City seeks to curb panhandlers
- March 10, 2015
- / Mollye Barrows
- / community-dashboard
More than a year after Pensacola made national news for the so-called "blanket ban," aimed at discouraging the homeless from sleeping in public parks, the City Council is set to revisit its ordinances and discuss the ongoing problems of panhandling and homelessness.
There are several items on the council's agenda this week that deal with the issue. Council member Sherri Myers is proposing the city repeal city code that regulates the use of public restrooms as well as public urination and defecation.
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"State law already makes that illegal," said Myers. "What we have on the books is a liability because it primarily targets the homeless, but we don't have enough services in place to tell the homeless not to cook or clean up in a bathroom. We need to find real solutions, like housing."
City leaders know panhandling, sleeping on city benches, and camping overnight are the source of many citizen complaints and can diminish the public's perception of Pensacola, but addressing it has been difficult.
Council passed a series of ordinances aimed at curbing outdoor camping in public places, which resulted in the controversial blanket ban, which was later repealed.
"Right now we're not enforcing the camping ordinance," says Council President Andy Terhaar, "but we still need it because you can't just set up and camp here for months."
Foot of the bridge a problem area
People have been doing that around the Pensacola Bay Bridge, some for years.
The property on the west side, along Pensacola Bay is home to a number of overnight "campers," who park their vehicles and sleep along the waterfront. Police say many are panhandlers who hold signs and solicit money at nearby interactions.
Terhaar is sponsoring a measure to expand the city's no-panhandling zone to include the area along Bayfront Parkway and Chase Street, all the way to Pensacola Bay Bridge and 17th Avenue.
"We've seen an increase in camping," Terhaar says. "We believe people are camping so they can panhandle at the nearby intersections. It's distracting to drivers and dangerous."
[caption id="attachment_19597" align="alignright" width="300"]
A sign "Tammy" and "Blaine" hold when they panhandle near the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Pensacola, Fl., Monday, March 9, 2015. (Michael Spooneybarger/ Pensacola Today)[/caption]
"Tammy" and "Blaine" panhandle to get by, and live out of Blaine's van, parking most nights along the waterfront at the foot of the bridge. They did not want to give us their real names, but 49-year-old Blaine says he is originally from Kansas.
"I've been coming here since I was kid. It was a longtime dream to live on a beach in Florida," he says, "now I'm just on a dead end road."
Blaine says he has been camping out of his van and panhandling by the bridge for five years. His vehicle is equipped with a bed, sink, refrigerator, television, and other electronics. He and 47-year-old Tammy, both homeless, met by the bridge a couple of years ago and say they panhandle for enough money to buy gas, food, and other necessities. They shower at the downtown YMCA.
"I love the water," Blaine said, looking out across Pensacola Bay from his van. "This place here is policed and we don't allow no riffraff or trouble."
[caption id="attachment_19598" align="alignleft" width="300"]
A fence has been put up to discourage sleeping under the west side of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Pensacola, Fl. (Michael Spooneybarger/ Pensacola Today)[/caption]
The location is popular with other panhandlers who sleep in their vehicles or camp under the bridge. Tammy, who is from Pensacola, says they don't spend their money on drugs or alcohol, but many panhandlers do. She also works several days a week caring for an elderly man and house cleaning.
"We don't drink, we don't do drugs, we're just trying to make it," Tammy says. "I'm embarrassed about holding the sign and I don't want you to use my real name because I have two daughters who live around here."
The Florida Department of Transportation owns the property under the Pensacola Bay Bridge and recently put up a fence to stop people from going under it. The underside of the Pensacola fishing pier is owned by the city and remains open.
Chairs, clothes and trash indicate it's also popular with panhandlers.
Despite concern about the stress and danger of life on the street, the couple have no plans to stop panhandling and hope it won't be banned where they like to camp.
"Holding the sign has really helped for bare necessities," Tammy explained. "I am trying to get a job. I have applications out all over town."
Blaine agrees, but says people will do it regardless.
"Some people they need to be banned from panhandling," Blaine says. "They use it for bad habits."
Recommendations remain stalled
City leaders and homeless advocates are aware the issue is complicated and sensitive. They hired nationally recognized homeless consultant Dr. Robert Marbut to study the city's approach to homelessness.
Among his findings, he concluded that the Pensacola area doesn't have enough emergency or transitional housing, or services including a come-as-you-are-shelter or community assessment center to help address the root causes of homelessness.
