That said, you can regulate panhandling, as the A2 ordinance does.

Royal Oak is currently facing legal challenges to their anti-panhandling ordinance.

Whatever the reason, whatever your thoughts on the subject, the fact of the matter is that being homeless is not criminal. It does not make you a criminal. In many jurisdictions, going through trash is not considered trespassing (unless completely fenced, etc).

I’m not a fan of giving money to panhandlers. I’ll engage… ask them what they want the money for. Most will tell you to get food. The real test is to offer to come back with a sandwich and see what they say. Ask what they think of the food at the kitchen? Some have told me flat out that they want a beer… I’ve respected the honesty… sometimes even going and returning with some. ;)

Bottom line is that homeless is not a crime. The homeless and panhandlers are not the same thing either.

Panhandlers are visible in areas where the community will support panhandlers… which is why you see many more panhandlers in college towns… college students by in large tend to be quite generous to panhandlers.

If you want to stop panhandling, you need to modify culture. But first is to make sure you’re separating homeless from panhandlers.

The downside…

Heading to work at 0630, I’ve had a panhandler plying his trade call out to me from out front of Zingermans. Not stop me and ask, but call out, loudly, across the intersection of Detroit and Kingsley. Sometimes I wonder what the dozing neighbors thought of the gentle exchange that followed.

In warmer weather, walking to various shops, venues and services downtown, I’m met with a barrage of the regular panhandlers, for some reason they haven’t yet recognized me as a member of the non-enabling crowd. Crutch-man, the Pope, limping lady, and the “professional” that hangs out in front of the Co-op. I call him professional as it appears to me he’s panhandling for a “homeless cause” other than himself. In cooler weather, just the professional remains.

None of them frightens me, except “the outsiders”. These are the out-of-place thugs who show up for a few weekends a year… looking for easy marks, panhandling is their front as they observe the behavior of passing humanity. Cross on the other side of the street from these guys.

I agree with the Idaho approach, but a 10% reduction isn’t enough. What can we do to multiply that effect?

I’ve also heard of an approach where strategic support meters ( like parking meters ) are placed around town and people are encouraged to donate to causes such as the one’s Ms. Briere suggests through the meters instead of handing Crutch-man a quarter. This might help as well.

Finally, Mr. McGillicutty above is not alone in his experience of scavengers dumpster diving in his backyard. Often there are individuals casually disregarding our NO TRESPASSING sign and strolling deep into our back lot and diving into the trash as they scavenge.

Ms. Armentrout, for the children that live here, I am certain it is scary to have strangers wandering back into an area they should consider part of their PRIVATE home. For me, it just pisses me off that there is no disincentive to the anti-social behavior.

Ann Arbor is a generous community, and strives to provide options for all – especially those in need. Our community supports a broad range of free services to those who are homeless or experiencing economic hardship. This abbreviated list of resources list those which provide immediate help to those in need.

Panhandling is almost always symptom of a greater need, regardless of how a situation is represented.

Free Meals in Ann Arbor
Food Gatherers Community Kitchen @ the Delonis Center – 312 W. Huron Street, Ann Arbor
12noon Lunch & 5pm Dinner weekdays
3pm Dinner on weekends
St. Andrews Breakfast – 306 N Division St Ann Arbor
7:30am Breakfast everyday
Saturday Bag Lunch
Additional Meals throughout Ypsilanti – call 211 for information

Shelter/Housing
SOS Community Services Housing Crisis Line 484-4300
The Delonis Center
312 W. Huron Street, Ann Arbor 662-2829
Project Outreach (PORT)
110 North Fourth, Ann Arbor 222-3750
The Salvation Army’s Staples Center
3660 Packard Rd., Ann Arbor 761-7750
Ozone House (for youth ages 10-20)
1705 Washtenaw Ave, Ann Arbor 662-2222

Sobriety Help
Dawn Farm Street Outreach 485-8725
Home of New Vision 975-1602

For Other Help
Call 211
For Emergencies
Call 911

Allow me to explain my position. I’m offended when I’m approached by individuals who try to panhandle from me in our beautiful town here. It’s not an honest method of acquiring daily needs (cigs, alcohol, drugs, candy, food, clothes, roof over the head….anything). I’m not inferring people who ask for money are really out to buy clothes or a roof over their head. That very well could be the case.

There are many citizens in A2 who condone panhandling, now the A2 Consul has become involved, A2 Policing polices, and now I know where the problem is, we’re all promoting it. Even me.

My apologies for “piling on” but there isn’t really much talk of any solutions to the actual A2 panhandling problem, merely shoot down any positive talk for real change, and in doing that it will make this negative aspect of going for nice enjoyable walk downtown, now I feel worse, since there isn’t any way to make it better.

A2′s Panhandling Commission is a wolf in sheeps clothing. Can anyone tell me how having panhandlers on city payrolls, camp free (trash out an area e.g I-94/Jackson Ave), who ask others for cash everywhere not just down town. In a majority of these exhanges, the receiver feels very uncomforatable, where it’s a nusiance and a bother. All I want from a friend I don’t know is nothing more friendship or a friendly “hows it goin”.

The question is:

Who is responsible for making this right? In our world, it has to be “us” the citizens to form a front and create a negative response at the first instance of this crime. The police are never around at the time of the event, why because there would not be a hobo conflict with Ms. Police woman standing with in 50 feet – DUH.

The A2 panhandling “legal” solution:

Please see my first message. Calling all A2 citizens against the panhanders movement to meet downtown on Saturday, January 8th, at 12:00 noon Main Street/Liberty. A flash mob has already been planned with notices ready. We all be better prepared with more confidence, we’ll stick together, start addressing anyone who panhandles in a more appropriate and civilized manner. Yes the wheeee’s are going to be cleaning up da the hobo corps. Next up, active citizens against weekly panhandling maintenance patrol as long as it’s needed, then put that in to low maintenace mode.

See you at Main / Liberty Saturday at 12:00 noon. We ask for nothing more than your support.

If I show you courtesy and you don’t give it back, than I share nothing. The ones who do show me courtesy I will buy lunch when I can afford it (I refuse to ever give cash, that can be given to agencies where you are 100% assured it will not go toward drugs or alcohol. Their appreciative, polite, and still don’t bother me, I help them my way when it’s my choice.

I think Vivienne is right to point out that your backyard encounter isn’t panhandling. (I’m not trying to minimize the awfulness of it by saying that.) It feels like you’re conflating homeless people (“hoboes”), threatening people (“thugs”) and panhandlers into one big uber-scary mass problem, but is that really valid? You can’t just dismiss the need for clarity as “analysis paralysis.” There’s a little bit of “ready, fire, aim!” going on there.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go have some hobo conflict. Whee!

What I’m picking up from Frank is that he is talking about a different problem than the task force was. They seemed to be concentrating on downtown panhandlers. He seems to be talking about people who are invading personal property in people’s home territories. That does indeed sound scary and if it is happening I hope that the police are responsive.

This article and discussion were useful to highlight some issues and I thought that hiring panhandlers to talk about their lives was a creative approach.