Recently there has been a surge of people on the street asking passersby for money.
Some residents blame a change in law-enforcement policy while others assert that the whole situation is a scam. Many professionals link the increase to homelessness and poverty.
Learn what’s behind it.
Attend a forum from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, at Summit Commons, 99 Hillside Ave., on “Panhandling, Poverty and Homelessness.” It is sponsored by SNA and will be moderated by Gayle Gifford, president of Cause & Effect Inc., an advisor to nonprofits, and R.I. Rep. Aaron Regunberg.
Guest speakers include:
Diana Burdett, executive director of PICA, a private charitable nonprofit which runs the largest food pantry in the state and provides intensive case management for the homeless. She is also part of the Downtown Improvement District ;
Linda Katz, co-founder and policy director of the Economic Progress Institute;
Rabbi Alan Flam, executive director the Helen Hudson Foundation for Homeless America;
Jeffrey Dana, chief solicitor of the City of Providence (or another city representative.)
Don’t just curse the darkness, help shed some light on the problem.
https://www.facebook.com/events/331629333838011/
