Preventing Panhandling

HOUSTON—The Cypress Creek Community is a giving community, attractive to the many individuals who like to capitalize on its generosity by panhandling along major roadways. Donating money to panhandlers encourages homeless people to remain on the streets, and that is something the Houston Northwest Chamber is striving to prevent.

The “Don’t give Change – Be the Change” campaign is an awareness program launched by HOPE Haven and the Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce’s Safety & Security Task Force to educate the public about the importance of not giving money, rather helping non-profit organizations that transition homeless people back into society. The Safety & Security Task Force is chaired by Glenn Rex of Rex Association Management and Chamber Board Treasurer.

According to Kristyn Stillwell, HOPE Haven executive director, “Donors of money are sustaining the unhealthy lifestyles of the homeless and allowing them to settle deeper into their homeless or

substandard lifestyle. With our generous community funding this way of living, there is no motivation for these people to become productive contributors of society.”

HOPE Haven offers an alternative to staying on the street by providing a proven process transition from homelessness into a lifelong self-sustaining productive lifestyle. HOPE Haven is educating the community and ultimately the nation regarding a more useful means for our community’s generosity; bringing homeless individuals to a better end. To date, HOPE Haven has brought over one hundred individuals off the street and into healthier lifestyles. These successes have a positive community impact in terms of reducing the tax burden, reversing detrimental environmental effects, such as crime, and saving lives.

Recently Mayor Turner announced his programs to address homelessness and panhandling within the city limits of Houston. He urges citizens to offer “Meaningful Change” rather than spare change to panhandlers. He encourages generous souls to give their spare change to the many agencies that help the homeless. This announcement came about two months after the Cypress Creek Community announced the “Be the Change” Campaign.

“Now we are looking to churches and other civic groups to join this awareness campaign,” explains Barbara Thomason, Chamber president, “Northwoods Presbyterian plans to host a Community Town Hall on the subject of the homeless this summer and we look to other organizations to communicate with their members.”

Additionally, there are several organizations in the Cypress Creek Community that assist the homeless. In addition to HOPE Haven, there is HOPE Center and Northwest Assistance Ministries. These organizations welcome “spare change” to assist local individuals.

View more about the “Be the Change” campaign http://bit.ly/BeTheChangeCampaign

For more information about HOPE Haven contact: Kristyn Stillwell, (832)257-8790.

The Houston Northwest Houston Chamber of Commerce is a 501(c) 6 non-profit corporation. The Chamber is an organization of member businesses investing time, talent and resources in economic and community development programs, and working together to improve the economic, civic and cultural fortitude of the region. To learn more about the Chamber and benefits of membership, visit www.HoustonNWChamber.org and www.GrowHoustonNW.com.