Marbut also recommends that people who give to panhandlers redirect their charity.
[Click here to read Mollye Barrows report on Marbut's findings and reaction from local service providers]
While Council debates what to do with Marbut's recommendations, other homeless advocates are focused on solutions that are fair to the public and those on the street.
Some homeless advocates want the city to rescind any ordinance that criminalizes homelessness and work to find long-term solutions.
Council member Brian Spencer also is pushing for a resolution that supports homeless legislation, so the city can take advantage of legislative funding that may be available to raise awareness and find solutions. Florida has the third highest rate of homelessness, especially women and children.
Terhaar and Myers plan to suggest a separate council workshop to discuss homelessness and panhandling.
"We want to go over the recommendations," Terhaar says, "get recommendations from city staff as to what they're doing, and we're looking for synergies among other agencies and homeless service providers to find solutions."
A sign "Tammy" and "Blaine" hold when they panhandle near the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Pensacola, Fl., Monday, March 9, 2015. (Michael Spooneybarger/ Pensacola Today)[/caption]
"Tammy" and "Blaine" panhandle to get by, and live out of Blaine's van, parking most nights along the waterfront at the foot of the bridge. They did not want to give us their real names, but 49-year-old Blaine says he is originally from Kansas.
"I've been coming here since I was kid. It was a longtime dream to live on a beach in Florida," he says, "now I'm just on a dead end road."
Blaine says he has been camping out of his van and panhandling by the bridge for five years. His vehicle is equipped with a bed, sink, refrigerator, television, and other electronics. He and 47-year-old Tammy, both homeless, met by the bridge a couple of years ago and say they panhandle for enough money to buy gas, food, and other necessities. They shower at the downtown YMCA.
"I love the water," Blaine said, looking out across Pensacola Bay from his van. "This place here is policed and we don't allow no riffraff or trouble."
[caption id="attachment_19598" align="alignleft" width="300"]
A fence has been put up to discourage sleeping under the west side of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Pensacola, Fl. (Michael Spooneybarger/ Pensacola Today)[/caption]
The location is popular with other panhandlers who sleep in their vehicles or camp under the bridge. Tammy, who is from Pensacola, says they don't spend their money on drugs or alcohol, but many panhandlers do. She also works several days a week caring for an elderly man and house cleaning.
"We don't drink, we don't do drugs, we're just trying to make it," Tammy says. "I'm embarrassed about holding the sign and I don't want you to use my real name because I have two daughters who live around here."
The Florida Department of Transportation owns the property under the Pensacola Bay Bridge and recently put up a fence to stop people from going under it. The underside of the Pensacola fishing pier is owned by the city and remains open.
Chairs, clothes and trash indicate it's also popular with panhandlers.
Despite concern about the stress and danger of life on the street, the couple have no plans to stop panhandling and hope it won't be banned where they like to camp.
"Holding the sign has really helped for bare necessities," Tammy explained. "I am trying to get a job. I have applications out all over town."
Blaine agrees, but says people will do it regardless.
"Some people they need to be banned from panhandling," Blaine says. "They use it for bad habits."
Recommendations remain stalled
City leaders and homeless advocates are aware the issue is complicated and sensitive. They hired nationally recognized homeless consultant Dr. Robert Marbut to study the city's approach to homelessness.
Among his findings, he concluded that the Pensacola area doesn't have enough emergency or transitional housing, or services including a come-as-you-are-shelter or community assessment center to help address the root causes of homelessness.
Marbut also recommends that people who give to panhandlers redirect their charity.
[Click here to read Mollye Barrows report on Marbut's findings and reaction from local service providers]
While Council debates what to do with Marbut's recommendations, other homeless advocates are focused on solutions that are fair to the public and those on the street.
Some homeless advocates want the city to rescind any ordinance that criminalizes homelessness and work to find long-term solutions.
Council member Brian Spencer also is pushing for a resolution that supports homeless legislation, so the city can take advantage of legislative funding that may be available to raise awareness and find solutions. Florida has the third highest rate of homelessness, especially women and children.
Terhaar and Myers plan to suggest a separate council workshop to discuss homelessness and panhandling.
"We want to go over the recommendations," Terhaar says, "get recommendations from city staff as to what they're doing, and we're looking for synergies among other agencies and homeless service providers to find solutions."
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