Acts challenge economic health of community

We have an unfortunate problem in the Spokane Valley. And a problem with unfortunates.

Panhandlers.

You see them on street corners and freeway exit ramps holding cardboard signs reading “homeless vet,” “hungry,” “will work for food,” “need food for my dog,” and “God bless.”

Valley panhandlers are getting bolder. Recently, upon leaving my bank, I encountered a guy hovering right outside who asked me for money. After being accosted twice in my 20s by sexual deviants — one a violent man who attempted to kidnap me — I feel very threatened by an unknown man approaching me when I’m alone.

Quickly getting into my car, I felt compelled to say, “There’s the Union Gospel Mission.” The panhandler replied dolefully, “Yeah, I was there, but they kicked me out a couple weeks ago.” Uh-huh, I thought; tells me all I need to know. Men are asked to leave for persisting in substance abuse and being a threat or continuing disruption to others. I was about to inform the bank when he wandered off.

As I parked at a nearby shop, there he was, accosting another lone woman. Before I could call the police, he disappeared from sight.

Years ago an aggressive panhandler approached my husband and me asking for food. When we mentioned the Mission, he resentfully declared, “Hey, I just hitchhiked here and I need a meal.” An entitled moocher with attitude.

It bothers me and others that panhandlers are breeding cynicism — the decline of compassion — about the poor. We deplore the negative feelings arising within us upon seeing them, because we understand the serious needs in our community. Interestingly, the mainstream homeless population also dislikes panhandlers, feeling they reflect poorly on them and taint them in the public’s eye.

As for the “vet” claim, the veteran community complained to State Sen. Pam Roach about the stigma brought on them by panhandlers falsely claiming to be veterans. In March, the Legislature passed her Senate Bill 5861, which makes it illegal to impersonate active or retired military personnel for personal gain, to protect veterans’ status and honor.

Over a decade ago a panhandler stood in front of University City every day with his “will work for food” cardboard sign, before this practice became common here. Many people wondered about him; many gave. A reporter interviewed him and discovered that he was raking in several hundred dollars a day and carting off loads of canned food that he got rid of, because he really just wanted the money. How much better to have given to a food bank.

Many good-hearted folks are naive. They give to panhandlers out of sympathy, fear, compulsion or guilt. But manipulated hearts can become fearful or hardened when generous folks see panhandling become pervasive and aggressive. They begin to see all panhandlers as con artists.

Some panhandlers do choose this lifestyle. Many are socially isolated, mentally ill or addicted. All rely on you to personally subsidize them. But this is a dead-end road for panhandlers and does them no favor.

Supporting panhandlers kills the work ethic through enablement and prevents the necessary degree of drive that would motivate them into seeking a better life with the proper help. Why work if you can survive on panhandling? And they know where they can get help when they truly want to rejoin society.

This comes down to choice. Panhandlers, like anyone else, are responsible for their choices. To dismiss them as unable to make right choices is to diminish their humanity and dignity.

Panhandling damages business and community life as people begin avoiding areas where panhandlers assemble. Thus, those areas become vulnerable to more serious crime. The economic health of a community can be at risk as panhandling increases.

So can our sense of safety and our altruism.

I’m encouraged that the Spokane Valley City Council is studying options to curb panhandling. And I suggest that rather than give to panhandlers, make your compassion count by supporting existing services that use funds wisely and well to help all in need.

Stopping the cycle by refusing panhandlers could make a difference in cutting down the growing problem of panhandling in the Valley.

Because fewer handouts may lead to fewer hands out.