RAPID CITY, S.D. – The latest effort by the city of Rapid City to curb panhandling is the placement of signs along the downtown corridor.
The signs say “It’s O.K. to say no to panhandlers,” and encourage people, instead, to donate to local charities that help the homeless population.
Mayor Steve Allender says if you would like to help the homeless, the best way is to help the organizations that are already doing so.
“Help the organizations that help the homeless. We don’t need anyone to start up their own new treatment program or their own new mentoring program,” said Allender.
“We need to support the programs that are out there. So everything from the Cornerstone Rescue Mission, Hope Center, all the nonprofits that will be supporting. But what we should not do is try our best to keep these homeless individuals out on the streets. That is not a healthy environment for them.”
Allender says this is a piece to the city’s strategy on combating homelessness throughout the area.
