Many of us walk past people on the streets who appear to be homeless, often struggling with the decision of whether to give them money. Concerned about whether or not the funds will support a drug addiction or encourage panhandlers to remain on the street, some choose to walk swiftly by panhandlers, even avoiding eye contact.
In an effort to curb panhandling, many cities have launched anti-panhandling campaigns and installed “giving meters” or “donation meters,” essentially painted and re-purposed parking meters where people can deposit change to support programs and assist the homeless.
Giving Meters or donation meters have been installed in Atlanta, Washington, San Francisco, Miami, Vancouver, and Nashville, and are soon be installed in Orlando, Florida.
“Homelessness is not a government issue. It’s not a nonprofit issue. Homelessness is a community issue. And when we all work together, we can reduce homelessness in our city,” said Nashville Mayor Karl Dean at the launch of the Adopt-a-Meter Campaign, as reported by the Key Alliance, an initiative of the Metropolitan Homelessness Commission.
Denver implemented its Adopt-a-Meter program in 2007 and generates more than $100,000 annually through sponsorships and donations to its 86 meters. Denver Road Home, one of the implementers of the Donation Meter Program, reported that the meters have been successful in curbing panhandling in areas where they are installed.
“Nashville will start with 30 meters. Each meter is sponsored by a company or organization for $1,000 for one year,” said Clifton Harris, director of the Key Alliance.
Atlanta launched a campaign with the tagline, “Give Change That Makes Sense.” According to the Central Atlanta Progress website, the campaign goal is to convince residents, employees, customers, students, and visitors that giving money to panhandlers is not an authentic act of charity, and to let panhandlers know that panhandling is illegal. Atlanta currently has five donation meters.
Orlando passed an ordinance in 2000 to restrict panhandling to designated zones marked throughout the city. The city’s new donation boxes will be placed in the panhandling zones, but they are reported to be alternatives to panhandling, rather than specifically designed to ban panhandling.
The Orlando Sentinel reported that local homeless advocacy groups question the cities’ motives in installing the donation meters.
While the initiative seeks to support the homeless, the National Center of Homeless & Poverty reported in its 2009 report “Homes not Handcuffs,” that many cities lack adequate shelter and services for increasing numbers of homeless people, and use the criminal justice system to punish people for living on the street, and doing what they must to survive.
Measures to criminalize homelessness include: the enactment and enforcement of legislation that makes it illegal to sleep, sit, or store personal belongings in public spaces in cities where people are forced to live in public spaces; the enforcement of laws that restrict people from sharing food with the homeless in public spaces; “sweeps” of city areas which destroy peoples’ personal belongings, including medication; and the banning of panhandling.
In an instance of art imitating life, the 2010 film Please Give, directed by Nicole Holofcenter, who also did Friends with Money, addresses the issue of donating to the homeless. In the film, Rebecca, played by Catherine Keener, is moved to give $20 to a homeless man she passes while walking down a New York City street with her daughter.
Abby, Rebecca’s teen-aged daughter, played by Sarah Steele, frustrated, takes the $20 bill from her mother, insisting that her mother give $5 instead. After arguing, Rebecca gives the homeless man $5. “I’m sorry, I’m ashamed,” says Rebecca.
In an effort to curb panhandling, many cities have launched anti-panhandling campaigns and installed “giving meters” or “donation meters,” essentially painted and re-purposed parking meters where people can deposit change to support programs and assist the homeless.
Giving Meters or donation meters have been installed in Atlanta, Washington, San Francisco, Miami, Vancouver, and Nashville, and are soon be installed in Orlando, Florida.
“Homelessness is not a government issue. It’s not a nonprofit issue. Homelessness is a community issue. And when we all work together, we can reduce homelessness in our city,” said Nashville Mayor Karl Dean at the launch of the Adopt-a-Meter Campaign, as reported by the Key Alliance, an initiative of the Metropolitan Homelessness Commission.
Denver implemented its Adopt-a-Meter program in 2007 and generates more than $100,000 annually through sponsorships and donations to its 86 meters. Denver Road Home, one of the implementers of the Donation Meter Program, reported that the meters have been successful in curbing panhandling in areas where they are installed.
“Nashville will start with 30 meters. Each meter is sponsored by a company or organization for $1,000 for one year,” said Clifton Harris, director of the Key Alliance.
Atlanta launched a campaign with the tagline, “Give Change That Makes Sense.” According to the Central Atlanta Progress website, the campaign goal is to convince residents, employees, customers, students, and visitors that giving money to panhandlers is not an authentic act of charity, and to let panhandlers know that panhandling is illegal. Atlanta currently has five donation meters.
Orlando passed an ordinance in 2000 to restrict panhandling to designated zones marked throughout the city. The city’s new donation boxes will be placed in the panhandling zones, but they are reported to be alternatives to panhandling, rather than specifically designed to ban panhandling.
The Orlando Sentinel reported that local homeless advocacy groups question the cities’ motives in installing the donation meters.
While the initiative seeks to support the homeless, the National Center of Homeless & Poverty reported in its 2009 report “Homes not Handcuffs,” that many cities lack adequate shelter and services for increasing numbers of homeless people, and use the criminal justice system to punish people for living on the street, and doing what they must to survive.
Measures to criminalize homelessness include: the enactment and enforcement of legislation that makes it illegal to sleep, sit, or store personal belongings in public spaces in cities where people are forced to live in public spaces; the enforcement of laws that restrict people from sharing food with the homeless in public spaces; “sweeps” of city areas which destroy peoples’ personal belongings, including medication; and the banning of panhandling.
In an instance of art imitating life, the 2010 film Please Give, directed by Nicole Holofcenter, who also did Friends with Money, addresses the issue of donating to the homeless. In the film, Rebecca, played by Catherine Keener, is moved to give $20 to a homeless man she passes while walking down a New York City street with her daughter.
Abby, Rebecca’s teen-aged daughter, played by Sarah Steele, frustrated, takes the $20 bill from her mother, insisting that her mother give $5 instead. After arguing, Rebecca gives the homeless man $5. “I’m sorry, I’m ashamed,” says Rebecca.
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