Equality State News

It’s OK to say no to panhandlers.

That’s the message on new signs the City of Arlington has installed at three highly traveled intersections to encourage drivers to donate to or volunteer with Arlington Homeless Service Providers instead of providing cash to panhandlers. The signs, located on Interstate 20 and Bowen Road, Interstate 30 and Collins Street and Division and Collins streets, are one of four strategies the City is implementing as part of a pilot program to address public concerns about panhandling.

Anecdotal information from the Arlington Police Department indicates that not all panhandlers are homeless and panhandling often supports drug and alcohol addictions. Many studies have found that the less than 10% of homeless people panhandle. One reason for a proliferation of panhandling in Arlington is the generosity of residents who want to help individuals who appear to be either homeless or in dire need of financial assistance.

One of the City’s goals is to educate the public on more effective ways to assist the homeless. The signs, for example, include the website for Arlington Homeless Service Provider members, www.arlingtontx.gov/homeless, to help raise awareness about resources and shelters available in Arlington that serve people who are unsheltered. Arlington is also working to launch a communitywide public education initiative on ways residents can contribute to the solution by supporting the various nonprofit organizations, such as the Arlington Life Shelter, Salvation Army and Safe Haven of Tarrant County, that are already working to help those in need.

The City also aims to improve intersection safety by discouraging panhandlers from stepping into traffic to solicit money from drivers. Panhandling is a violation in Arlington that can result in a citation if observed by a police officer. Because panhandlers know the law, they will refrain from stepping into the street when they observe a police vehicle nearby. In January, Arlington police began remotely monitoring traffic cameras at nine intersections with a high frequency of panhandling and communicating with nearby patrol officers when activity is observed.

In addition to the increased police response to observed activity and the installed signs discouraging people from providing cash to panhandlers, the City is examining infrastructure design elements to limit the ability for people enter the street from the medians. Pilot projects are planned at Matlock and Sublett roads and Randol Mill Road and Green Oaks Boulevard.

Original source can be found here.