The Homeless Epidemic in the Valley
We continue our six-part series on the Valley’s Homeless Epidemic. In part 5, we go in-depth on panhandling. According to authorities there’s an increase in the amount of people with their hands out across the Valley.
From the person with the sign at a busy intersection, to the man or woman asking for a donation in front of your local store. Who can you trust? Do you know where the money goes? And, are you jeopardizing your safety? Some answers in Karen Devine’s special report.
“I realize they’re in a certain situation in their life and I would hope that they would improve their life down the road, but I think that if I provide them money then I am just furthering that dependence on other people,” says Jim Mello, a tourist passing through the Coachella Valley who was flagged down by a panhandler at the In & Out in Thousand Palms.
Mello’s opinion is a sentiment heard multiple times when I asked people if they give money to panhandlers. Yet, if you sit and watch, people do stop and give cash to those begging for it. Whether it’s on a street corner, at a busy intersection or in front of a store, it’s legal to panhandle.
“They do have a right to be where there is public access, there’s no other way to put it. They are part of the public, they have a right to be in that area,” says Officer Dwayne Hodge who was just appointed the position of liaison offer for the homeless in Cathedral City.
Meet Lester Mitchell, once homeless, he says he’s helping a christian based non-profit that houses homeless men in Fontana raise money. With a permit from the City of La Quinta he sits in front of Sprouts grocery store collecting cash donations, which he says is the only way his Ministry can get ahead.
“This is called emergency funds, emergency assistance because we can receive the money today and be able to pay bills, we try to apply for a grant, that’s a time period, to submit paperwork, no body will pay these bills,” says Mitchell.
A La Quinta resident, who wouldn’t give us his full name, says he’s fed up with the number of people outside his favorite stores asking for money. “I tend not to give the donation when it’s directly in front of the store cause it feels a little like an invasion upon the customers right to go into the store without being harassed or bothered.”
Mitchell says, he’s the one harassed on a constant basis, just because he’s trying to collect donations for a good cause.
“We’re not illegal but we still get harassed but when police come out they don’t get involved in a civil matter.”
“What they can’t do is impede the public’s ability to enter a store or exit a store, they can’t impede the public’s ability to enter a driveway or exit a driveway, so if that’s out in front of a business or a driveway to a business then we have a lawful reason to speak to them and possibly cite them for their actions,” says Officer Hodge.
Hodge went on to say it’s not a priority for the police to manage the panhandlers. It’s not their job is not to shoo away the panhandlers unless they get aggressive. In fact, he suggests talking to the store manager first if there’s a problem because they’ve probably already established a relationship.
“Safety is the most important factor, if they feel it’s not a safe situation, they should remove themselves from that situation as rapidly as possible. Get somewhere where you might have a witness or someone else be present,” says Officer Barron Lane of the Palm Springs Police Department.
While shooting this story we spotted a man in a wheel chair seemingly working a shopping center parking lot. He tried to avoid the camera but then decided to talk me. His name is John. He says he is not a panhandler but if, “they offer it, I don’t ask, I just collect my recyclables, they offer it to me I’m not stupid, I’ll take it.”
John was once homeless but now lives in a garage. He says he understands why people are cynical when it comes to giving cash to people like himself but he appreciates it and spends it on food and clothing. He says, “I don’t steal, I don’t beg, I don’t do drugs, I don’t drink, I smoke cigarettes and that’s it.”
According to Officer Lane, “A lot of our homeless are very resourceful, resilent are very strong people, it’s all the more reason we need to get the money to these organizations that can help them get out of the cycle of homelessness those organizations that have experience dealing with the homeless to get them into transitional housing, know how to get them employment opportunities.”
Officer Lane is referring to organizations like “Well in the Desert,” “Martha’s Village and Kitchen,” “The Coachella Valley Rescue Mission,” or “Roy’s Desert Resource Center,” as places that will put your donation to good use. We found not all panhandlers around the desert are homeless. It’s up to you to decide if you want to give, but as the police told us you you may be fueling an addiction.
