What can be done about panhandling in Dayton?

How much do you know about Dayton's panhandling laws?

Our city's laws changed Aug. 18. Any panhandling violation is classified as a fourth-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $250 fine. The city's municipal code states:

- No solicitation on any public transportation; within three feet of an ATM; in any sports stadium, theater or hall owned by the city; the National Historical Park and the Dayton Cultural Center; or on private property after being asked to leave.

- No making false statements while soliciting.

- No distribution (giving or receiving items) with the occupant of a vehicle in the right-of-way unless the vehicle is lawfully stopped or parked, and then only if the person outside the vehicle doesn’t step into the right-of-way.

- No aggressive panhandling, including no touching or grabbing and no following or continuing to engage someone after they’ve declined.

Police have arrested only one person under Dayton’s less restrictive panhandling law, while the number of people begging at city intersections has noticeably increased.  

City and county leaders plan to meet today with nonprofit service providers to discuss options as the proliferation of panhandlers threatens the perception of downtown.

“We have seen an uptick,” said Sandy Gudorf, president of the Downtown Dayton Partnership, which is leading the cooperative effort. “We have to proactively address this issue on various different fronts.”

Dayton's new law went into effect Aug. 18. It says holding a sign or asking for money is allowed as long as a panhandler is not aggressive and doesn't step into the roadway. As a result, panhandlers have increasingly set up shop in the city.

The meeting to address panhandling will focus largely on how to reach out to individual panhandlers and connect them with aid and services.

While there are a handful of known, long-time panhandlers in the city with persistent mental health issues and/or drug or alcohol dependency, there is concern that the influx of new people begging may not know about help available to them.

"What we need to be able to do is make sure that all of those people have been talked to or connected with a service provider," said Erin Ritter, human services policy advisor for the city. "Ultimately we like them to have better options than panhandling."

Additionally, the group will look at ways to educate the public about giving to charities rather than directly to panhandlers.

“We have so many great nonprofits that are providing services to these folks that if you want to support those individuals then support those nonprofits,” Ritter said.

Goodwill Easter Seals and the Dayton Police Department have already gotten recognition for their Downtown Dayton Initiative that sends out case workers and “peers” to build relationships with those who appear to be homeless and struggling with drug or alcohol addiction.

They’ve been talking to panhandlers since the law changed trying to connect them with services and educate people on the new law.

“I think there’s a misconception that it’s completely legal to panhandle now,” said Dawn Cooksey, director of behavioral health services for Goodwill Easter Seals.

Cooksey said some people they’ve encountered are not homeless and decline services. She worries that those people, especially if they are aggressive in their panhandling, could be contributing to the negative perception of the city and the homeless.

“That’s frustrating to me because it increases the stigma on the people who really do need help,” Cooksey said.

The group meeting about panhandling is also looking at ideas other cities have tried in an effort to curb panhandling. In Albuquerque, N.M., the city created the "There's a Better Way" program in 2015, which hires panhandlers for day jobs beautifying the city. That project inspired UpDayton volunteer Emmy Fabich, who pitched a similar project for Dayton.

"Rather than just ignore those people or keep your window rolled up and pretend like they don't exist, it's really just acknowledging them and saying, 'Look I want to help you, but I'm not going to solve your problem today by giving you 50 cents or a dollar.' It's got to be an ongoing solution," she said.

Fabich works downtown near Courthouse Square and said she’s noticed how panhandling influences people’s perception of the city as unsafe.

“If we could solve this and say we’re being proactive about it, people would see good effort … and they might spend more time entertaining themselves downtown,” she said. 

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