Just after checking out "The Homeless We Know" made me think of posting this. We've been fortunate in our neck of the woods not to see so many sad, poor, and homeless people.

There is a man maybe all of you guys have seen. He is really tall. Like maybe 6'3" or so. Very frightening looking with a long grey beard. He marches. He doesn't walk. He marches. He will not ask for money. He won't stop you for anything. He's just very imposing looking.

This guy is homeless. He grew up here. He is an old biker guy who many, many years ago went off. He still tries to see if his mom is home. His mom died many years ago. I know the young couple live in his old house.

Now I still will walk with my daughter if he's pacing because you never know if he did or didn't take meds. Anything could happen, but in the longrun he's just some poor, sick guy.

I got asked for money too a few times by people on that little square in front of the closed Ekard. Don't know if they're homelss of not, but sad all the same. Just wanted to touch on that.

You say that as though it were a bad thing.

Many people are imposing by nature. It's a good thing. It's one of those things that helps out with that "survival of the fittest" thing.

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I got asked for money too a few times by people on that little square in front of the closed Ekard. Don't know if they're homelss of not, but sad all the same. Just wanted to touch on that.[/quote]


OK I wont ask for any more spare change Ace jk. No half those people there are not homeless but you have to remember that there is a wine and spirit shop is right around the corner which attracts alot of well shall I say shifty people. There is one little man who washes car windows who has been there for years and is harmless, no quirks about him but he smiles alot. The rest are sheer beggers!!!!

Well, there's that guy who hangs out at the corner of roosevelt and cottman all the time with a cardboard sign (northbound) he's relatively clean cut/good looking except for the fact that he's got a been-out-in-the-sun far too long tan/complexion.

My mom told me once where he used to hang out doing the same but I don't remember where that was.
Personally I doubt he's homeless.. I think this is just his "job" scamming for money.

And then there's that guy who sometimes (in warmer months) hangs out by the exit/entrance to franklin mills mall by comp usa/dollar store, in the median with a sign about how he's feeding family/looking for work, but he's clearly got some major health issues as he has a physical and constant shake as well as is bent over which seems to get worse and worse as time goes by. I've had a friend who used to hang out at the mall tell me his name is jake -- but that might either be someone different or just a false nickname "Shakey Jake". Personally I like this guy, I've given him an extra beverage or some food on occasion when driving by, and he's very polite and nice about it. He's the type of guy I could imagine sitting down with to hear his life story. .

I've seen a guy in that same area on occasion that also hangs out with a sign over by Roosevelt and Solly, on the eastbound side of the Boulevard, hitting up the traffic on Solly during the afternoon rush hour.

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I have seen an increase in homless/mentally ill street people ,two men who push shopping carts full of crap...and one dude had it full of metal aerials, downspouts and other stuff that fell duringthose crazy windy days last week.
Does anyone here know if there is a shelter here in Mayfair?

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I don't know of any shelters in that area.
I do know that you can contact Rob Hess in reference to homeless issues. He is an assistant Managing Director. He is the City "Homeless Czar". I don't know his direct line. He is located in the MSB at 1400 JFK and can be contacted through City Hall at 215-686-1776.

Just the other night my friend, and I were coming out of Office Max. That guy has his sign on a windshield of a car in the parking lot. He's got a coat hanger, and he's trying to get in a car. We're like whoa. Then this young lady says "Can you help him? I locked my keys in the car".

Maybe she paid him to help her or maybe he was being nice. I don't know. We were like "Ummm. Nope, sorry". Then someone who worked in the store came out. I bet he makes out alright at that intersection. Otherwise he'd try somewhere else.

Ummm. Mrs. Driveway Mom, last time I played on your sympathy for spare change ya only gave me sixty cents. What kind of wine am I gonna get with that? Leave my corner out of this. Hahaha. My corner!!!!

I know who you are all talking about and ya know what he drives a car which he parks around the corner from national wholesale liquidators. One night he bummed a smoke form me and me being the kind person I am i gave him what few i had left in an open pack and maybe 2 bucks well on my way home I went to far and had to turn at Tyson, well low and behold who was getting in his car with his sign folded up and a new pack of smokes but the tan begger. So what did I do well asked him for a smoke and then proceeded to tell him what I thought of him while taking one long drag off the cigarette he gave me. Needless to say I dont give money to anyone anymore. I may pass on a soda or a bag of chips or coffee for that matter but even that isnt good enough or they say thats not what i asked for. So I keep it all for myself .....Im not picky

I never give them anything. If you want to give them something, food is probably the best. Money will just go to buy drugs. And besides giving to them when they are on the street only allows them to continue living on the street. There are shelters, but they won't go to them if they keep getting money on the street.