High Point working on ways to limit panhandling
HIGH POINT, N.C. (WGHP) — Changes are coming to four major intersections where High Point leaders are seeing lots of panhandling.
Many citizens have complained about people in the median and on the curb asking for money. For the safety of drivers and the people panhandling, city leaders are trying to cut down on it.
They’ve put up a sign at the intersection of North Main Street and Parkway Avenue, which reads: “There’s a better, safer way to give,” and urges people to support the local agencies that help those in need.
There are plans to put up more of these signs at other intersections across the city.
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“Times are tough for some folks, but there’s also a need to make sure that our neighborhoods are safe and that our streets are not congested and that public safety is a top priority,” said Mayor Pro-Tem Michael Holmes, who represents Ward 6.
Holmes is part of the group trying to limit the amount of panhandling going on in High Point. He’s hoping these new signs will help.
The signs have messaging urging anyone in crisis to call 211 where you’ll be connected with a specialist who can figure out your need and share local resources available to help.
City leaders aren’t banning panhandling in medians because it would put an additional strain on the police department.
“We have to be able to say, ‘Is this something that we can actively enforce?'” Holmes said. “We look at the work of our police force, and they would be the ones who had to carry this out.”
Crews will install the signs at three other intersections where city leaders are seeing the most panhandling taking place: Eastchester Drive at North Main Street, West Wendover Avenue at N.C. 68 and South Main Street at Fairfield Road.
On Wednesday afternoon, FOX8 crews spotted panhandlers on medians at two of those three intersections.
“We do see a lot of people here more often than we used to before,” said Vahid Shafaei, part-owner of Rome Pizza on North Main Street.
Shafaei told FOX8 that panhandlers can affect business.
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“It’s a little bit difficult because they can be a nuisance to other customers here,” he said. “We like to be able to help, but at the same time for the business side, it’s not exactly a good thing.”
It’s why city leaders are encouraging people who want to donate to do so in a different way.
“There’s a better way to give,” Holmes said. “There are agencies that you can contribute to that can get resources to people.”
You should see the signs go up at the three other intersections in the coming weeks.
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