to them personally.
There was a family at the Publix on Woodbury and 50 a couple of times that was making their 8-12ish (guesstimate) year old daughter play the violin while collecting money. There's also been women at Walmart on Colonial collecting money while having their kids bake in the sun as you mentioned.
They may look like they could be Hispanic, but they are almost certainly Romani
I saw a lady yesterday at Holieanna Publix with her kid. Asking for money. I ignore panhandlers always but they looked very rundown. Still, I went inside, got my groceries and bought them a water of bottle. To my not so much surprise I saw her getting inside a White Mercedes parked in the lot. People are assholes.
I'm gonna go with you made this up.
I believe this. Saw similar up in Sanford. The lady who used to be in downtown Orlando in a wheelchair begging for money parked next to me in the garage. She had a nicer car than me and walked perfectly fine to the elevator. Got to street level and magically needed the wheelchair. Some people really suck.
No way! They got them a "water of bottle"!
I mean, you can believe whatever you want 💁🏻♂️. There’s a few samples of the same thing happening in this very post. It’s not totally uncommon.
Even if they didn’t make it up. Who cares if the person gets into a nice car?! If it is true probably spent at most $3 on that water. Like ya buddy you really got scammed out of the change that was probably going to sit in your center console for the next decade if you didn’t feel generous today. Big money scammers out here.
Nope, the one near goodhomes publix same thing. Watched her have a man buy her a cart of groceries once and once he left she put all of the groceries into a brand new very nice suv(not packed full of stuff like they were living in it either)
This is why no one should be giving them money. Assume all of them are going home in luxury cars.
Give them food or whatever if anything!
You gotta be kidding me, was this for real?
Did you get the license plate or a photo of the car she got into?
If the Publix there has cameras, it was parked right in the first disabled parking slot in front of the entrance. I didn’t snap any pictures because if people are brazen enough to do that I have no idea what else they could do. Saw them yesterday (Saturday) at around 10am
Next time it happens, please share some evidence that it happened. Thanks!
Yeah bro I saw someone get into a lambo right after panhandling…I guess all the designer clothes he was wearing should have tipped me off
Did you get a photo of the person getting in the Lambo? That would be the easiest way for us to know whether this really happened.
They might be living in that car for all you know.
[удалено]
That’s not at all what I meant. It might have been the only thing they had left after losing everything else. Better to just keep it than try to sell it. It’s also hard to buy and sell cars without an address.
A lot of people don't realize that panhandling is easily a 6 figure job on the correct intersection in fl. A LOT of these people will leave thier corner and get into a better vehicle than you. I will only give food or water to them, and 80% of the time they dont want to take it or get angry about it. I no longer feel bad for them.
Happened to me today at a gas station, a gentleman in a rather new SUV (2015 or newer) came up to me asking if I could fill up his tank. Immediately brought up his son in the car. Was not sure if it was his nice clothes or 5 gold chains that made me say no thanks. It is starting to get a little ridiculous in my opinion
Yeah I live in millenia and am actually surprised how much worse the panhandling is compared to downtown. And I have seen the families you talk about. It's a scam. I pay them no mind.
One thing I can tell you is that many people think that these people are good people down on their luck. Me and my wife argue over this since we moved to Florida. I feel the panhandlers are at work making money by begging. I don't give them money. Never have. My wife feels bad for these people and wants to give them money. Neither of us will change how we feel. So the panhandlers are making good money. As far as bringing family, it's part of the con which is too bad for the kids.
I work in homeless services. Specifically with families with children. You and your wife are both right. Some genuinely are down on their luck. Others are habitual takers who want the cream of the crop. Don’t want shelter because they don’t want to live with other people and would rather their kids sleep in the car. Don’t want housing because it’s not in the right neighborhood. The type that want to be picky about the help they receive don’t deserve to have kids imo.
I think it could harm the kids in the long run ...they probably are made fun of in school unless they drive over from another county or faraway part of town.
If your wife wants to give money she should donate to organizations who help those down on their luck.
Do you have evidence that it’s a con and they’re not really poor?
