Begging for trouble

Numbers reflect city's 'tough love' approach toward panhandlers

Daniel J. Chacón, Rocky Mountain News

Published July 26, 2006 at midnight

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The city of Denver is following through on a vow to get tough on street beggars.

In the first seven months of 2006, police issued 303 citations for panhandling, nearly the same number as during all of last year.

Police say it's too early to tell whether the number of citations handed out this year is a result of new laws adopted in December to curb panhandling.

But officers know the new laws are in the books and they're enforcing them, police said.

Other factors may be in play as well because the highest number of panhandling citations issued in the past five years was in 2004.

"Do we have a unit specifically on patrol targeting panhandlers? No," said Detective John White, a police spokesman. "Are we wanting to be proactive when dealing with panhandling? Yes."

It seems to be working, according to Denver native Ariel Brown, who has noticed a change for the better.

Brown, 65, said her California friends were "appalled" years ago with the sheer number of panhandlers they encountered downtown.

"It's a lot better than it was, let's say a year ago, when (the panhandlers) were all over the place," Brown said Tuesday while resting on a bench on the 16th Street Mall. "It just seems a lot nicer."

City and business leaders have been trying to crack down on panhandlers, especially in the downtown area, for years.

A 2003 survey of downtown property owners found that the "presence of street people" and panhandling were among their biggest concerns.

City officials responded by approving three ordinances aimed at curbing panhandling.

One prohibits panhandlers from stepping into traffic and another from begging within 20 feet of sidewalk eateries.

A third ordinance prohibits sitting or lying in the public right of way in the downtown area from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., with some exceptions.

Violating the city's panhandling laws is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and $999 of fines.

City officials have described the new laws as a "tough love" approach in the city's 10-year plan to end homelessness.

"The sit-and-lie ordinance has outreach (workers) and police working together to offer services to people who are homeless, prior to any arrests. This is helpful," said Roxane White, manager of the city's Department of Human Services. "It offers people who are on the streets an option for services, including employment, prior to arresting them."

Councilwoman Elbra Wedgeworth, who sponsored one of the ordinances, said the panhandling laws are part of a comprehensive approach to dealing with homelessness.

"It's still one step in front of another. Trying to change people's behaviors, especially people on the street who have been living that way for so long, that's tough," she said.

Officer Wayne Walters, who patrolled downtown Denver for 10 years before recently moving to a new assignment in Capitol Hill, said he used to get complaints about aggressive panhandlers at least twice a day.

"It seems better," he said. "There's not as many people on the corners as there used to be."

Citations on upswing

Number of citations for panhandling issued by Denver police:

• 2002    99

• 2003    154

• 2004    448

• 2005    326

• 2006*    303*January Through July 21 Source: Denver County Courts

Denver's Road Home

Last year, the city of Denver adopted a 10-year plan to end homelessness. The plan - Denver's Road Home - calls for the construction of 3,000 housing units and an expansion of programs for the chronically homeless, among other goals.

Some of the accomplishments:

423 new units of housing assistance have been added.

701 homeless people have been assisted with work.

286 families received eviction assistance.

What's Next:

• Expand employment programs.

• Add shelter sites.

• Provide assistance to people who are homeless and have disabilities.

• Expand housing for the chronically homeless through the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless and other providers.

• Expand hours for street outreach.

• Implement mentoring program for homeless children.

chacond@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-892-5099

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