Remember the "homeless" guy the cop gave shoes to?

[CaseyJones]

http://now.msn.com/jeffrey-hillman-homeless-man-said-to-have-thirty-pairs-of-shoes-cash

Jeffrey Hillman, better known as "the guy in that viral photo that a cop gave all those shoes and socks to," was recently profiled by the New York Post counting a stack of bills on the way back from "work" in Times Square. The Rev. John Graf, who says he pays Hillman's utility bills, admits that Hillman has 30 pairs of shoes in his Bronx apartment and has been "working the streets … for years," reportedly making up to $1,000 a day. NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly offers the most levelheaded take on this news: "That's life in New York. ... But it was a generous act of kindness." He's right: Let's focus on the good in people, not the bad.

lulz

 

[erowe1]

Why's this guy paying his utility bills if he knows this?

 

[phill4paul]

Ha! Somehow I think his panhandling days are numbered now that word is out.

 

[PaulConventionWV]

This is satire, right?

 

[CaseyJones]

This is satire, right?

no I don't believe so

 

[erowe1]

This is satire, right?

Nope. Check out the links to the sources.

 

[Lucille]

The Rev. John Graf, who says he pays Hillman's utility bills, admits that Hillman has 30 pairs of shoes in his Bronx apartment and has been "working the streets … for years," reportedly making up to $1,000 a day.

Nice, and tax free to boot. I suspect someone's going to be investigated by the IRS real soon.

 

[erowe1]

Nice, and tax free to boot. I suspect someone's going to be investigated by the IRS real soon.

I don't know. It seems like it would be pretty easy just to call every donation a gift.

 

[angelatc]

I don't know. It seems like it would be pretty easy just to call every donation a gift.

Not if he is panhandling as a career.

 

[belian78]

This happened in Peoria here bout 10 years back. Guy had a sob story, worked downtown everyday, tv station even did one of their 'community focus' pieces on the guy. Well, after that piece ran a lady called up the local newspaper saying she had just seen that guy at the mall like a day prior buying all new Nike clothes/shoes/hats/etc.. Dude was spending $100's of dollars just in one store. Apparently he had been raking in the dough for a few months.

 

[MelissaWV]

I'm confused... people gave this guy money, and now they're angry that he didn't have a big "F" for "FULL" over his head once he reached a certain amount? You give someone money, and that is what you chance. Sad notion about the IRS, though good luck if he doesn't have an actual address or means of identification.

 

[belian78]

I would absolutely be upset if I gave a person money to help them out, and it turned out they didn't need help at all. Sure, people gave the money freely, but under the pretense that this person was down on their luck. It's assholes like this that turn good people off charity.

 

[MelissaWV]

I would absolutely be upset if I gave a person money to help them out, and it turned out they didn't need help at all. Sure, people gave the money freely, but under the pretense that this person was down on their luck. It's assholes like this that turn good people off charity.

The fact that a bunch of other people gave him money makes him less down on his luck? At what point, do you think, is he obligated to stop everyone from handing him money and say "oh no thanks. I'm full up. I'm going to stop for the day and assume I make this much or more tomorrow and the next day."

Giving random people money will always carry risk. Sometimes they'll use it for something you would never, ever approve of. Sometimes they have more than you think is the basic amount that they need to survive. Sometimes they get mad that you didn't give them more.

 

[thoughtomator]

and that, ladies and gentlemen, is why I never hand money to beggars

It's not because I'm indifferent to suffering, it's because I've lived in New York.

There was a woman who lived in a posh apartment building on Park Avenue who was pulling in a mid-6-figure income, tax free, from begging on the streets. She would dress up in rags like a homeless person every day and retire to her luxury apartment at night.

 

[oyarde]

I am still trying to figure out why the Rev. was paying this guys utility bills ....

 

[MelissaWV]

and that, ladies and gentlemen, is why I never hand money to beggars

It's not because I'm indifferent to suffering, it's because I've lived in New York.

There was a woman who lived in a posh apartment building on Park Avenue who was pulling in a mid-6-figure income, tax free, from begging on the streets. She would dress up in rags like a homeless person every day and retire to her luxury apartment at night.

I don't give out money, either. I support local efforts (career closets, etc.) that try to "teach a person to fish," so to speak. I support churches who do have their regular folks that show up with known issues. I'll buy food or other tangibles for shelters, or I'll buy a meal for a hobo (note: totally different from a "homeless" person, I realize).

 

[alucard13mmfmj]

I did hear how panhandling is quite lucrative.. I saw this one guy panhandling at 9am on teh way to work. Then I saw the same guy when I left work... walking on a side street and getting into a Benz Mercedes lol.

I was like wtf?.. Dirty Green shirt with a purple emblem looking thing on the back, shoes with holes and tape all over it, and jeans with more holes than there are black holes in the universe. Hard to get him mixed up with another.

So.. these guys are making more money panhandling than I do at work (before taxeS) lol...

 

[Tod]

I got suckered by a panhandler once. I bought him dinner, over which he told me that he preferred panhandling to holding a job because he didn't have to answer to a boss and he could pick his own hours, etc.

 

[abacabb]

I believe firmly that people shouldn't just be handed money for merely existing.

If they want to sit down and have a meal with you, fine. Money for drugs? No thanks.

 

[oyarde]

I believe firmly that people shouldn't just be handed money for merely existing.

If they want to sit down and have a meal with you, fine. Money for drugs? No thanks.

I am kind of an old school guy,so ,really 2 Thessolonians 3 : 10 works for me for the able bodied .....