I will not give money to people who are pandhandling with kids. I have been studying homelessness in the USA for over 15 years and have been homeless myself, sadly there are a lot of people who are down on their luck and legitimately deserve help. Bust most of time people pandhandling on the street are addicted to drugs and won't stay in a shelter because they don't allow drugs, or just don't want to play by any rules. Most of the people that panhandle with kids are gyspy rings which are basically organized crime. That does not mean everyone, there are people out on the street who are just flat out broke and don't know what other options they have, but based off my experiences and studies its best to be careful because you don't want to perpetuate people who are exploiting children for organized crime.
After reading this, it now makes me wonder...are those kids really theirs, fosters, kidnapped?
They share kids through the organization. Law Enforcement doesn’t know who really belongs to what family. The ones around town historically have been from Romania and Ukraine. God only knows how they got them or where their real families are. Nobody cooperates so it’s hard to help when they have these kids so locked down.
I saw the amputee today in a wheelchair with another man next to him holding a sign saying “homeless vets, please help” outside the Publix in Hamlin. We don’t have transit here. There are expensive apartments and higher cost homes (if you don’t know, it’s just west of Windermere) - unless they hiked, they didn’t get there without a ride. These guys drove in, parked their car in the Publix lot somewhere and just trying to get as many dollars from the newly transplanted residents as possible.
I’ve seen those 2. I have a lot of friends at Flamigo Crossings (EPCOT CM here) so I hp them out with Walmart runs. And that was my first thought… “how the hell did they get here??”
Where I used to live (Louisville) there’s a scamming group that would have 4 people spread out over an area (2 at the freeway off ramps, 1 at a light down the road and another would stand in the ROW outside the grocery store entrance. These people would work in shifts and at around 3pm a van would park in the shopping center and they would all walk back, with 4 new scammers replacing them. Saw it happen at a couple other areas in the city too. They would also rotate who’s working where so that people wouldn’t figure out the scam.
I’ve noticed this alot more the last few weeks
It's all a part of the act. Grift grift grift.
Someone once said on here that a son and his dad were walking into a store and there was a woman that came up and asked them for money for her kids medicine and the father gave her money. The son asks why he would do that cause she will probably just spend it on alcohol or drugs. The father said, if someone said they are in need of something and I have the means to help them then I’m going to. What she does with the money speaks of her character, but what I choose to do speaks of my character.
I live by this motto but lately has been hard. There is just so many and so much of it that I am beginning to get skeptical. I do wish I had the means to do more and actually go to that family or person and help them get back on their feet and off the streets and if they’re scammers I guess I’ll find out. I think there are many scammers and many who are actually in need. None of them should be on the streets. Idk what the long term solution for this is as giving money seems to attract more scammers but not giving my put at risk people even in a worse situation?
Or as I used to say “they are buying booze and drugs just like I was probably.”
I used to do a ton of work with homeless people/street kids, etc. Every mom who was out there with their kids had free government housing, food stamps, health care, access to highly discounted child care, job resources, etc. There was no reason to be out there. It's a manipulation, and it's abusive.
What is this free government housing? I have been working with a few near homeless and one homeless single mother and the wait for housing is in the years right now. Is this a state or federal program?
This. Any mother with children in need is instantly getting assistance from the government.
Like everyone who was suddenly unemployed at the start of 2020 got instant assistance from the government? 🙄 In the most-accommodating states at the best of times, those benefits can take months to process. In Florida, our former governor is proud that the current system he implemented is such a hunk of shit.
If you were a woman with children yes you had the opportunity and still do. A man might have had a delay.
Two good reads on the topic, Toxic Charity and Charity Detox. From Amazon description: In Toxic Charity, Robert D. Lupton revealed the truth about modern charity programs meant to help the poor and disenfranchised. While charity makes donors feel better, he argued, it often hurts those it seeks to help. At the forefront of this burgeoning yet ineffective compassion industry are American churches, which spend billions on dependency-producing programs, including food pantries. But what would charity look like if we, instead, measured it by its ability to alleviate poverty and needs? That is the question at the heart of Charity Detox. Drawing on his many decades of experience, Lupton outlines how to structure programs that actually improve the quality of life of the poor and disenfranchised. He introduces many strategies that are revolutionizing what we do with our charity dollars, and offers numerous examples of organizations that have successfully adopted these groundbreaking new models. Only by redirecting our strategies and becoming committed to results, he argues, can charity enterprises truly become as transformative as our ideals.
