[butlerism]

Vagrants. Drug Addicts, mentally affected.

First note.... I offer them mental help and give them a business card (not my card). I grab a bunch at the hospital.

NOW ...... we are talking getting them ****ed off.


Second..... that area in front of Walmart is not a pedestrian walk way.


Third.... look for their bag and report it to the police saying you found a suspicious object.
Odds are they have a record and will never go near the police.


Four .... I stopped going to that store, too many low life-s inside and out.

Walmart on 441 is very dangerous.
I am seen too much to tell. Typically colors fighting colors.
Disgusting



Use the Walmart Neighborhood Grocery on Heald or the new Walmart in Fenney.

Why?, these people are poor and will not drive to the far side.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Luggage

I often said that for 1% of our tax revenue we could put up tens of thousands of RV homes on public Forest land and create offices for medical and mental help as well as job training. But the politicians can't get any payback that way

The general sentiment of Floridians is that they don't WANT to pay more taxes. They're not willing to pay a penny more than they have to, especially if that penny goes to "those people."

So we have a lot of unemployable people in this state, who aren't in the "unemployed" category because they're not collecting unemployment and not actively seeking employment, because they've given up trying since they know no one will hire them.

Those are the truly homeless, the people who live in the Ocala National Forest. There are also a bunch there who are intentionally "off the grid" for whatever reason - but those folks don't go out begging. They are primarily self-sufficient and rely on bartering to get goods and services that they can't make or grow on their own.

A 1% surtax on services won't do any good, since we already have so many "handyman" grebbers who do all kinds of work here, and take cash or checks only, so they don't have to pay any tax or get insurance or be licensed.

And there are plenty of Villagers who are happy to get that discount and the convenience of immediate availability, in exchange for the risk of shoddy work or outright burglary.

We got suckered into that mentality our first year here. So when it came time to take the dead trees down because they shouldn't have simply been badly pruned by a couple of dolts with chainsaws, we went with the guys with the actual license, insurance, new equipment, and a truck with the painted logo rather than the crappy magnetic one they could slap on any personal vehicle to make themselves look legit.

We paid extra because of it but we had the peace of mind. And we don't mind paying taxes for services, if it means getting that peace of mind and an actual guarantee of professional service.

[johnboy]

Gave to a young mother near Publix at Mulberry, and then saw her in Publix buying shrimp, prime rib and better meats than what I was getting.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by MandoMan

I would favor renting land for homeless camps on American Indian reservations, setting up hundreds of nice 9x12’ cabins at each site, and group showers, restrooms, and mess halls, then paying the Indians to guard them and keep them safe. And there. Then make services available only there and forbid panhandling and vagrancy in cities. This would be much cheaper and more efficient and kinder than the current situation. Certainly much cheaper than jail time.

...because forcing Native Americans to give up their own land and live on reservations wasn't bad enough, now you want to take even more away from them and force them to share with homeless people? And then dictate to the people living on this reservation who they may and may not offer services to, and who is and is not allowed to do what on their property?

That's such a christian thing to do, I suppose, coming from a pastor's family member, right?

Maybe you might benefit from learning about what a Native American reservation IS, before you offer an opinion on what to do with one.

[butlerism]

Now a days,
all stores need to check ID and record at the door going in and out .
Then you can go thru the potato masher, again in and out.

Simple.
Looting will go away.
If you want to fly.... ID
Want to go to walmart.... ID

Time to take back this country or simply learn mandarin.
In china all the protesting and burning, most would be in jail for a no return, or dead.... think about it.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by daca55

I used to give to them but not anymore. Once a woman was outside a Walmart begging for money. I gave her a couple bucks because she look so down and out. I did my shopping and when I came back out I saw her standing and she was talking on a cell phone. If she is so down and out where does she get the money for a cell phone payment every month? After that experience I don’t give to them anymore.

If you qualify for medicaid (low income health care) and food stamps in Florida, you also qualify for reduced-price and free phone service. You get the modern equivalent of a flip-phone (except it's a smart phone) for $100. And you get something like 300 minutes per month phone service, and unlimited texting at no additional cost. There's no data plan. It's just phone and texting. If you're in a wifi hotspot you can use apps, but data options are otherwise not available on these phones.

