(11/6/24) Springfield, MA – Mayor Domenic J. Sarno joined city officials today to announce the City of Springfield’s comprehensive efforts to address panhandling, including the Project HOPE 2.0 initiative along with the A Better Way to Give and Housing & Mental Health Services for Unsheltered Individuals initiatives.
Today at City Hall, Mayor Sarno, Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers, Lt. Brian Elliot, Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Chris Cignoli, Chief Development Officer (CDO) Tim Sheehan, Housing Director Gerry McCafferty, Deputy Development Officer for Housing, Community Development & Neighborhoods Tina Quagliato Sullivan and members of the city’s street outreach team Jesus Arce and Tiana Green joined with multiple partners including the United Way of Pioneer Valley, Mercy Medical Center, Center for Human Development, and Behavioral Health Network to announce the city’s comprehensive response to the increased presence of homeless individuals on the streets.
The three initiatives announced today are (1) Project HOPE 2.0, (2) A Better Way to Give, and (3) Housing for Unsheltered Individuals. Each initiative involves multiple city departments including Police, Housing, Community Development, and Public Works along with neighborhood councils and agency partners like Behavioral Health Network (BHN) the Center for Human Development (CHD), United Way of Pioneer Valley (UWPV) and Mercy Medical Center. These initiatives will enhance support services for unsheltered individuals, encourage sustainable methods to support those in need in our community, connect those in need with meaningful support and comprehensive rehabilitation services, and aim to reduce panhandling on city streets.
Springfield is launching a campaign to redirect people from giving to panhandlers, and instead encouraging them to give money to programs that help people get out of homelessness. With support from the City’s Neighborhood Enhancement Fund, the city is posting signs with the message: “Say no to panhandling, there’s a better way to give.”
The A Better Way to Give campaign received $49,500 in funding. The city, through the Department of Public Works, will post 180 signs at intersections identified by neighborhood councils and city staff at locations with significant panhandling activity. Neighborhood councils throughout the city were instrumental in this project.
The signs, which will start going up throughout the city this fall and winter, direct people to the website of the United Way of Pioneer Valley, where people can donate with a click. The money will go to meeting the needs of people who are homeless, and will ensure that the support combines basic supplies (warm clothes, food, and hygiene kits) with social work to help make connections to housing, healthcare and jobs.
The goal is to help people escape homelessness, rather than staying stuck in it. At the same time, the initiative responds to significant safety concerns raised by the police and local drivers. There has been an increase of panhandlers at busy intersections, and these include people coming directly into the streets and between cars. The risk of accidents is high. The City hopes that the signs will discourage panhandling and direct people to safer ways to get their needs met.
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