Originally Posted by
squeakr
having traveled all over the US and Europe, AND having been in SF for over 30 years, I find that beggars/panhandlers/homeless people here ARE more aggressive than in other places. And more numerous in the tourist areas. In other cities, there may be more scammers - people selling overpriced miniature Eiffel Towers, or more expert pickpockets - but SF definitely has most places beat for people hanging out on sidewalks asking for money.
As someone who formerly worked in social services in the Tenderloin area , I would say that SF has no idea what to do with the hordes of people who come here with no resources.
I strongly agree with this. It's important to mention the massive groups of homeless people here because they make a much stronger impression on tourists here than in other cities. They are generally not dangerous, but San Francisco's homeless population tends to be one of the first things people mention to me when they tell me they have recently visited SF.