Panhandling

So with homelessness often follows a lack of money, which can be pretty frustrating.
In the start, we didn’t know how to make money, cause we were mostly by ourselves, and we didn’t have a network.
We slowly started to build up a network of friends that was in the same or a similar situation or at least has tried it themselves.
They taught us ways to make money, which is mostly panhandling or “demonstrating”.
See, panhandling can be done in many ways, some people go around asking people for money, which is actually illegal, and you can get a fine and worst case scenario a jail sentence, and other people simply stand at the side of the highway, with a sign and people drives up and hands you the money.
That in itself is not illegal, the only ones who has the power and jurisdiction to throw you away is the highway patrol, otherwise you’re good.

My mother is the one that’s best with the highway, she makes good good money.
I’m better at walking up to people and getting a dollar, sometimes people comes up to me and hands it.
The difference between my mother and I, is that she is very shy, and doesn’t like to ask people, so she’s way better with a sign.
I’m good at talking to people, cause I’m very open and smiling and talkative.

What saddens me is the fact, that a lot of the people in Denmark sees it as something bad, and believe that it’s only junkies and alcoholics and bad people that does it, but I’ve actually met quite a few with families and children and such, who’s just trying to survive.
It’s an interesting city, and people are very good at helping others and taking care of the homeless.

With love – Nadia.