Make Those Dirty People Go Away

A recent editorial in the Greenville News entitled, City Needs to Address Begging Complaints, noted the increase of people panhandling in the downtown area:

This is a serious problem that needs to be addressed by city leaders before it has a detrimental impact on downtown businesses.

In fairness the editorial noted that this should be a launch pad for discussions to determine whether there are enough services in the city to help the poor, homeless, or downtrodden during difficult times. Absent from the editorial were suggestions to help curb the problem or offer solutions. Most disturbing was the line: ...Greenville needs to ensure it is protecting the investment of time and money that it has put into making downtown the gem that it is. Translation: Make these dirty people go away, they are soiling our downtown showcase when they beg for help.

I'm still waiting on the editorial admonishing designer dog owners who drive their luxury cars, or mega SUV's downtown to walk their dogs, but fail to clean up after Fido relieves himself in the grassy areas. Or what about those cars with designer/personalized license plates who abuse the two-hour parking spots, or worse, park in spaces designated for the handicap with no handicap license plate, or rear-view mirror tag? Oops, I digress.

Panhandling is illegal in our community. It's also uncomfortable for everyone. Strangers approaching strangers asking for money is awkward. It can be intimidating and scary for the person being panhandled. You leave a downtown business and someone who is obviously down on their luck approaches you asking for money. You don't know if they are going to steal your purse, or wallet when you offer help, or how they will respond if you dismiss them and ignore the request for help. I have even noticed the increase in panhandling in retail areas away from downtown, especially when gas was above $3.50 per gallon.

Years ago in seminary I participated in an urban ministry class assignment that found ten of us on the city streets of Louisville, on a Friday evening with a quarter in our pocket (there were public phones back then) and our driver's license in our shoe. All of us had to work on our "stories" (every street person has a story) and our homeless wardrobe. The guys didn't shave for a week and several of us decided not to bathe for a few days before the drop off so we wouldn't stand out by smelling squeaky clean (homeless folks don't have the luxury of getting a shower whenever they want). It was St. Patrick's Day weekend and it was very cold. Each of us had assignments for overnight shelters (so we wouldn't overly burden one shelter), but other than that we could go anywhere we wanted. As part of the "Urban Plunge" we had to panhandle at least once.

I've never felt more ashamed, humiliated and alienated. I remember walking along the St. Patrick's Day parade route as parents would grab their children away from me. Others would see me at an intersection crossing and walk away so they didn't have to face me, or other homeless people in the crosswalk. Business owners shooed us away when we sat with other homeless folks on sidewalk sewer grates trying to warm ourselves from the steam rising from below. Panhandling was especially excruciating for me. I come from a family with a very strong work ethic. I tried several times before getting up the courage to actually approach someone. When I finally panhandled, I was rejected, cussed out, chastised, threatened by potential calls to the police, and more than anything else, rejected and ignored. We were in pairs for safety. My buddy and I earned a whopping $1.25 for our panhandling efforts. It enabled us to get off the cold streets and buy two cups of coffee and split a sandwich at White Castle. We had to add in our emergency phone call quarters to come up with enough.

Most of the people I met on the streets that weekend were battling alcoholism, addictions, mental illness and depression. I was surprised to learn how many were American veterans. Homeless families tore me up. I spent the night sleeping on the floor of a local shelter's overflow room. It's also where they put people who weren't sober enough to spend the night in the main shelter. You can imagine the sounds, smells and sights. Many on the streets had lost their jobs, or careers and were simply passing through on their way to find jobs or help in other places. It is probably not practical or safe enough, but it wouldn't hurt every middle class and above American to spend a night on the street of the largest city closest to them. Heck, I'd settle for the leadership of America's churches to do it. Things would change, things would certainly change.

I'm not saying we should legalize panhandling. I'm not saying that panhandlers can't be intimidating and scary. I'm not saying it doesn't have a negative impact on retailers, parks and visitors to our respective cities. And no, I don't want my wife or daughter opening their purse to a stranger without someone else around. I'm not saying there aren't those among the homeless who take advantage of panhandling, or worse, make their living by begging. I'm not saying you need to give or not. Kindness and charity cannot be legislated. Each person has to decide (ahead of time) what he/she will or will not do for others. At times it may make sense, and others you may feel led not to help. We could certainly use divine wisdom and discernment in this area. However, if we are Christ-followers we are accountable to Jesus for our we treat our neighbors and those in need. Remember, Jesus never owned a home, or had a place to lay his head!

It's hard for me to face Jesus after I refuse to give someone money for food, when He says in Mark 8: I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. His heart reached out to those in need, so should the hearts of His followers. From the Good Samaritan to the countless "one another" New Testament passages (e.g., John 13:34; Romans 12:10; 13:8; Gal. 5:13; Eph. 4:2; 1 Peter 3:8, etc.), it's clear God has called and entrusted His church with the care of the hungry, homeless and needy. Perhaps the Greenville News, or media outlets in your area will sponsor a day bringing churches and community welfare leaders together to creatively tackle the problem of homlessness and poverty in our respective cities! Now there's an editorial/sermon in action and deed. We need to do more than just say, "these people have to be stopped" so "our kind" can enjoy the city amenities and public offerings.