Homeless advocates start ‘panhandling alternative’ campaign

5/24/2012

Homeless advocacy group 1Matters, Cherry Street Mission Ministries, and a downtown improvement group are advancing what they call a “panhandling alternative” campaign.

The effort was announced at a news conference today.

The plan is for homeless vendors to buy a newspaper, Toledo Streets, from 1Matters for a quarter and then sell it on the streets for $1. The exchange gives dignity and respect to the individual, said Dan Rogers, CEO of Cherry Street Mission Ministries.

A campaign to raise $35,000 to fund the project has been started by 1Matters, co-chaired by Mr. Rogers, a 1Matters board member, and Bill Thomas, executive director of the Downtown Toledo Improvement District.

Last year, the city changed its panhandling law to allow police officers to issue citations or even jail people who antagonize passers-by for cash or who misrepresent themselves to get money.