Milford Residents Urged to Say 'No' to Panhandlers

This is a press release from Milford Mayor Benjamin G. Blake and it concerns how the city plans to address panhandling in the community. Beginning on Friday, Milford residents are asked to say “no” to giving donations to panhandlers, and “yes” to giving donations to local service organizations who can better help the homeless.

Here is the press release:

Beginning in August, members from various sectors of the Milford community have been meeting as part of the Mayor’s Have a Heart, Give Smart Task Force to develop a strategy to address the issue of panhandling in Milford.

The task force is comprised of representatives from municipal agencies, businesses, and nonprofit organizations in Milford that are impacted by or provide services for this population.

After much research, the task force recommended the launch of an awareness campaign called “Have a Heart, Give Smart,” an effort to address what it found are often the root causes of panhandling.

The focus of the campaign is to educate and encourage members of the public to find alternative ways of giving by making donations to local human service agencies that provide help for those in need, rather than giving money directly to panhandlers.

“What we were trying to accomplish is an attempt to better meet the needs of those who actually panhandle while addressing the concerns of community members. We as a city need to ensure that these individuals have access to the numerous services available to them through local social support agencies,” said Mayor Benjamin Blake.

The Have a Heart, Give Smart campaign will launch on Friday with the release of a billboard in downtown Milford near Daniel Street encourage residents and visitors to say “No” to panhandling and “Yes” to giving.

Additionally, the task force will work to provide educational materials throughout the community regarding panhandling and the importance of giving to local agencies that can provide lasting assistance to individuals in need.

Finally, as part of the campaign, staff members from the Beth El Shelter in Milford will conduct outreach and provide information to panhandlers in Milford regarding local services available to assist them.

The task force is pleased to have the support of several local agencies and businesses, including the United Way of Milford, Beth El Shelter, Barrett Outdoor Communications, Inc., Minuteman Press, and several city agencies including the Mayor’s Office, Health Department, City Attorney’s Office, and Department of Human Services.

Each of these agencies has donated their time, staff, and/or funding to ensure the success of this effort