Recently our nephew John, a doctoral student at Clemson, visited Raleigh for a chemistry symposium. When asked about his impressions of the Downtown, the first thing he mentioned was the number of people who approached him on the street, asking for money. He is not alone in his feeling of discomfort at being confronted by requests for change. District Captain Kevin Craighead of the Raleigh Police Department mentions that panhandling is the most common concern expressed by Downtown residents. See our previous post “DLA Helps Draft Panhandling Ordinance”.
Many have gotten involved in this issue over time. As early as March 2000, a newsletter of the Historic Glenwood Residents Association discussed possible approaches that residents and businesses could take to meet the growing challenges posed by vagrants displaced from center city park benches and drawn to the development in Glenwood South, “Street people, OUR Neighborhood, YOUR Business”. The emphasis has often focused on employing legal means to control this invasion on our sense of safety and well being. Ordinances are in place which require licensing for solicitation and restrict distances from businesses, bank machines and bus stops, as well as limiting hours to after 8AM and before 8PM.
But there is another way to greet panhandlers.
As a past resident of several large cities, including London and Philadelphia, I’ve noticed a different, more inclusive attitude toward street people. In fact, there was a man named Earl who spent each day at the bottom of the steps that joined our Philadelphia condo building to the underground train terminal. As business commuters passed by him, I noticed that people would greet him by name. “Hey, Earl!” “Hi, Earl. Your cold better today?” Over time, I started taking leftovers downstairs to Earl, and especially fruit, which he told me he loved. One day when he wasn’t there, I left bananas and apples at the 7-Eleven near his post, and the clerk promised to give them to Earl when he returned.
I learned from these people that there was another way to greet panhandlers. Not everyone gave Earl money or food, but most were influenced by the friendliness shown to him. I would say that the greetings that flew his way actually gave us all a sense of community that might not have existed otherwise in that stream of suits that came and went by the clock. I decided then that the bare minimum I could offer anyone was to look them in the face and simply see them.
Something funny happened when I started to do that. I felt safer. I didn’t need to worry any more about that feeling of dread that used to wash over me as someone approached. I didn’t offer them money, but I also didn’t let our interaction steal our dignity.
I believe that our fear in the economic downturn has increased our avoidance of panhandlers. As many have faced job losses and increased financial hardships, we see in them what visits us in our worst nightmares. We have an opportunity here to express compassion for ourselves through witnessing them with kindness.
How do we do that in a way that keeps us safe, and doesn’t promote panhandling? The Downtown Raleigh Alliance suggests giving money not to individuals, but organizations that provide support like the Raleigh Rescue Mission, the Salvation Army, Urban Ministries and The Healing Place.
So one scenario might be:
Hey, you got some spare change so I can get a hamburger?
No, but I do contribute to _________, and I know that they have services that could help.
There are those who go over the line. If you feel in danger, contact a Safety Ambassador (919-368-7962) or call 911 to dispatch the Raleigh Police Department. But there is a distinction to be made, so that you don’t feel blanketed by anger and annoyance each time you’re approached. This is part of our choice in living Downtown. In the suburbs, we segregated with others who shared our backgrounds and we looked at the rest of the world through our windshields. But by choosing to live Downtown, we choose face-to-face diversity that sometimes creeps into the shadowed places we’ve avoided, including in ourselves. Sometimes that feels uncomfortable, undeniably, yet it also comes with possibility.
I sat with City Councilman Thomas Crowder at a luncheon for Artsplosure today and I mentioned urban living as the new frontier. His Downtown district covers diverse economic and social backgrounds. We all have the opportunity to rise together above old fears and judgments. There is so much potential on these streets, and we can all be part of it by embracing our commonality and discovering solutions together.
The change we seek can start, one greeting at a time.
For additional information developed by the Downtown Raleigh Alliance go to www.PromoteRealChange.com
Do not give money to a panhandler, ever. No matter how bad their life is now you are only enabling them. I know the arguments about not all people panhandling are on drugs or alcohol and I agree. But you are directly supporting their lifestyle of being a burden on society. Tell them where a shelter is. If they saw the have a place to live, tell them where the Employment Security Commission is located (corner of Wade and St. Mary's).
The overload of panhandlers in DTR is one of the many reasons that Downtown will not flourish and a contributing factor to the stagnation that exists today.
I volunteer at one of the homeless shelters in downtown Raleigh. I decided to volunteer with the homeless community so I could understand the blight that plagues Moore Square. I have to admit, I was becoming more and more annoyed with the constant cat calls and people asking for money. I realized while working at the shelter that the individuals out there can ask for services and have their needs met with all the contributions out there. I do admit that some of the indivduals do have mental health problems that are so bad that they cannot discern when they need help. I feel that most of the panhandlers do know that they can go get help but would rather ask for money elsewhere to aid in their habits. Either way, I loved the way you suggest embracing the community. The downtown atmosphere in Raleigh does seem close knit and I would enjoy my time better if I knew how to address a panhandler without feeling annoyed or guilty that I don't give to them. I will use the line in the article stating that I volunteer at a homeless shelter and that they will be able to help with food and services. Thanks for the article and loved the advice!
The problem isn't the occasional person asking for change so much as it is nowadays you often see large groups of them together loitering like roving gangs. This seems to be getting worse by the day in the Moore Square area. Even us "urban pioneers" are gonna feel unsafe in our own downtown neighborhoods if this problem isn't fixed.
Thanks for the blog Donna. I am one that gets annoyed quickly with Panhandlers. Just the other day someone approached me looking for money……..actually $21.80 for a bus ticket home. Not really a true career panhandler, but you never really know. Instead of getting annoyed I listened, and suggested a few places he could possibly get assistance………Police Department and Downtown Raleigh Alliance. We DTR residents really need to educate ourselves who the real career panhandlers are in Downtown Raleigh. For Example: Travis McCoy, african american around 50ish walks around with a cane, and is a true career panhandler and has been in downtown for 14 years. The RPD knows him well and Travis knows the system.