But he did go. There's a difference, in most cases, between street people and street musicians.
Panhandlers contribute nothing, but street musicians, to mix metaphors, sing for their supper.
They provide a service of sorts, for which they request recompense. The crew on the corner stirred slightly as the headlights turned off of Fairmount Avenue onto the side street. But the car maintained a steady pace and drove past them without pausing. I called VA headquarters in Philly, and was given a number. When I called it, nobody answered.