You can BUY similar with a Tracfone or an AT&T gophone (and others like them) for something like $20/month total.

People need to be able to communicate with each other. You don't want them on street corners. You wouldn't hire them to work for you. You wouldn't patronize a store that had one of them working for them. You want them to hide away in a homeless camp somewhere far away from you. You don't want them even shopping in your stores. But you're not willing to provide them with the opportunity or means to help themselves (like a phone).

The human race sometimes disgusts me.

[Malsua]

Originally Posted by Michael G.

When we cross 441/27 to go to Walmart, many days there are homeless people looking
for money or a handout.

Do you donate to their cause?

What's you opinion on them being there?

If you want more of something, subsidize it.

[Penglobal]

While driving last night, I witnessed for the first time, a lady begging and claiming to be homeless walking on Morse near SR 44 and near The Villages softball field entrance. I'm all for supporting the homeless, but this lady was obviously not homeless (hair and nails trim, appeared clean, appeared healthy and wearing new expensive Air-Jordan sneakers). She was carrying the typical homeless carboard sign and begging on Villages property to all the stopped vehicles that were passing through.

Since she was obviously not homeless, I hope that no one supports her and soon she will go away.

[shirleyjerez]

They make 400.00 a day. If anything get MacDonald gift coupons. If they need to eat . No no cash

[Westie Man]

Originally Posted by Velvet

Forgive me Grumpy, we have different experiences. My mom used to do as you suggest. She’d ask the homeless youth to come to her house, half a block away, to do some work for money. She needed home help, such as rake the leaves etc. She never had a taker, not once.

to your home for any reason

[dougjb]

I am sure this thread will mention how the homeless are always begging money for drugs, alcohol and don't forget the lobsters (although that type of nonsense is generally attributed to those on food stamps).

Reading the same tripe whenever homeless or food stamp people are involved shows me how cold hearted many Villagers are. You don't have to give them anything. You certainly do not need to comment on your "expert" knowledge about who these people are or what they do with the money you may be giving them. So, in my opinion, give or not give, that is your option. But, don't show off your idiocy by claiming any knowledge about them. You simply do not know!

[PurePeach]

Originally Posted by La lamy

It can't be easy begging for money. I feel bad they haven't chosen, or figured out, how to earn a legit living. When I feel they are really hard up I'll give, but even then, I may be scammed.

You are getting suckered. They love people like you.

[Sherry8bal]

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!!!! I've seen too many run over to CVS and purchase cases of beer after begging. Right behind them are We're Hiring signs for McDonalds, Jimmy John's plus Walmart is hiring and just down the street Aldi is hiring. They just don't want to work and I do not believe they are homeless at all.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Michael G.

When we cross 441/27 to go to Walmart, many days there are homeless people looking
for money or a handout.

Do you donate to their cause?

What's you opinion on them being there?

That is a tough social problem and dilemma that falls into each person's lap that walks by. On one hand - you would like to be charitable. On the other hand....are they buying food, alcohol, or illegal drugs with your money - no way to know. Except you could just give them a can of food. That is what I would probably do?
If you give them money, they are more likely to be in the same place the next day. Eventually, the TV Land Police will find and DO SOMETHING about them. I am not sure if they will be gentle and charitable about dealing with them.
.......And, the way I understand it, EVICTIONS are up all over the US. If I were living up north and became homeless - I would probably hitchhike to Florida to spend the winter. Maybe find a job as a night watchman from midnight to 8 in some Fl beach town like Daytona. Catch some sleep there and then go to the beach and nap on a towel. The security guard job would give me some money for food. It would be SURVIVING only, but it beats being arrested and getting a record. And it would be honest, at least. That's what I would do!
It seems to me that US society and government are showing zero empathy and sympathy for this homeless situation. And I see more problems pouring into the US at its Southern BORDER and by plane or boat! How can THAT be a GOOD thing when the US can NOT solve its OWN overpopulation problems. I would be curious to know what other countries like Sweden, Finland, and Australia do about their homeless problem?

[ahlecat]

I met a gentleman near family dollar in Leesburg… really homeless, crutches and one leg amputated… I gave him money. The ones that I see by Walmart 441 seem young. With all the help wanted signs…. Go get a job!!