The passive, the aggressive, the specific, the constant, the courteous. There are a lot of different approaches that panhandling takes and the constant question, ‘What do I do?’But maybe there is another question worth looking at before we ask the obvious one and that is, ‘Why does this annoy me as much as it does? Why do I wish that I didn’t have to deal with this?’

The reality is that we often have our own techniques of not ‘dealing with it.’ You know how this works! We don’t believe they are going to use the money ‘usefully.’ We’re in a hurry. Maybe they’re going to get aggressive. They’re lazy! The decent of judgement is steep from this point.From my perspective, and just mine, I can’t answer any of the questions regarding a persons intentions. I’ll never in that moment know enough of the person’s story to make a sound decision; at least a ‘sound decision’ according to my standards. What I am left with is the apparent needs of another and my resources at the time.

This could include money or time or conversation and a whole range of other possibilities, all centred on the wonder of giving something away.Maybe that’s the crux of the question, ‘Am I prepared to give something away?’ It’s not about someone’s worth or intentions or even their capacity to rise above their circumstances. Maybe it’s about my desire to give what I have away. When you think about it, money is the least of what I have.

~ Gordon Russell, Director of the Men’s Mission & Rehabilitation Centre