We’ve been thinking quite a bit about panhandling in recent days, following the tragic death of a local man who was struck and killed by a car while panhandling in Germantown. His death led many people in our community to question – what is the right thing to do when you see someone on the side of the road or sidewalk, holding up a sign and asking for help?
We encourage you to give people one of our Resource Cards (pictured above), which list a full range of available county resources for shelter, food, healthcare and more. You can keep these in your wallet, purse or glove box so when you find yourself faced with someone who is choosing to panhandle, you’ll always be able to help them by giving them access to the help they may need. This small gesture can help make homelessness in Montgomery County a rare, brief, and nonrecurring experience.
It’s important to note that not all people who choose to panhandle are experiencing homelessness, and not all people experiencing homelessness choose to panhandle. Regardless of their housing situation, these people need help, which is why we’ve created our Resource Cards.
Download and print these cards on our website or email volunteer@mcch.net and request to receive these cards via regular mail.
Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless (MCCH) is a non-profit with the mission to provide solutions in Montgomery County to ensure that homelessness is rare, brief, and nonrecurring. Learn more about MCCH.
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