Buddy, can you spare a dime? Homelessness, panhandling, and the public

The authors use data from two national surveys to shed light on panhandling among homeless people and the public’s responses to it. A comparison of homeless panhandlers and nonpanhandlers shows the former group to be more isolated, troubled, and disadvantaged than the latter. Although only a minority of all homeless say that they panhandle, a majority of domi-ciled individuals report being panhandled, and most give at least occasionally. Such encounters have mixed but limited effects on the public’s attitudes and behaviors. Overall, results challenge the notion that panhandling constitutes an especially threatening feature of urban life. The wis-dom of anti-panhandling ordinances is discussed in light of this conclusion. For many Americans, panhandling represents the most tangible expression of contemporary homelessness. Visitors to the downtown areas of major U.S. cities often find it difficult to avoid apparently homeless persons who are soliciting money or food. The approaches taken by panhandlers vary, as do the reactions of their potential donors (Gilmore 1940; Lankenau 1999a, 1999b; Stark 1992). Depending on the details of the situation (sales pitch, set-ting, etc.), panhandling can evoke sentiments ranging from pity to anger to fear. Indeed, one justification for our research is the memorable quality of 299 AUTHORS’NOTE: A condensed version of this article was presented at the 2002 annual meet