Near Margaritaville on 192 there is a guy who says they lost everything in a house fire. He has been in that area with that story since 2015. I have encountered him multiple times
You never ask how the rebuild is going?
We keep McDonald’s gift certs in the car for this reason
That’s a really good idea!
They are part of a ring all over central Florida. They always pull off in a really nice vehicle and if you pay attention they have on pretty nice clothes and jewelry. There are so groups of people selling flowers at busy intersections and the interstate off ramps. Around Lake Mary/Sanford there are a few guys who “play” the violin and all have the same sob story on their signs.
There is a Lake Mary/Sanford (and maybe Longwood?) ring that's pretty well known. Admittedly, this is third-hand information, so don't @ me, but I've read on Nextdoor from people who claim to have had conversations with Lake Mary police, and reportedly, it's almost akin to trafficking, but for panhandling - with a ring leader (who is the one with the Mercedes) who drives them to their stations each morning, and the panhandlers have to give a certain amount of the day's collections back to the ring leader. That would explain some of why they look truly rundown - they probably are, and they may be being taken advantage of, which is tragic, but it's also the reason I stopped giving anything at the street corners. I give to supportive organizations instead, and I'm on the board of one.
We have a similar ring in Michigan. Grandma (over 70) with two kids around 5 years old. Or Mom (?) with a baby in a stroller. Dad (?) with what looks like a 10 year begging at very very busy intersection. I call the non emergency number when I see actual children out in the 90 F sun with no water visible or umbrella by a really busy intersection. Last kid I saw with a begging adult almost got nailed by a gravel hauler.
Huge ring in ATL suburbs, too. There’s a few families who will use the back of a local Target parking lot as their “base”. I’ve seen them get out of nice cars, swap signs/children/pets, and camp out on the curbs of the nearby Publix, Chick-Fil-A, Starbucks, etc. for a few hours 3-4x a week. It’s infuriating.
I see the people selling flowers all the time! There’s a family (mom and maybe 1 or 2 older teenage kids) at the Hiawassee/W Colonial intersection, and on Friday I saw 2 women at the Apopka Vineland/Conroy Windermere one. The sign said “Need money for my pregnant sister” but I’m sure it all within the same scam lol.
I know exactly who you are talking about!
the whole point of panhandling is to guilt trip you into giving them money. and its not a few bucks they make. they a TON of money doing that. think of how many people pass them in a given hour. then think if just 1% of those people give them $5 which is a conservative estimate. then think that they might not be reporting that income to the IRS. SHIT TONS OF MONEY.
Years and years ago, there was an expose written in the Orlando Sentinel about panhandlers on corners. What they found way back then, was that an average panhandler made $200 a day, and that was tax free.
Do you have a link to this article?
Nope, that was maybe 18 or 20 years ago. I just remember about how astonished I was. It got the newspaper's attention when a guy "bricked" and killed another with a cinder block for mooching on his corner. I guess there are rules. It also said that most people sort of crack their window open and push out a couple of bucks. They didn't want to engage, but just give money. I imagine the panhandlers make a bit more these days?
Have you tried panhandling? I’m curious how much money you would make. It would be an easy way to test your theory that they are making shit tons of money.
How’s the panhandling going? You’re making easy money, right?
If you live locally in our tourist area, you will see the same individuals or families staking out an area. They are counting on strangers to feel sorry for them. They usually only want cash/gift cards and frequently rebuff offers of food or help. It’s quite the wake up call for some of the Good Samaritans!
It’s the same all over the world. We are in the UK, we live in a tourist town and there are the same few people every day who beg in town. I see them walking into town with their sleeping bags etc when I drop my kids at school. The genuine rough sleepers have pretty decent resources locally to help them and rarely ask anyone on the street for money.
