In the Dec. 17 Wednesday Journal article, “Oak Park drops ‘Make Real Change, Not Spare Change campaign’, an Oak Park official was quoted: “We do know [emphasis added] that the individuals panhandling … they are not unhoused … They come here, they stay for the day and then get in their cars and leave and go somewhere else.”
How is this known? What is the source of information supporting this statement? I’d be interested in learning the opinions of people working at Housing Forward.
Anyway, I never understood how “Make Real Change” could meet someone’s immediate need for food, hydration, or transit fare better than someone directly giving the person cash, a sandwich, or a bottle of OJ right in the moment. Of course, there may be some people scamming, like in every other aspect of human interaction. Quoting a former Pope, though, I have to say, “Who am I to judge?”
Shelley Sandow
Oak Park
