Local paper did a story a few years ago about an unemployed man. He tried begging at the local highway off ramp during rush hours. 2 hrs in the morning, 2hrs at night, perhaps less. He discovered he could make enough money that way that it wasn't worth looking for a job. He finally stopped when he became paranoid about meeting someone he knew while begging.
Things in Denver are not good. Just drove thru downtown. Within a 4 block radius of the two main shelters, must have seen at least a couple of hundred homeless people, perhaps more. They are much a much younger crowd than what previously congregated there.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13