Best Panhandling City in America?

Local media in Atlanta are reporting on a study recently released by the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau confirming that panhandling is a significant problem in this southern metropolis.

Behind “traffic”, “panhandling” is the second highest issue that visitors dislike about Atlanta.

Interestingly enough, just two years ago, the city passed an anti-panhandling ordinance that basically banned begging in parts of Atlanta. In fact, the Mayor at the time said that panhandling would be eliminated because of this ordinance.

Well, it hasn’t.

Despite the terrific work that the city has done to mobilize a “Ten Year Plan To End Homelessness” (it was called the “Blueprint to End Homelessness in Atlanta”, and was implemented in March of 2003—five years ago), and its work to mobilize the private sector through the United Way, homelessness still seems to haunt the city.

The city even has a terrific multi-service center (“mall”) called the “Gateway” as their entry point into its service continuum.

I think good “plans”, terrific services and housing, and even ordinances is just not enough. Homelessness is a significant problem in our country. The lack of building a social infrastructure of affordable housing and live-able wage jobs in the past twenty years is not going to be overcome easily.

Significant resources invested into a stronger infrastructure is the only solution.

(Pic from http://cityguides.salsaweb.com/)