HomeMy WebLinkAbout4761-19 Panhandling Resolution �$our
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SUBSTITUTE BILL NO. 19-14
RESOLUTION NO. 4761-19
A SECOND RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND,
INDIANA, (PREVIOUSLY RESOLUTION 4637-17)AGAIN STRONGLY ENDORSING AND
RECOMMENDING A STUDY FOR A PILOT EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM TO REDUCE PANHANDLING
WITHIN THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND
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9firamii, on June 12, 2017, the South Bend Common Council passed Resolution No. 4637-17, strongly
endorsing and recommending implementation of a pilot employment program to reduce panhandling within the
City of South Bend and requesting funding within the 2018 City of South Bend's Budget for such a pilot program;
and
9 the purpose of that Resolution was to reduce the practice of personally soliciting money from
others in public places, known as panhandling, which can be uncomfortable, awkward and unpleasant for the
person being solicited as well as being a loss of dignity for the solicitor; and
the Mayor of South Bend approved the resolution on June 19, 2017; and
91rwasi, the recommended pilot program was not implemented as requested by Resolution 4637-17; and
the City Administration of Indianapolis, under Mayor Joe Hogsett, has this year of 2019, seized
the opportunity to become a national leader and the first city in Indiana to have the City Administration propose
funding, in the approximate amount of$150,000, to implement a similar program to be paid from funds received
from extending parking meter times; and
G, South Bend's prior Resolution acknowledged programs in other cities to curtail panhandling such
as installing bright parking style meters where visitors and residents can donate to local non-profits rather than
handing cash to panhandlers or providing gift cards and mittens to those in need; and
OILmi, South Bend's prior Resolution also acknowledged programs initiated in Portland, Maine and
Albuquerque,New Mexico,the same programs upon which the Indianapolis proposal is based,which offer to pay
panhandlers the city's minimum wage plus lunch for a six(6)-hour work day maintaining public parks and spaces,
after which social services and job training are made available; and
Woo* the estimated cost for the Portland Opportunity Crew during its first year in 2017 was $41,000
with an initial appropriation from the City of$25,000 in May 2017, to fund a pilot program for thirty-six (36).
weeks ; and
during the pilot phase, crews in Portland picked up three-hundred ten (310) bags of trash and
collected two-hundred fourteen(214) hypodermic needles; and
4 a similar program in Albuquerque called"There's a Better Way"began with a budget of$50,000
and in its first two (2) years has provided 4,240 day jobs,housed twenty-one(21)homeless residents; connected
four-hundred fourteen(414)people with additional work and provided mental health or substance abuse '
services to three-hundred fifty-five(355)people; and
( both programs are now being funded in large part through donations; and
OACAntad, other cities that have enacted or are considering similar programs include Chicago, Dallas,
Lexington, KY, Spokane, Tucson, Portland OR, Denver, Moreno Valley, CA, Austin, Amarillo TX, Ocean
Springs, MS and Indianapolis, IN; and
G it is now past time for the City of South Bend to actively explore and fund a similar pilot program
which: will give people the opportunity to improve the community for fair compensation instead of incurring the
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stigma and discomfort of begging for money; provides people with the dignity to be accorded every individual
in need; and reduces the frustration and irritation of persons being solicited for funds; and
6 this Resolution is being considered early in 2019 in order to provide the City Administration and
the South Bend Common Council a full and fair opportunity to fund a pilot program as soon as possible similar
to those identified herein.
ori grertre, 6e it resol,�ed G t ?mmaocned?diie Cay yf�oud gdend �na:ma, a :
Section I. The Common Council hereby again expresses its strong endorsement of, and
recommendation for, the study in South Bend, Indiana of a program similar to Portland Maine's Opportunity
Crew, Albuquerque's "There's a Better Way" and to the efforts which are going on in the City of Indianapolis,
Indiana to address constructively and innovatively the social problem of panhandling within the City of South
Bend.
Section II. The Common Council hereby states that it again requests and encourages the City of
South Bend's Administration to commence a study of such a polit program in cooperation with other entities
so South Bend will remain a leader in addressing the issues of poverty and homelessness in the state of
Indiana and throughout the United States.
Section III. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from after its adoption by the Common
Council and approval by the Mayor.
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Tim Scott, 1 Ii •ct Council Member Olive . vis, 6`" i st •'ct Council Member
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Ret, illiams-Pre ton:2nd District Member John Voorde, At Large Council Member
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Shur;L.McBride, 3'd istrict Council Member Gavin Ferlic,At Large Council Member
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Jo o oden,4th District Council Member Karen L. .' ten At Large Council Member
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J. e Tes .,"i"District Council Member 'obert J.Pa } Council Attorney
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Karee ah Fowler, it Clerk Pete Buttigieg, ayor of end,Indiana