Stiff the Panhandlers

By: Mr. Wilson on May 9, 2007

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Downtown Lincoln Association want you to stiff the panhandlers Downtown. Their new campaign features posters with the text "I didn't need your money. I just needed a change.", along with silhouette "shadow people" holding the signs stationed around Downtown. The argument is that giving panhandlers pocket change does nothing to aid them over the long haul, whereas giving money to local aid agencies actually helps people. UNL Professor Fran Kaye isn't convinced. She thinks UNL "must work harder to embrace diversity" -- why the hell would UNL want to embrace the "diversity" of homelessness? -- and that the effort is in poor taste. It certainly is attention-getting. LJS commenter makes a good point:

If you want people to give the change they would have given to the people on the street to programs for the homeless instead, are opportunities easily available downtown to do so? Collection containers or some other method? If you want to change the behaviors of the donators you'll need to make it easy to do the alternative donation.

She is right. Without providing an easy way for folks to redirect their donations (or to generate new donations), this program starts to look more anti-homeless than anti-homelessness.

Comments

See what your friends and neighbors have to say about this.

beerorkid

May 9, 2007 at 4:41PM

being a downtown worker / close to resident for almost a decade I am very accustomed to the regulars.

I think the laws changed a few years back so that is why the cardboard signs are all the rage.

I had some great ways of being left alone though. “I can give you something even better than money, the word of the lord Jesus Christ” Made them never ask you again. A few called my bluff though. Also I sometimes would give a few bucks if they were honest enough to admit that they were just gonna spend it on booze.

I live pretty close to the city mission and ride the salt levee trail often. Many hang under the bridges and booze bottles litter the area. I do not get hassled by those there though. Maybe my speed or dog. Still it is quite a bummer to witness.

I like what they are trying to do, but do not think it will have any real effect.

Neal

May 9, 2007 at 6:18PM

I was friends with Kermit Keeshan, the guy who lived in his van. While he wasn’t a panhandler (he never asked, but accepted), he also loved his life. He enjoyed the freedom he had living the way he did. This movement doesn’t take into consideration that some people don’t want to live out of a shelter.

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