Panhandlers share their stories
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| Kenneth Dean Miller in Annandale. |
The recent Board of Supervisors action to consider ways to restrict panhandling has shined a lot on the people who work the medians in
local roadways to solicit money. We spoke with two panhandlers recently to
learn what drove them to rely on the generosity of strangers. Here are their stories.
Kenneth Dean Miller, who hangs out in the median on Little
River Turnpike in Annandale by the Hummer/Heritage intersection, has been
homeless since 2010.
River Turnpike in Annandale by the Hummer/Heritage intersection, has been
homeless since 2010.
Miller says he takes in about $80 to $90 a day panhandling,
which allow him to stay at the Budget Inn in Falls Church sharing a room with
another man. The motel charges $68 a night. Bad weather, however, means he doesn’t earn anything.
He and his wife had been working as day laborers but left
the area to travel to South Carolina to care for his ailing mother. His wife
was suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which was exacerbated
by the mold in his mother’s house.
the area to travel to South Carolina to care for his ailing mother. His wife
was suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which was exacerbated
by the mold in his mother’s house.
After his mother died, the couple returned to Northern
Virginia and lived in their car. Miller and his wheelchair-bound wife got by
panhandling in the Ballston area. She died on Christmas Eve in 2015.
Virginia and lived in their car. Miller and his wheelchair-bound wife got by
panhandling in the Ballston area. She died on Christmas Eve in 2015.
Miller says his car was stolen and wrecked and that he was
given a place to live by Pathway Homes (a nonprofit organization that provides
housing to people with mental illness or substance abuse issues who have a
history of homelessness). He was evicted and says he doesn’t know why.
given a place to live by Pathway Homes (a nonprofit organization that provides
housing to people with mental illness or substance abuse issues who have a
history of homelessness). He was evicted and says he doesn’t know why.
He had raised money playing an acoustic guitar outside Metro
stations but says he has too much nerve damage in his hand to do that anymore.
He now wants to save enough money to get an electric guitar which would be more
manageable. He also suffers from scoliosis.
stations but says he has too much nerve damage in his hand to do that anymore.
He now wants to save enough money to get an electric guitar which would be more
manageable. He also suffers from scoliosis.
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| Gerald Palmer |
We caught up with Gerald Palmer panhandling from the median
in Gallows Road near the Arlington Boulevard intersection.
in Gallows Road near the Arlington Boulevard intersection.
Palmer, age 50, was a gunner’s mate in the Navy in the 1980s
and suffers from PSTD, schizophrenia, and paranoia.
and suffers from PSTD, schizophrenia, and paranoia.
Palmer had been living in North Carolina and moved to
Northern Virginia two years ago and is trying to access housing through
Friendship Place, a nonprofit organization that hosts a homelessness prevention
program focusing on veterans.
Northern Virginia two years ago and is trying to access housing through
Friendship Place, a nonprofit organization that hosts a homelessness prevention
program focusing on veterans.
Meanwhile, he’s staying at the Extended Stay America in
Merrifield. The cheapest rate there is about $68 a night for a 30-day stay without
daily housekeeping.
Merrifield. The cheapest rate there is about $68 a night for a 30-day stay without
daily housekeeping.
Palmer says he can’t get a job because that would jeopardize
his claim for benefits.
his claim for benefits.
good journalism!
I appreciate your ability to provide a different perspective on recent County legislation as regards panhandling. This is a good example of the value and powe of the press.
I appreciate your ability to provide a different perspective on recent County legislation as regards panhandling. This is a good example of the value and powe of the press.
I wonder what PTSD Gerald suffers from being in the Navy in the 1980s. If he joined in 1987 (when he was 18) and served four years, there was the 4-day Gulf War in 1990 — but what sort of action would a gunner's mate in the Navy have seen? I'm skeptical that his PTSD is military-related… he may have PTSD, but I need more information that it was related to his military service.
FWIW, I enlisted in the Army during the Vietnam War and served three peaceful years without leaving the states. Only a fairly small percentage of those in the military see service that causes them to have nightmares about it.
Just because the guy didn't serve in a world war doesn't mean he has no "right" to have PTSD. I mean, jfc maybe his buddy fell off the ship during heavy unrep and got crushed. Might have f'd him up watching that. Not every claim for PTSD needs to be coupled to storming omaha beach dude. I know a lot of these panhandlers are straight up grifters and the skepticism is warranted, but just serving in the 1980s as a gunners mate shouldn't disqualify the guy. Shit happens when you're in the military and that shit can be seriously horrific, and not necessary part of a military operation.
Gerald can get a job that pays the same as he gets panhandling without jeopardizing his "claim for benefits". Plus, Friendship Place will never accept him if he's not willing to work, because it is a homelessness prevention program…you must be willing to work. Lots of holes in his story…
Not true. If he’s seeking 100% comp via individual unemployability he CANNOT work. Even if he was seeking 100% comp through other means, he couldn’t earn more than $12,500 per year without jeopardizing that claim. How many people do you that can live on that? Disclaimer: this is just what I found on google, I could be wrong.