Hickory police: ‘It’s OK to say no to panhandlers’

A new sign campaign encouraging people not to give to panhandlers has launched in the Hickory area.

Several have been put up at various intersections in town. One reads, “It’s okay to say no to panhandlers.”

Channel 9′s Dave Faherty spoke with the officers who came up with the idea.

They said they have gotten several complaints but have also received a lot of support regarding the signs.

The Hickory Police Department said it has worked hard to connect people who are homeless with services that could help them in the area.

However, Johnny Torrence and Jimmy Brandt said they have both experienced homelessness and have different opinions about the message.

“As far as the community that’s a necessary need as far as having an income,” Torrence said.

“But you also have people who do so for drugs and stuff…” Brandt said.

City leaders said their most recent data shows as many as 300 people without homes in Catawba County.

Over the last two years, the police department said it has received hundreds of complaints about homelessness issues in the city.

Police said more than 90% of the money given to panhandlers goes to support substance abuse issues and that money would be better spent going to local charities.

“We’re a compassionate community. People want to be compassionate, people want to help. What we’ve learned over the last two years is the most effective way to help those in need here, in our community is through the local charities,” Deputy Chief Reed Baer said.

The police department said it has hired community navigator Casey McCall to work with homeless people.

Police say McCall tries to connect people without homes with local services to get them off the street.

“Your funds can go so much farther if they’re given to a local non profit,” McCall said. “A local charity nonprofit can take your five dollars and feed five plus people.”

Hickory Soup Kitchen, which feeds on average 250 people a day, expressed an opinion about the new signage.

“I understand how when someone looks at one of those signs they could feel like it’s discouragement. Certainly but there’s also some responsibility to the city that has an ordinance against it,” Austin Pearce with Hickory Soup Kitchen said.

When asked about how they decided where to place the signs, police said they hung them at intersections where they’ve received the most complaints about panhandlers or near private property.

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