HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE OFTEN FOUND ASKING FOR MONEY AT SOME OF THE CITY’S BUSIEST INTERSECTIONS AND STREETS.
WHILE IT’S NOT ILLEGAL FOR THEM TO ASK FOR A HANDOUT, IT CAN BE HAZARDOUS BOTH FOR THEM AND THE DRIVERS THEY APPROACH.
THE CITY OF SIOUX CITY IS NOW STARTING A CAMPAIGN TO FOCUS ON DONATING TO AGENCIES THAT HELP THE HOMELESS.
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES COORDINATOR CLARA MACFARLANE-COLY SAYS IT’S A MORE EFFECTIVE WAY TO HELP:
HELP11 OC………PLACE TO START. :21
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES MANAGER JILL WANDERSCHEID SAYS SIGNS ASKING PEOPLE TO SAY NO TO PANHANDLERS ARE BEING PLACED IN LOCATIONS WHERE FREQUENT ACTIVITY IS TAKING PLACE:
HELP12 OC……..OTHER WAYS TO GIVE. ;16
COUNCILMAN PETE GROETKEN SAYS SOME OF THOSE ASKING FOR MONEY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ARE PUTTING THEMSELVES AND THE DRIVERS AT RISK, ESPECIALLY IF THE MEDIANS ARE NARROW:
HELP13 OC…….TO GO WRONG. ;23
THE CITY NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES DIVISION BEGAN A HOMELESS STREET OUTREACH AND REHOUSING PROGRAM IN 2019.
DURING THE PAST YEAR, 200 PEOPLE WERE SERVED BY THE PROGRAM, WITH 89 PEOPLE IN 57 HOUSEHOLDS ACHIEVING PERMANENT HOUSING
A WEBSITE WAS CREATED, WWW.SIOUXCITYASSIST.ORG, WHERE DONATIONS CAN BE MADE DIRECTLY TO AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE SERVICES AND SHELTER.