The Latest Proposal

It's no surprise that the Downtown Austin Alliance is once again soliciting support for a stricter Downtown anti-solicitation ordinance. The news is that this time, the alliance has recruited broad support from the Downtown social service organizations, which spend most of their time and resources helping the local homeless population – the source of many, if not all, of Downtown's most persistent panhandlers.

Specifically, the DAA will be asking City Council to extend the current nighttime (7pm to 7am) ban on panhandling in the central Downtown area to 24 hours. ("Central Down­town" is defined as Cesar Chavez to 11th Street and San Antonio Street to I-35.) In addition, the DAA also promises to allocate funds for a "Responsible Giving" educational campaign. Already on board are a range of business, hotel, and residential groups, from the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau to the Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association to South by Southwest; but the list also includes the Central Presbyterian Church, Saint Mary Cathedral, and the Downtown Cluster of Congregations and Social Agencies.*

It's the second part of the project that has reinforced the support from Downtown churches and such groups as Front Steps (which manages the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless), Caritas of Austin, and the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition. "One of the reasons that ultimately [these groups] decided to support it," said Amber Fogarty of Front Steps, "is the emphasis on the education campaign that is going to go along with it, to get people to understand the issues – and that you can support organizations that are here and equipped to help people who are homeless."

Not all organizations that work with the homeless agree; most prominently, Richard Troxell of House the Homeless has circulated an open letter opposing a "rush to judgment." Fogarty acknowledges that panhandling is "a tough issue that draws a lot of controversy," but notes that "as an organization our stance has always been that supporting panhandling does not necessarily help the long-term circumstances of the person. ... We do not recommend giving to panhandlers, because you don't know what the person who is panhandling is struggling with, and so you don't know if your gift is helping or hurting them." More generally, the argument is that the Downtown agencies already provide meals, places to sleep, and other support, and that donations should go to more effective long-term aid. "We really believe the best way to help homeless persons in our community is to help the organizations that are helping them," Fogarty said, "and helping them to move out of their circumstances and into housing."

There is as yet no specific ordinance under council consideration, but Council Member Sheryl Cole, who's been working the issue, says she's "seriously considering" the question and has begun soliciting support from her colleagues for a proposal some time this fall. "I have learned in my work recently on homelessness," she said, "that if you really want to help people transform their lives, you should not give them money on the street, you should make a donation to a social service organization – because the idea is to get those people who are having those types of difficulties – where they actually have to panhandle, beg for money on the streets – into the social service system."

Cole readily acknowledges that a panhandling ban will not provide a "comprehensive solution" and hopes that the dialogue on this issue will move in that direction. "These are people who are hurting, and they have real mental health issues," she said. "We've got to deal with that, and we can't just stick our nose in the sand, and say, 'Put them anywhere but in my neighborhood,' and then turn around and complain when we give Downtown the tools to deal with the problem."

She also emphasized that city government cannot address the problem alone. "I really feel strongly about this," she said. "The places that have effectively dealt with these types of problems – the assistance has not only come from government. I think Austin is overdue in its commitment from the private sector for so many of our needs."

Fogarty and Cole both insist that any ban on panhandling must be accompanied by a renewed emphasis on social services, especially on truly affordable housing for the most vulnerable people, those who land on the street without other recourse. Fogarty said that one positive outcome of the discussion is that that realization is beginning to sink in, in heretofore resistant quarters. "If you get somebody at the DAA to say, 'The long-term answer to this problem is more affordable housing,' that means we're making progress."

*Following print publication, we were informed that although some members support the DAA effort on panhandling, the Downtown Cluster of Congregations and Social Agencies is included in the DAA list of supporters in error. Wrote Cluster spokeswoman Susan Morris, "the Downtown Cluster's executive committee chose not to write a letter supporting DAA's effort to strengthen the current panhandling ordinance. Instead, a letter was submitted [to the City Council] supporting the public education piece and advocating for treatment beds."