Today while negotiating the 7200 South freeway underpass, there were three men that were taking turns standing at the southbound exit ramp soliciting charity. I have this question to all of you who think charity is sufficient to take care of the needs of such individuals. How much money is any of those specific individuals getting through other means? How much money are all three of those individuals obtaining from panhandling? How needy are such individuals compared to others, or in other words what are their specific needs compared to other people who can or cannot access places in the public to beg and how are those needs being met by charity?
I asked this question, not because I do not believe that charity is the best way, nor that certain faith-based organizations do not appropriately answer and address these issues, but because not everyone belongs to a faith-based organization. The fact of the matter is we have no idea how efficient, effective, and comprehensive charity driven support of the homeless and the needy is.
This creates many challenges that so far have only been able to be addressed by governments.
Loren M. Lambert © July 12, 2012
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