Panhandling in Madison County (Birmingham, Huntsville: university, camps, shop)

[lpc123]

Is it just me, or are panhandling laws no longer being strictly enforced here? Actual enforcement was one big reason we moved here in the first place.

[RocketDawg]

Panhandling is not something I see very often. Are you talking about being approached in a parking lot, or some of the homeless guys who congregate in various areas, like Parkway overpass over Governors (not sure they even do that any longer).

[dijkstra]

A judge struck down Alabama's panhandling laws back in March. Then in June Alabama passed new panhandling laws. It is all sort of pointless since they aren't really enforced anyway or it does not seem that they enforce them regularly.

It isn't a big problem around here but it does happen at times all over town. Typically, if you just shake your head no or tell them you don't have any cash or change, they just go on their way. It wasn't here but in Nashville I had a high tech panhandler approach me. He said his spiel and I told him I didn't carry cash and he replied he has "Cashapp" and I could send him a few bucks that way. lol I don't use any of those apps and that is what I told him and he went on his way but I found that sort of amusing.

[1973PINTO]

is panhandling that person who stands at a stop light with a sign .. or is it that fellow who chases you thru the parking lot or is it that veteran who is always at walmart asking for money .. or all 3 ..

[FriscoEGS]

Originally Posted by 1973PINTO

is panhandling that person who stands at a stop light with a sign .. or is it that fellow who chases you thru the parking lot or is it that veteran who is always at walmart asking for money .. or all 3 ..

just the guy chasing you, or at least that's when it should be enforced.

[David1502]

The big picture is that Huntsville has several homeless shelters when there may not be any in the other cities of North of Alabama (north of Birmingham). Therefore, those who have addictions, or for whatever reason find themselves without housing, will chose to come to Huntsville because of the network of support provided here.

Specifically, the whole University Dr. corridor, from about the Parkway all the way out to the car dealers near Providence, has the most visible homeless population. In the center of that corridor is the Downtown Rescue Mission located . The empty Walmart and Target shopping carts that line that corridor are a constant reminder of their presence.

The City of Huntsville cleared out one homeless camp located on Derrick St. between Clinton and Holmes Avenue because of a malaria outbreak.

As long as there is a population in greater North Alabama with addictions (particularly Crystal Methamphetamine), Huntsville will have a significant homeless population.

[MisterEd51]

Several years ago someone told me that while they were in the McDonald's on Governors Drive (now closed) drive-through they were approached by a homeless person asking for money. Instead they ordered some food for him. When he was given the food he through it on the ground.

[Ivory Lee Spurlock]

Seems to me panhandlers, as a rule, don't generally force anybody to hand over their money. Unless there is a city ordinance against panhandling, all a person has to do when asked by a panhandler for some money is to say, "no" and move on. If a panhandler is panhandling in the median at busy intersections, don't give any money. It's that simple. Just because a panhandler might make somebody "feel" "uncomfortable", that's no good reason to ban somebody from panhandling, if that's how one wants to make his money.

[johnsonkk]

Originally Posted by David1502

The big picture is that Huntsville has several homeless shelters when there may not be any in the other cities of North of Alabama (north of Birmingham). Therefore, those who have addictions, or for whatever reason find themselves without housing, will chose to come to Huntsville because of the network of support provided here.

Specifically, the whole University Dr. corridor, from about the Parkway all the way out to the car dealers near Providence, has the most visible homeless population. In the center of that corridor is the Downtown Rescue Mission located . The empty Walmart and Target shopping carts that line that corridor are a constant reminder of their presence.

[b] The City of Huntsville cleared out one homeless camp located on Derrick St. between Clinton and Holmes Avenue because of a malaria outbreak.[b]

As long as there is a population in greater North Alabama with addictions (particularly Crystal Methamphetamine), Huntsville will have a significant homeless population.

That area you stated was cleared, currently has hundreds of tents and could be called an encampment. Just drove by yesterday and smoke from campfires was bellowing up with a dozen cars handing out supplies to this camp. It’s currently well populated with hundreds if those tents were even half populated.

[David1502]

Originally Posted by johnsonkk

That area you stated was cleared, currently has hundreds of tents and could be called an encampment. Just drove by yesterday and smoke from campfires was bellowing up with a dozen cars handing out supplies to this camp. It’s currently well populated with hundreds if those tents were even half populated.

You are right. There still is a large homeless camp on Derrick St. - It is on the southern end. There were two homeless camps on that street. The City of Huntsville decided that that the one on the south was well maintained whereas Derrick St. North was not, and it was where the malaria outbreak and other issues were occurring. Therefore, they closed it down and forced the residents to move. Several of the nearby businesses on Holmes Ave. complained about the homeless harassing their customers.