Spare Some Change? Or Change Panhandling Laws?
The Associated Press and CNN report today on Atlanta’s contentious debate on banning panhandling in their city. Click here to read article. The homeless and their advocates spent the night at Atlanta’s City Hall in protest. The Atlanta City Council will be voting on a resolution where it would be illegal to beg for money near downtown hotels or tourist sites.
This urban struggle is played out in most major cities, and even smaller towns, throughout America. Should people be allowed to beg for money? Or will people be arrested for asking a simple question, “Spare some change?”
Supporters of panhandling say that society should not criminalize the act of asking for charity. Why can’t people ask for charity, just like large nonprofit charities ask for money? The article quotes a person saying that people can beg for money in our nation’s capitol so why not in Atlanta. The homeless need affordable housing and a living wage, they say. (I also wrote a blog entry on June 24, 2005 that Atlanta homeless advocates also accuse the city of racism by passing such panhandling laws. Here is the blog entry.)
The community that wants panhandling banned say that aggressive panhandling scares away tourists and lowers the quality of life in a neighborhood. Many say that they already support homeless services and affordable housing. People don’t need to beg for money when there are enough public feeding programs and shelters for people on the streets. Some who want panhandling eliminated also say that the money is used for drugs and alcohol.
Politicians, services providers, and law enforcement are always caught in the middle of this societal debate. Is there common ground in this struggle? Can we, our community, provide enough services, food, and shelter so that people on the streets don’t have to beg for money? Can we give them food vouchers (or vouchers to services) instead of cash, so that we know that their physical needs will be taken care of?
I think there are some simple solutions that provide baby steps toward a resolution to this complex problem.
posted by LA's Homeless Blog at
9:09 AM
2 Comments:
My wife, when she was in college, before she was my wife, used to keep sack lunches of unperishable foods with plastic fork provided to hand to panhandlers.
I always thought that was a great solution to the request for money for food.
I think redeemable food vouchers is another great idea. My wife and I would definitely purchase something like that to keep in our glove compartments.
Is anybody making those? What other solutions are there out there?
Can giving money to panhandlers help them? I think the alcohol/drugs argument has got to carry some weight.
Sorry about the long comment. Just stumbled upon your blog this afternoon and will be back in the future.
Keep up the good work
There is a day centre for people affected by homelessness in Glasgow (Scotland) that is supported by many churches in the area. Church members, and others, can buy vouchers to give to folk in the street. This not only means the possibility of a free meal, but introduces them to the services and support offered by the day centre.
Personally, I carry them with me because I am more relaxed about giving a voucher like this than cash.
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