Panhandling Problem Addressed by Southington Leaders

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A common sight at busy parts of town are people standing at stoplights or intersections seeking instant financial help from passersby.

But, according to Southington town officials recently, the problem of panhandlers in the community doesn't require any new ordinances or signage in town banning them.

Rather, the Southington Town Council, by consensus at its last meeting last month, decided education, not enforcement, is the best way to deal with the issue.

Folks are being encouraged to donate to local nonprofits that help folks who often turn to panhandling, with Southington embarking on an information/pamphlet campaign to do just that.

"We've been working and talking about this for months and months and months," Republican Southington Town Council Chairperson Victoria Triano said.

Southington Deputy Police Chief William "Bill" Palmieri spoke before the council Aug. 14 about the issue.

He said an unofficial subcommittee of police and social services leaders met with Triano about panhandling and the group decided education, not enforcement, was the best option for now.

Palmieri said a community pamphlet campaign will educate people about the panhandling problem, why some people do it, and what can be done to help.

Those materials will include signs that will go up on some businesses directing people to the organizations that work with local homeless, essentially asking folks to help the people who help those in need.

"We're going to distribute it to all of the merchants and also some signs that people can put in the window," Palmieri said. "We just felt that a brochure was the way to go along with some other educational material."

Two organizations specifically mentioned are Southington Community Services and Bread of Life, which both work to help folks in need cope with financial challenges and food security issues.

Palmieri did address a common perception that all pandhandlers are scam artists pretending to be down on their luck in an attempt to, simply, get money from the public.

While that is the case on some occasions, the reality is most panhandlers are simply people in desperate need and seeking help.

"There are people that scam and there are people that are down on their luck," said Palmieri.

Added Triano, "This is a much better way to go forward, because, yes, there could be scammers out there. But there could also be some people in need and we want to make sure we can take care of the people in need."

For the minutes of the Aug. 14 Southington Town Council meeting, click on this link.

For a sample pamphlet on pandhandling, click on that link and scroll to Pages 24-25.