TO THE EDITOR:
Those of us that are out here panhandling, our lives are difficult already. We’ve been referred to as con-artists just for asking for a hot dog. We’re harassed by the police. Some of us have criminal records that make it hard to get a job or a place to live.
It is difficult enough to be poor in America, and then to be stigmatized makes our lives even more difficult. Everyone wants to feel like they have value and worth. We appreciate when people feed us, but everyone needs money also.
Many who are against panhandling claim that services are available to help people in situations like ours; unfortunately, many services that are available require people to conform to a certain set of norms of behavior. It is true that some of us have addiction or mental health issues, but there is no one-size-fits-all solution. They want to blame us when their solutions don’t work! Most people out here don’t want to be here and many do find a way out.
There is a movement to get rid of homelessness by getting rid of homeless people. On Franklin, they recently removed benches and flower beds to discourage people without money from socializing. It seems society doesn’t want to be reminded that there is suffering in the world. They want to hide it away.
What would you do if you were in our shoes? If you need money and have nowhere to turn but the kindness of strangers?
Neil Slater
Bradford S. Johnson
Jason Hailey
