The Rio Grande Report: Panhandling: scam or true need?

I never panhandled when I was homeless. My personal pride wouldn't allow it. I was afraid someone I had known would see me begging for money. Once, I did print up some of my writing at Kinko's and offered it as reading material for the bus or Trax for a small donation. My thinking was if I offered people something in return for their help, they'd be more sympathetic.

I got no takers.

A friend of mine plays harmonica on the streets for tips. He does not consider himself a beggar, or bum. He considers himself a street musician. That's his job. I agree.

A girl I know panhandles every day, no matter the weather, so she can pay for a hotel room for her and her husband. So they can stay safe; So they can eat.

It may be irritating to encounter more and more panhandlers on your way to work, on your commute home standing on freeway ramps. Certain ones can be obnoxious or rude. Put yourself in their shoes. I was regularly hit up for change and cigarettes when I was homeless. What are people really threatened by? Is it guilt, apathy, lack of compassion?

A great solution to this problem would be what I propose for Salt Lake City. Many other metropolitan areas have embraced this idea with great success. With the charitable mind-set of most Utah residents I think it would work here.

It is an alternative to panhandling. It is known as a street newspaper.

Find out more about this at NASNA.org

Utah

...drop proposed panhandling ban by Randall Jepsen ksl.com [photo: ksl.com Bill Tibbettsand others from the Anti-Hunger Project at Crossroads Urban Center]

Facts about panhandlers
Survey by Crossroads Urban Center

1.The vast majority of panhandlers in Salt Lake City are homeless
2.Most panhandlers in Salt Lake City are actively looking for work
3.Most panhandlers have significant barriers to finding lasting employment
4.Many people are already receiving tickets while panhandling in Salt Lake City
5.Most panhandlers would rather work for minimum wage than panhandle
6.Food is the most common thing purchased with money obtained by panhandlers