Shepherd Historic
  • Welcome
    • House Plaque Ordering Information
    • Crime Prevention
    • Swatek Park
    • SHDNA Governance
  • Flock Flyer
  • Neighborhood Dues
  • History
  • Contact

Homelessness in OKC & the Panhandling Epidemic

10/1/2012

0 Comments

 
Picture
Click on the image for more info.
Homeless Alliance has developed an innovative program to help homeless people who want help.  Basically, instead of handing panhandlers cash, you would purchase bus vouchers and hand them a bus voucher so they can receive help at the WestTown Campus dedicated to taking a comprehensive approach to fighting homelessness in OKC

In response to increased perception of panhandling, Downtown OKC approached the Homeless Alliance for assistance in 2005. Although research revealed that most panhandlers—almost 80% – were not actually homeless, the Homeless Alliance developed a plan to address the problem.

The result: an initiative that solves multiple problems.

  • Some panhandlers are homeless and genuinely need help. We want to help them.
  • Panhandlers may be seeking money to purchase drugs or alcohol. We want to show this group that we don’t support those behaviors in OKC.
  • Residents of OKC are charitably minded. We need a way to help without enabling unhealthy behavior.
The Real Change Program does just that.

Here’s how it works: First, you purchase a book of 5 vouchers for $5. When approached by a panhandler, give them a voucher instead of $1.

Each voucher includes information on the downtown homeless shelters and a bus ticket to get there. If the person is truly in need the voucher is better than $1, and if not, the voucher isn’t very attractive.


0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    October 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    November 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012

    Categories

    All
    Quarterly Newsletter

    RSS Feed