By GABRIELLA BOCK | Reporter
To give or not to give?
That was the question of the evening at the latest Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness meeting.
On April 3, nearly 40 public-spirited Palisadians abandoned their nightly rituals to discuss how giving spare coins to panhandlers can detract from community efforts to make long-lasting change.
The meeting was led by task force Vice President Sharon Browning, who brought forth the topic on the community’s habitual homeless and the underlying issues that persist at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway.
Opening statements were made by Malibu Outreach team member Luther Richard, who asked those in attendance not to believe the myth that those who panhandle are doing it because they are “too lazy to work.”
“There are a lot of far-fetched stories out there that are meant to demonize poor people,” Richard added. “We need to have compassion and use our resources to help those in need.”
The crowd agreed, but the question still stood: Does giving money make things worse?
To shed some light on the topic, long time Palisades outreach volunteer Patrick Hart and Beach Patrol Officer Rusty Redican presented their findings on coastal homelessness.
“I would say the majority of those who are panhandling in the Palisades are drug or alcohol dependent,” Hart said. “We have interviewed and gotten to know many homeless people who have openly admitted to using their earnings to purchase vodka or other harmful substances. This only incites more crime and ultimately keeps these people from receiving the help they need.”
Also in attendance was long-time Sunset and PCH 76 Gas Station owner Carlos Rodriguez.
Located in the epicenter of Palisades’ “prime panhandling spot,” Rodriguez said that he has noticed a massive influx of aggressive homeless individuals since his arrival in 2001.
“It’s gotten to the point where some customers no longer come to my business because they are afraid of being accosted for money,” said Rodriguez, in a pivot from earlier input gathered by Browning.
When those in the meeting were asked, “Who has given money to a panhandler before?” all but three hands went up in the air.
“In order for this task force to be effective,” Browning later said in summation, “we need to stop short-term enabling those who are deteriorating before our eyes.”
Still, it can be hard to look away when those in need are begging for help.
One mother asked, “How do I model compassion to my children if I don’t give money?”
The group determined that food, water, socks and toiletries make great alternatives to dimes and nickels.
“Everything else should be left up to the task force.”
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