Different Groups Among the Homeless

Most informants tended to separate other homeless people into various categories. Some were not judgmental about the way others lead their lives and make money, while others held strong opinions about the respectability, or lack thereof, of certain activities. One man - who considers himself to be one of the "street people" and who avoids using most of the services provided for the homeless - said that the shelters are full of "shore 'nuff winos" and drug addicts and seemed to see himself at a higher social level than the "winos" and addicts "down at the shelter."

Some of the people interviewed voiced their disapproval of panhandling and of "flying a sign," which refers to panhandlers who stand at busy intersections holding signs. One woman, who expressed disdain for panhandlers, later said that sometimes she wishes she could panhandle: "I want to, but I'm scared. Hey, of messin' up my pride. Might mess up my pride." Several informants suggested that people who "fly a sign" are not legitimately needy but do it by choice. They felt that "flying a sign" was a scam, that the signers may be organized or working for someone, and they "make a whole lot of money." However, a man who generally panhandles this way reported that he does not take in any more by this method than other panhandlers who do not sign, who earn twelve dollars or so on a bad day and more on a good day. He said that signers are not organized but just go out for a few hours when no one else is flying a sign on a particular corner. The signers are not exceptionally friendly or antagonistic to one another, according to our informant, and many of the people who panhandle "pick up work" whenever possible. These jobs generally involve hard physical labor and are paid in cash.

Prostitution came up as another means of earning money for women. Women made a distinction between "respectable" and "unrespectable" ways of working in prostitution, but they refrained from explaining the difference between the two types. One man told us that although people tend to think that homeless people steal and deal drugs, he feels that that is generally not the case. "Why would I be living like this if I were dealing drugs? I'd be driving a Lexus!" He also said, "most of the guys avoid attracting police attention." But several women mentioned that they knew people who made money by "holding drugs" and "boosting" (shoplifting) items for resale.

One woman opined that men have it easier on the street because it is safer for them and they can make "easy money" by panhandling. Conversely, a man expressed his opinion that women have it easier than men because people feel sorry for a woman and are more protective of women: "People aren't gonna let a woman be on the street. A woman on the street, she is truly on the street by choice." One informant told us that there are women out there who do not use the shelters or rely on prostitution. He felt that women tended to stay together in groups to increase their personal safety and offered to introduce the interviewer to a group of street women on another day. However, the interviewer was unable to find the man again to follow up on his offer.

Extent of Homelessness

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Use of Basic Services