There was a homeless person (I assume) sleeping in a couch outside my front door last night. I live on a fairly major thoroughfare and that can't have been optimal. In the morning, the couch was gone, and so was the person. In general Madison is filled with the homeless during summer (lots of park space, guaranteed hospitable nights), but I haven't observed any instances of street begging. Just existence.
Where I live the homeless walk among us in brightly colored orange vests. It's like a bright orange scarlet letter. Their eyes look sad. They hold up signs that say things like, "Everybody Needs Help Sometimes." So true.
Which is why it had to be me. This will be my last comment. But in Chapel Hill NC, all the homeless really do wear orange vests while pan-handling. Sorry, I couldn't help myself pal. -tng