’Tis the season of giving — but not to panhandlers, officials say. Instead, give to homeless services providers, like The Road Home and Volunteers of America, who can stretch those dollars further.
For the second time in six months, state, city and non-profit entities are asking the public not to directly give money, clothing or food to homeless people. And they cite a host of reasons, including public safety and health concerns.
“We are the most generous state in the nation,” said Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox at a news conference Monday. “People want to help and, unfortunately sometimes, we do more harm than good.