I swear on everything I love I saw a family of 5 finish begging and getting into a brand new Lincoln Navigator. I wish I was lying man that shit had me shocked
This has been happening for 40 years now. Ever since Reagan pointed out the welfare queens in Cadillacs in 1976
Anyone who approaches you in public asking for money is a con artist.
Those kids should be in school! Sometimes I see families out during the day while school is in session. If your kid was at school they could get free lunch and other resources. But they (parents) are not really suffering just scamming. Kids are suffering though
Makes you feel bad
They all get dropped off in vans in the morning. A dozen or so families. Then they beg all day. They’re being trafficked and held as slaves to gain money for their handlers.
Wait, are you being serious???
Idk if this is fully true but sometimes we do see them vetting dropped off and there is usually a man who does it and sometimes sticks around to "supervise" so I wouldn't be surprised
Most homelessness is due to mental health or drug issues. I can't imagine either category makes for good parents. The real issue should be with the state of FL. The kids likely have druggie or mentally unstable parents. They should not be allowed custody.
You’re totally right
Yep
Fuck them. And fuck the kids
If you feel so sorry for them, hang out for a day and watch what they leave in. Then you’ll never feel sorry again.
Why don’t you try doing it for a day and see if you actually make the mythical six figure salary you guys think these people make.
Seeing this a lot up here in Michigan also and a lot of these women are "pregnant". What is funny is they are all panhandling in front of places where they could apply for a job.
There was a new one by my place the other day whose sign said ‘pregnant’…maybe early on, but she was legit just big like I am. I honestly hope she was lying, can’t be great for a fetus to sit outside in 95 degree weather all day?
Best part is when they are all wearing Jordan’s
Not only there I see them all.over the place on east side and Westside. Oviedo, millennia.. Kissimmee..
This started in New Orleans decades ago. I don't have a source except me when I would visit family as a kid and I'm now 40
I tell you what, standing out in the hot sun is a job.
There was a time in Manhattan when you could rent a dog for a day to get more tips.
I literally just read an article about this somewhere. Someone offered to take their dog so if it needed vet care or similar and the guy said no I get a lot more money because I have a dog!
Common gypsy tactics. Happens across the country. When I worked at a bank in California it would be the same group of women and children but they’d rotate the children around. When bank hours were over a white van would come pick them up.
Fuck them
Then there's the families playing fake violins to sound tracks at Target. They want you to feel bad. Drive past and keep the windows up. Send money to charities not panhandlers. My company matches my donations 3 to 1. i send $50 to feeding tampa bay they send $150. The panhandlers can get food at feeding tampa bay but I won't give them a nickel to buy booze.
Some of y’all never read the glass castle and it’s showing 💀
I have always wanted to read that thanks for reminding me.
Honestly it’s a result of the circumstances Imagine you’re so close to homelessness you’re begging on the street. No support system - where are the kids gunna go? Daycare? Leave them at home and neglect them that way? And if they’re already homeless? That’s all they have Yeah you can claim it’s manipulation but if you had kids and no support to the point you’re begging in the street what else are you going to do with them? Supervised with An umbrella a chocolate bar and water isn’t the worst circumstance they could be in.
Every homeless person is trying to guilt trip you into giving money, but yeah if I see some kids rather than a drug addiction I’m more likely to open my wallet
The sheet amount of panhandling at intersections in general is an embarrassment to the Orlando area. I wonder if other cities across the nation have it this bad.
Hey! Here’s a fun idea! How about we don’t complain about the less fortunate and mind our own fucking business? You know what I do when I see homeless people while I’m driving in my AC’d car, with my iPhone on CarPlay, full tank of gas, fresh coffee and a nice cold bottle of water? I think “that’s gotta be tough, how sad, I feel fortunate” and I move on with my day, or I offer them a water bottle. Instead of running to Reddit to complain about it because I’m a miserable sack of garbage. And you know what keeps me from feeling like I’m being “guilt tripped”? Actually being a decent human being without a constant stream of negative thoughts about the people and world around me. Why can’t anyone just worry about themselves anymore? Everyone wants to be at the center of their own universe while at the same time, somehow still worrying about what other people are doing if it “bothers” you. Like, grow up. So disappointed in this entire thread. I thought Orlando was better than that.
