THE hours are long and the work monotonous, but begging pays well for at
least one of Sydney's homeless men who earns up to $50,000 a year from good
samaritans. Ken Johnson, 52, makes his living at George and Market St,
outside the Myer store in Sydney's CBD, where he sits for up to 16 hours daily,
seven days a week.On a good day, he said, he takes in $400 from generous
passers-by.On slower days, he still picks up amounts between $75 and
$150."I'd be really disappointed if I did a long Friday and I only had
$250,'' said Mr Johnson, who has been living on the streets ``since the late
'90s''."I knock off when I feel like it, or if I've done brilliantly. But on
those good days, you might be on such a high that you go for a few more hours
and get a bit more money.''Mr Johnson wouldn't say how much he earned last year. But he did reveal that donated coins and notes are stashed in a safe place, before being taken to a bank branch and deposited in his account several times a week. Some of the money is given to a friend.
I fell sorry for the guy if anyone see's him donate because everybody should be able to have a nice happy life not homeless and desperate.
Two things here Bobbiot - 1) Should we donate to every begger? and 2) If he really does earn 50k a year, then there is no doubt he can afford rent. He just chooses not to pay. He also states he gives some money to a friend for medical reasons. That is his word so I ask - if you had to put your life in his hands, would you trust him? Food for thought...
ReplyDeleteNo I wouldn't but I don't know him unless it's a scam...
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