“Spare some change?”
While those words, and those who speak them, seem innocuous enough, the impact of panhandling on a community is far from harmless.
More than 40 residents and business owners learned more about the problem of panhandling at the November meeting of the Central West End Association’s Security Forum at the Schlafly Branch Library. Leading the discussion was Sgt. Bob Heimberger, Director of the Central West End Neighborhood Security Initiative.
The Initiative, designed to unite the efforts of six Central West End Special Business Districts, the police and Hi-Tech Security, was introduced in late October. Its mission is to address security issues in the Central West End using a unique problem-solving approach.
“While panhandling may be considered by most to be simply a nuisance, inaction by the neighborhood to curb it can mean escalated problems,” said Heimberger. He cited national studies that show panhandlers often commit other crimes, such as breaking into cars, urinating in public, disorderly conduct, purse snatchings and robberies. According to neighborhood beat officers, a significant number of calls for police service in the Central West End concern the same people who are panhandling.
Heimberger also cited studies that dispel myths commonly associated with panhandlers. “Some panhandlers suffer from mental illness, but most do not,” he said. Likewise, “panhandlers and homeless people are not necessarily one and the same: few homeless people panhandle and few panhandlers are homeless.”
There are many reasons residents are susceptible to area panhandlers, particularly those who are friendly and non-intimidating, including the desire to help the less fortunate, fear, feeling vulnerable, and lack of people nearby. Other factors, including the time of day, the age and gender of the victim and the reputation of the panhandler can play a role.
“It’s natural to want to help our fellow citizens, especially during this season of giving, but in the long run, we’re hurting these individuals by perpetuating their livelihood,” said Heimberger. “Some of these individuals are indeed in need of services – jobs, homes, stability – but many are building a career out of panhandling.”
Julie Hahn, a resident of the Central West End, believes enforcement must be combined with an effort to determine the kinds of services needed. “A one-sided approach is not enough,” she said. “For some, we need to offer alternatives, treatment or other social services to get them off the sidewalks and into productive lives.”
The police and private security officials face numerous challenges in addressing the panhandling problem. Recent court rulings have limited their ability to “move” panhandlers out of the area. Additionally, according to city ordinances, a panhandler must exhibit aggressive or intimidating behavior before the police can take action.
Captain Mike Caruso, 9th District, said the legal restrictions, combined with the fact that panhandling is simply not a priority crime, makes it more difficult in terms of response. “It often feels like our hands are tied.”
However, he encourages residents to report panhandling, especially if they feel intimidated. “I would ask that residents be very specific in their reporting of panhandling,” he said. “Note the location, the person’s appearance and exactly what happened.”
The Central West End Association Security and Community Outreach Committee, which directs the Central West End Neighborhood Safety Initiative, is researching best practices across the country to deal with panhandling and plans to enact a variety of responses, including educating residents and business owners about the proper way to deal with panhandlers, introducing legislation that would ban panhandling in specific areas (such as in front of businesses, near ATM’s, near public transportation routes, etc.), and banning troublesome panhandlers from the neighborhood as a condition of probation.
Alderwoman Lyda Krewson, who last year introduced and passed legislation banning solicitation on public streets, says she supports measures to curb panhandling in the Central West End. Krewson represents the 28th Ward, which includes the northern part of the Central West End.
The Ninth District has distributed a flyer that urges residents to say no to panhandlers and provides a list of local service-providers willing to provide assistance.