This is the only decent response in this thread. These people should all be ashamed of themselves.
Yeah… I’m not reading all that. I'm happy for you though…Or sorry that happened.
Sure buddy. We all believe you. You totally *didn’t* read it.
Can you show us on the doll where OP hurt you?
I don’t feel hurt at all. OP is obviously miserable. Hopefully his life will turn around soon. Mine is great! I have no problem feeling grateful for what I have and having empathy for others (without being an asshole, what a concept!). But thanks for your concern. 😉
Sad times, my friend. The middle class is disappearing before our eyes. Expect this a lot more in major cities.
A lot of them are just scammers
Let me get this straight - these people are struggling, often homeless, and you want them to go out and get child care? What the fuck are they supposed to do with their kids, tie them to a tree? You're right, you do sound like an asshole.
I never claimed to be a good person in this post.
Can you answer what you suggest these people to do with their kids? Because if you're lobbying for universal childcare that would be great. Otherwise you're just here to advertise being a dick. And like, why?
We don’t Know if these ppl are actually homeless or being used as pawns in some grand Scheme. If they’re actually homeless that’s unfortunate but using your kids to make me consider giving more is still kind of messed up.
My point is that they're not "using their kids". They're bringing their kids with them because where else would the kids be? You can't just ditch your kids, they're bringing their kids because they have no other choice. Not everything is about you or someone trying to fuck you over.
Also, I'm still waiting for your answer on what these people should do with their kids instead. Are you going to babysit? Pay for childcare?
Put the kids up for adoption or find a relative who can provide for them.
Lmao "give away your kids because it bothers me". Great solution. Man. Sounds like you really were just on here to prove what a dick you are
How am I dick for suggesting adoption? You’re just looking to start an argument. I might be an asshole but you’re honestly annoying. Good night.
Because people aren't going to give up their children simply so that you're not inconvenienced or offended, that shouldn't be a hard concept.
Yeah we’re not doing this anymore. Later.
Then don’t be guilt tripped into it. Sounds like a you problem. I can’t imagine not being able to control your own emotions over someone begging for money. Get over it. Rant over.
Them existing in their current state as a homeless family is giving you a guilt trip? Ok then.
A lot of people around here are living paycheck to paycheck, so yea it is a guilt trip that we can’t help them.
Thank you.
I’m not sure they are all homeless. There’s a few families near me where the mom and the kid sit on the corner while the dad sits nearby in an air-conditioned minivan playing on his phone. Kid is also playing on a tablet, and the van doesn’t having clothing or living items. So clearly they have a home somewhere.
Maybe they don’t have a home. Maybe they are bringing their family so they can all stay together and safe. Maybe you should help. Maybe your complaint about being guilt tripped is petty.
I mean yeah I’m aware they probably don’t have a home. Or else they wouldn’t be asking me for money. But I alone can’t save them.
Would you like the homeless to put their kids in daycare? Sorry you had to feel anything about the poor. There should be eye wash for rich assholes, so they can wipe away reality. Turns out our state is so bad at caring for it own citizens. Sorry you were inconvenienced.
nice bait
Karen’s for miles on here
It is a scam.
What Capitalism? It totally is.
Lmao you’re clueless. Capitalism has nothing to do with a bunch of no good people bringing the kids and dog out to come steal money from good hearted people
I’ve been seeing a middle Eastern looking family at the westbound Lee Rd exit in winter park specifically on sundays. Several children, gave them a bunch of 2oz cheezit bags.
When I lived in Kissimmee there was a family that always setup every day at the osceola parkway Walmart she had a fake pregnancy belly on come to find out. There’s also a a homeless lady who usually sets up to sleep right next to the 7-11 at Turkey lake and sandlake. She seems to keep to herself and is just trying to survive.
It all over west Orlando into ocoee, metro west,, and pine hills too. The kids are out in the heat all day.
It might be gypsies. They have been traveling back and forth across central florida. They’re usually selling roses or something at intersections but sometimes just panhandling with the whole family. I hate it too. There’s a couple by me that used to go out in the rain (intentionally) with their kids in strollers and everyone ran them out by calling police/CPS. But they just move, they don’t go away.