Anti-Panhandling Signs Erected Around Manchester, NH

Manchester, NH has just erected 15-16 Anti-Panhandling signs across the city at various spots that are frequented by Panhandlers. Having lived here for the last 17 years since I was 10 years old, I can say from personal experience that it has become a more and more frequent occurrence to see panhandlers standing on street corners, some specific ones that I frequently pass being the intersection between Cilley Rd and S. Willow Street, by Second Street Taco Bell, and on the side of Amoskeag Bridge, the third being mentioned in the spot here. I know also, personally, that at least some of them are drug runners and/or drug dealers (I've seen one younger guy dealing drugs around my house when I was younger and then saw him on the side of the road panhandling).

Manchester is a growing economic center, voted recently as one of the best 10 places in the country to be a growing business and to be an aspiring entrepreneur. It is a great place to live and I'm happy to call it my home. The problem is, we've also had our share of bad coming in and growing over the last 10-15 years since I've been here. One of the big problems is Heroin, heroin overdose becoming more and more frequent and affecting more and more people's lives.

There has also always been a pretty large homeless population (in my opinion anyway, since 1999/2000 when I moved here), them frequently living under the Amoskeag bridge or at Veteran's Park, just down the street from the NH Food Pantry and Homeless Shelter "New Horizons" (a wonderful place that provides help to a lot of poor families, my family having received food from the food pantry from them in the past. I'm grateful for them. ).

Panhandling, over the last few years, seems to have increased out of proportion with an increase in homelessness. I'm not sure if some think it is easy money, if it is a ploy for drug money (as their HAS been a marked increase in drug overdoses over the last few years, unlike homelessness [visible homelessness in the areas mentioned anyway]), or if it is some other underlying issue. All I know is that, as mentioned in the article, there are dangers associated with giving money to panhandlers, as opposed to shelters and food pantries (such as New Horizons). These dangers include:

1. Increasing Risk Of Motor Vehicle Accidents (people stopping on green lights to give money)
2. Increasing Potential For Addicts

I think these signs are a good thing and I would just say that it is important that Shelters and Food Pantries are promoted as good places and places that are welcoming, especially of those with mental health issues and/or addiction. We should promote the use of them as a means of getting aide for those who are having trouble staying afloat financially and socially. I know they can do wonders and just hope that more and more people can be helped. Feel free to let me know your thoughts on panhandling, the new signs and any other experiences you've had around the subject matter discussed.