Downtown Alliance Launches Panhandling Campaign

10.07.2009 by Elizabeth Ziegler

(KCPW News) The Downtown Alliance launched an anti-panhandling education campaign yesterday, which dovetails with Salt Lake City’s proposed ordinance that would limit “aggressive panhandling.” Downtown Alliance Executive Director Jason Mathis says the education component focuses on giving to established charities instead of panhandlers.

“The education campaign is directed more at talking about the services that are provided in our community by shelters and other social service organizations, really trying to encourage people to give money to those organizations instead of giving money to panhandlers,” Mathis says.

The campaign will include posters, a Web site and public service announcements  containing the message, “Panhandling is a business, support a shelter instead.” Mathis says when people give to shelters, the money is directed to vital social services. But panhandlers could be lying about their need, or not even be homeless at all. He believes discouraging panhandling will make downtown more welcoming for businesses, visitors and residents.

Downtown Community Council Chairman Christian Harrison says the issue of panhandling is brought up at every meeting. And he thinks this education campaign is part of the solution.

“The people of Utah, the people that live in our region are naturally giving. And there is a segment of that population that just doesn’t know that giving to the person they think is homeless and panhandling, isn’t helping the problem,” Harrison says. “So if we can touch the minds of those individuals, then it’s successful.”

The city is currently taking public comments on the proposed anti-panhandling ordinance, which would set limits on where panhandling is allowed and set penalties for anyone who intimidates or harasses a person for spare change. Click here to read the ordinance and click here for the Downtown Alliance panhandling site.