After Council Flap Over Panhandlers, Many Needy Remain Without Social Services

NEWPORT, RI – Calls poured into the Newport police on Monday morning from passersby worried about an abandoned dog. They'd spotted a black and white American Staffordshire mix tied up near the entrance to the shopping center on Connell Highway.

But the dog wasn't abandoned. His owner, who was keeping a watching eye on 3-year-old Meatball, had been told to move the dog while she was panhandling in the median strip. Originally, she'd had the dog on a leash with her, but police told her the dog couldn't be in the median.

"The animal control officer is working on it," the police said.

Panhandling sparked controversy at the Newport City Council's Oct. 26 meeting. Councilor John Florez had proposed a new ordinance to stop anyone from soliciting or receiving anything in the roadway. He said most people in the city want the panhandlers stopped. But some panhandlers attended the meeting and spoke up to say they had to panhandle because they couldn't find any help from social services.

Ultimately, the councilor's plan, which the American Civil Liberties Union opposed as unconstitutional, failed by one vote, and Florez withdrew it.

Sandra Whipple, who was out panhandling Monday with her dog, said she wishes the city would make Section 8 housing in some of the empty government buildings, instead of pressing charges against people asking for help.

"I don't think they should bother the panhandlers," she said.

Whipple said she knows of only one homeless shelter for adults on the whole island, and that's the McKinney Shelter on Broadway.

"There's six beds for the women," she said and about 20 beds for the men. "By the time you get over there, it's full."

She's been homeless for almost a year, she said. She has a medical disability, but social services has not been able to help her.

"I've been on the waiting list for four years," she said. "There's only so much low income housing and housing for people with disability."

Whipple is a Newporter. She had been living in the Fifth Ward with her daughter; but after 18 months, the landlord made the lease month-to-month. Ultimately, he didn't want them there because of the dogs, she said. Her daughter had adopted a rescue dog; and although she'd been told the animal was spayed, it had a litter and Meatball was one of the pups. The landlord originally had said the dogs were okay. She even bought insurance for them, but then he changed his mind.

"He's my comfort dog," she said and added Meatball keeps her warm when they have to sleep outside.

"It's so hard to find housing," she said. Meanwhile, she's hoping the government will do something to help them.

"If I could get 10 other people to file a civil suit against the City," she said, she believes the homeless and their advocates could force the local government to provide a place where they're allowed to stay. She could get by okay, she figures, if the City just allowed the homeless to pitch tents on vacant land.