What do you do when a panhandler hits you up for some money? Whatever your answer is, what experiences or facts inform your policy for giving or not giving? People have strong opinions on this. With this episode we try to separate the facts, suppositions and ideology.
Tag: Panhandlers
'Us & Them': To Give or Not to Give?
When you see panhandlers on the street, what do you do? Ignore them and walk the other way? Hand them some spare change? And, how do you decide?
A lot of people have strong opinions about panhandlers, but are they based in reason or in ideology?
That’s the focus of latest episode of Us & Them, the new podcast from Trey Kay & West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
Trey Kay says the WVPB news staff’s reporting about a panhandling controversy in Parkersburg was the inspiration for his most recent episode.
Last fall, reporter Dave Mistich filed a story about the city of Parkersburg posting signs that read:
“Please Do Not Contribute to the Drug and Alcohol Problem by Giving To Panhandlers.”
“These signs made it sound like the city knew for sure that the money panhandlers get goes to drug and alcohol,” Kay recalled. “And I’ve always wondered whether that was true. I’ve always struggled with whether to give money to panhandlers. And so do a lot of people.”
Trey grew up in West Virginia, but he lives in New York now. He says whenever he’s in New York City, he encounters panhandlers. He recently stopped random people in Manhattan to ask if they give to beggars. He was surprised by how much thought people had given this question. Nearly everyone he talked to had a reason they choose to give – or not to give.
John, a guy Kay met at Penn Station, said he doubts that these people really need the money.
“I’ve seen some wearing $200 sneakers panhandling,” John said. “So you tell me. Why would I give that person money?”
A man named Simon told Kay he rarely gives because he believes panhandlers “just have to find a job.”
“I’ve seen a lot of alcoholics drinking, not really working,” Simon said. “They’re just lazy. They don’t want to work.”
Another person told him she doesn’t give because she’s seen TV news stories about beggars who are actually rich.
Others said they gave if the person seemed sincerely needy. And some said they didn’t care how the panhandlers spend the money – even if it goes for alcohol or drugs.
ACLU Criticizes Parkersburg's Panhandling Signs
Parkersburg’s panhandling signs are drawing criticism from the American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia.
The signs discourage people from giving to panhandlers, saying it contributes to drug and alcohol abuse.
ACLU of West Virginia executive director Jennifer Meinig tells The Parkersburg News and Sentinel that the signs are defamatory. She says they suggest that all panhandlers suffer from drug and alcohol issues.
Mayor Bob Newell had the signs placed in three areas of the city earlier this month. He tells the newspaper that the signs are an attempt to educate the public.
Newell says money given to panhandlers might not be used as donors believe it will be used.
He says he doesn’t believe anyone is defamed by the signs.
Parkersburg Signs Discourage Helping Panhandlers
A panhandler in Parkersburg says signs posted by the city discouraging the practice give panhandlers a bad name.
The signs ask people to not contribute to the drug and alcohol problem by giving to panhandlers.
Charles Kelly is a panhandler. He tells WTAP-TV that he doesn’t do drugs or drink alcohol. He also says he doesn’t go up to vehicles and ask for money.
Mayor Bob Newell had the signs placed in three areas of the city last week. He tells The Parkersburg News and Sentinel that the city has received complaints that people are intimidated by panhandlers.
Newell says he doesn’t think all homeless people are alcoholics or drug abusers. But he says resources are available for people who are in need.
According to a July 2011 fact sheet from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, 34.7% of sheltered adults who were homeless had chronic substance abuse issues.