Panhandling has been raising questions recently. A proposal started by the Everett City Council has now passed, adding restrictions to panhandlers’ actions.
Some people just see homeless people as citizens who decided to throw their life away. In truth, many homeless people out there had no choice. Young teens have been kicked out of their homes, soldiers came back from war to no home and no job, and people have had terrible homes growing up. No one deserves to be on the streets.
I interviewed a group of panhandlers in Monroe consisting of two men, a woman and two dogs. When I asked if they had any issues with the police, the woman, Bernette, laughed and replied, “It depends on if they like you.”
She mentioned that panhandlers had to move around often because the police claimed that someone called and complained about them. She agreed that there were some aggressive panhandlers, but there’s “bad people everywhere in life.” We shouldn’t assume everyone is dangerous.
The group has been on the streets for eight years. Bernette said they didn’t have any help from the food banks or homeless shelters because they don’t fit the criteria.
The next time you drive by a straggly man on the road, holding up his cardboard sign while stroking his starved dog, looking like he hasn’t seen a meal in a week, you should stop. You could benefit because it would make you feel good about it for the rest of the day. Even if you spend five seconds pulling out money, or a good 10 minutes just talking to him, you can make a powerful change in his life.
Kira Estes
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