Part Two -- Do Not Feed The ...

(Photo courtesy of WikiMedia.)

… HOMELESS?

On June 11, 2014, I wrote an essay about the various anti-homeless things humans do to the homeless community.

In my paper’s LOCAL section (The Press Enterprise, Sunday 06/22/2014, 'Panhandlers will get pamphlet, not cash,' by Jan Sears), there was a story about how my town plans to address the issue of panhandling.

Apparently, the homeless are the number ONE topic of complaints to the local police department from residents and business owners, according to our police Commander, who points out that it is not against the law to be homeless (though many don’t seem to realize that fact). Considering that the complaints generally relate to aggressive panhandling, public indecency and loitering, it is time to confront the issue head-on, according to the article.

(My town has not yet enacted laws against sitting on a public bench, thank goodness.)

Although our town of around 70,000 has a homeless population of only 60 to 80 people, according to a 2013 survey, the article suggests this small group is capable of being the number one problem we face. (For some reason, that fact seems kind of cool.)

Aggressive panhandling is the homeless offense that gets most police attention, and the P.D. can and will issue tickets to those caught. Our police Chief reports that a good panhandler can earn several hundred dollars a day. A story circulating among police says a panhandler told an officer that he earned $500.00 in his spot just that day, so a ticket for a couple hundred dollars is affordable.

So, this summer, residents are encouraged to give panhandlers a pamphlet that provides information about social services available, and where to find them close by, instead of giving cash. We are encouraged to say, “I can’t give you $2.00, but I can give you this, which is a lot better.”

We are encouraged to press a 4 inch pamphlet into their palms, providing 12 pages of information about where to get a meal, health care, haircuts, showers and housing assistance. This seems like great information. There’s even a map showing how to get to each location. Residents are encouraged to donate to one of the organizations listed on our city’s charitable resources coalition.

I find myself liking the concept, even as I feel a bit disturbed.

The article mentions that our city is considering providing transitional housing for people who want some time -- 90 days -- to get off drugs or alcohol. After 90 days or so, the plan would be to refer the newly sober on to someplace that might offer a more permanent solution. Apparently, we are trying to address both real and perceived problems from the homeless population, in order to prevent our downtown from suffering economic health issues. This may be valid, and it is convenient that most of the resources for the homeless are located near the downtown area.

But it doesn’t escape me that (and the article mentions it outright) the goal of handing out pamphlets, as opposed to a couple bucks, is to make our city less friendly to the homeless, and to help encourage them to move on down the road.