Panhandling on rise in Clarksville, but city has plan to push it down

Stephanie Ingersoll | Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle

When Gena Shaff stands near the side of Wilma Rudolph Boulevard, some drivers stop to give him money, while others yell at him to "get a job."

"This is a job," he said this week, standing at a stop sign in front of the Wilma Rudolph Boulevard Walmart offering a newspaper aimed at homelessness. "I carry a peddlers permit."

But Shaff is working in a gray area that is drawing more attention in Clarksville. He said the permit allows him to offer the Faith Unity Streetpaper for $1, and he keeps half of that, or all of it if the donor doesn't want a paper.

The problem comes when Shaff steps onto a public road to accept money or hand someone a paper. That's now illegal, under a city ordinance passed last year. But the complaints the city is getting are about panhandlers of all kinds at intersections, in business parking lots or standing near interstate exits.

More: Street performer struggles under new panhandling ban

Kevin Morgan plays guitar to buy food Morgan's earnings have dropped after the city council passed a law against panhandling.

A few, like Shaff, offer street newspapers to sell. Others claim to be homeless, out of work, in need of surgery or gas money, or a veteran fallen on hard times.

While the city has worked to strengthen safety with its right of way law, which is supposed to keep them out of the street, and with a prohibition on "aggressive" panhandling, there is still a lot of confusion and anger from both sides of the controversy. There is even a social media page dedicated to "exposing" Clarksville panhandlers.

City government is now looking for solutions.

Give money, but not on street

Soon, Clarksville will launch an education campaign aimed at people who give panhandlers money.

The city has received complaints about an increase in panhandling in public rights of way, and about panhandlers leaving behind trash, which creates a "negative image" for Clarksville, city spokesman Richard Stevens told The Leaf-Chronicle.

In response, the city is working "to build a coalition of law enforcement, governments, social service agencies and church groups to promote a broad campaign to mitigate panhandling and attack the real problems of need and homelessness," he said.

The program, for now called Real Change, Not Spare Change, will urge residents to contribute to agencies that provide food and help to homeless people and families, rather than handing over cash to panhandlers.

It could include billboards that are visible from panhandling sites.

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“Clarksville is a compassionate community, and we have a number of well-managed, successful agencies that are actively fighting homelessness and providing food for those in need,” Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan said.

“With Real Change, Not Spare Change we are suggesting that instead of handing money to panhandlers — who may or may not be homeless — we should donate to our local nonprofits who will use these resources to attack the real problems people face.”

The city's Office of Housing and Community Development, along with the local United Way and other agencies, is hoping to finalize details and roll out the program in July.

“Handing cash to a panhandler is at best a temporary fix,” McMillan said. “At worst, it’s supporting a fraudulent enterprise for someone who’s not really in need. A ‘spare change’ transaction doesn’t fight the real problem, and as long as people give money to panhandlers, the problem will persist or even grow."

More: Panhandling ordinance should be followed with solutions

Panhandler law bans being in road

While it is legal to stand on a sidewalk or along a public highway with a sign asking for money, the city tries to regulate roadside solicitations.

"The so-called Panhandler Ordinance was approved by the City Council last year and prohibits a person from entering the roadway to exchange goods or money with someone in a vehicle," Stevens said.

Nor are they allowed to try to attract attention of passing drivers.

Another ordinance said they may not be permitted to operate in a congested area where such actions may impede or inconvenience the public.

Police can write a citation if they see someone breaking the panhandler ordinance and issue a fine of up to $50.

Panhandling getting tougher already

Shaff said he works for the $30 he earns in an average three-hour span, or $60 on a really good day. He's not homeless, but low income, which the street paper also helps with.

"I'm not asking for free money," he said. "I'm selling a product if they want to take it. We have real respectable conduct."

He pays the Nashville church $50 for 100 papers and usually carries about 20 with him. He was selling them near Harbor Cafe at the intersection of Wilma Rudolph Boulevard and 101st Airborne Division Parkway, but donations have dried up there.

Shaff said he was an over-the-road truck driver until his health took a turn for the worse.

"When I got insulin-dependent, I had to give that up, and that was the only skill I had," he said. He takes two shots a day.

Another man who panhandles with his girlfriend did not give his name but said he works the Fort Campbell Boulevard area most days.

"I lost my life in 2012, to cirrhosis," he said. "I lost my house and everything I had."

Now, he said, he lives in a tent with his companion. He said they don't drink or do drugs but many others do, and they've had problems at homeless camps, so they ventured off on their own. He carries his tent and sleeping bag in a large duffel.

While many people assume panhandlers make a lot of money, he said times are getting tougher.

"It's getting to where we get $20 to $30 a day," he said. "We just don't do as much as we used to. But we don't need much to get by."

Reach Stephanie Ingersoll at singersoll@theleafchronicle.com or 931-245-0267 and on Twitter @StephLeaf.

