Levon Hailey, a panhandler on Church Street, says that although some Harvard students are kind, others shun the homeless because of their upperclass backgrounds.

"Their parents had money," Hailey says. "They've never experienced life on the street."

Springman says he uses humor to counter sneers he receives from Harvard students. "A lot of [Harvard students] act like I have typhoid, they look the other way," he says. "I'll tease them and say 'Smile' or tell them 'It's only a hundred-dollar donation.' That gets a laugh."

Many of the homeless people interviewed say pedestrians who do not have money should respectfully decline a panhandlers' request.

"[If people don't have money] they should just say they don't have it and move on," says John K. Johnson, who panhandlers outside of Store 24. "They should do it with respect for the individual who's asking."

Springman wishes people would acknowledge his existence. "A lot of people try to make believe that they didn't even hear [my solicitation]," he says. "[I want them] to acknowledge that I'm alive, [they should] at least nod their head."

The Square's homeless people say that while life is hard for all, it's especially hard for homeless who are minorities. Johnson, who is Black, says he experiences racism everyday.

"If I'm a Black in a white-dominated area, I'm going to experience [racism] because I'm a Black individual who stands out," Johnson says. "I get the looks and I can tell there's lot of racism."

"I get a lot of people calling me out in my name, my race's name," Hailey says. "Boston is a racist town."

A Lucrative Occupation

The homeless people interviewed for this story emphasize that they are not bums. Soliciting donations is their occupation.

"I'm a salesman," Springman says. "I like selling, period, plus [I'm selling] for a good cause."

"You gotta have a heart for these types of things," Johnson says.

There are side benefits to the job. Each day, Square homeless get to meet new people, they say.

"You get to meet a lot of people, women friend, guy friends, there's people who care out there," Johnson says.