Don't Give Money To Panhandlers, Give To Help Groups: Southington

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Southington's top elected board recently received an update about a push to curb, yet still help, panhandlers, one that asks folks to refrain from giving them money.

Many communities have transient populations stationed at intersections and busy streetlights asking for peoples' spare change or dollars. Southington is no different.

But the Southington Town Council April 22 learned of a local strategy utilizing an education-first approach, one emphasizing helping the organizations that help those in need, rather than, merely, giving cash to those holding signs at street corners.

William Palmieri, a board member for the local Bread for Life social services agency and a retired deputy police chief, addressed the panhandling problem during a presentation at the council's last meeting.

The issue has been an on-again, off-again concern in town for years, with local policymakers balancing a desire to help those in need with an aim to keep panhandlers from overwhelming busy areas of town.

William Palmieri said the matter was discussed at the council level last year with three options mulled: an ordinance on panhandling; putting up anti-panhandling signs; and an aggressive education campaign.

"We decided to go with an educational awareness campaign, which resulted in the brochure that you have in front of you today," Palmieri said.

He outlined a multi-pronged approach to dealing with panhandling: educating the community and those in need; putting out announcements on the issue to the local press; and making presentions to "stakeholder" groups on the topic

According to the recently completed brochure given to council members, offering money to panhandlers does not solve the problem. It likely encourages more panhandling, it stated.

The better approach, according to the brochure, is to support the myriad organizations that help folks in need, such as Bread for Life, local food pantries, the town's community services department, and local social service agencies.

As a result, a brochure was created to distribute in the community stating just that, with the hope both panhandlers and those who give to them read it.

"People who are on the street asking for money every day are not bad people. However, most are folks with incredible challenges who need help," reads the town brochure, adding many panhandlers are mentally ill or disabled.

The brochure goes on to ask folks to, instead of giving cash, give them "kindness and a smile" and "acknowledge them as human beings."

Palmieri said education would help everyone involved, including the agencies that help the panhandlers.

"The reason why we went with the awareness campaign was, really, a simple thing where, if we raise education of the resources in the community that help people, then the people will know and contact these services," Palmieri said, adding the public could donate time, money or goods to the cause.

"We firmly believe the best method was to raise awareness, make people understand that if you give your dollars or your time or your effort here, it's going to be paid back a hundred-fold."

While many panhandlers are down on their luck or suffering, others are part of organized, panhandling rings from out of the area where, simply, cash is compiled.

Some, according to the brochure, are even involved in human trafficking activities.

No vote was required by the council, but council members appeared to support the panhandling approach with bipartisan aplomb.

"This makes me so proud to live in Southington. Instead of ignoring an issue and taking adverse action, you come together and educate and provide empathy," GOP Councilperson Jennifer Clock said. "It just makes me very proud to live in this town."

For the minutes of the April 22 Southington Town Council meeting as well as the written brochure on panhandling, click on this link.

From Sept. 6, 2023: 'Panhandling Problem Addressed by Southington Leaders'