Preventing Panhandling

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Abstract

This guide is designed to equip local merchants and retailers with problem solving strategies aimed at reducing panhandling in and around their properties. Focusing heavily on the value of partnerships with law enforcement, the guide walks readers through the process of understanding their panhandling problem; collecting crime data; identifying potential strategies; and measuring the impact of those strategies. Several promising strategies to reduce panhandling are described, including: providing informational brochures about available social services to panhandlers; requiring all vendors to have permits; initiating civilian patrols to monitor and discourage activity; and prohibiting the sale of single servings of alcohol through a city ordinance. This guide is one in a series of six crime prevention publications that focus on utilizing public/private partnerships to prevent crime.

Understanding Panhandling

Panhandling is synonymous with begging and typically involves individuals soliciting for cash. However, panhandlers may also solicit donations in exchange for nominal labor, such as cleaning windshields, saving parking spaces, guarding parked cars, or helping to carry groceries. While panhandlers are typically passive, some may become aggressive by soliciting in a coercive or threatening manner. Panhandling is often viewed as an indication of social deterioration that can lead to more serious crime.

Panhandling Patterns

PANHANDLERS. Panhandlers are typically unmarried, unemployed men with few family ties. Although often associated with homeless populations, panhandlers may not be homeless. Likewise, panhandlers are not necessarily mentally ill. While many panhandlers have criminal records, they are also likely to have been victimized themselves. People who engage in panhandling commonly use the money for alcohol, drugs, and food.

PANHANDLING TARGETS. Panhandlers target individuals perceived to be sympathetic or generous, such as male-female couples, conventioneers or tourists, college students, women, and grocery shoppers.

LOCATION. Panhandlers strategically position themselves in areas where soliciting yields high returns, such as areas of high pedestrian or vehicular traffi c. Common panhandling locations include: ATMs; pay phones; subway, bus, or train stations; freeway entrances or exits; grocery or convenience stores; and crowded sidewalks. Other environments that attract panhandlers include areas that provide seating, easy access to restrooms or water, and unsecured trash bins. Transient panhandlers also migrate to areas where the climate is warmer during the winter months.

TIME. Panhandling is more prevalent in moderate climates and/or during warmer weather months. It often increases during periods of economic decline, when government benefi t programs decrease, or during periods of high drug-abuse levels, such as the crack epidemic.

(End of excerpt. The entire guide is available in PDF format.)

The nonpartisan Urban Institute publishes studies, reports, and books on timely topics worthy of public consideration. The views expressed are those of the authors and should not be attributed to the Urban Institute, its trustees, or its funders.

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