GREENSBORO, N.C. — The City of Greensboro and United Way have new signs up discouraging people from giving money to panhandlers.
The signs encourage people to give their money to charity, rather than to someone on the side of the road.
WFMY News 2's Nixon Norman got reaction from one of the people you might see asking for money and people with mixed reactions in the city.
Joseph Bryant has been living on the streets of Greensboro for about a year and a half. He finds himself panhandling often, asking folks for money for his next meal.
Bryant said these signs won't be stopping him or people from giving panhandlers money, "People gonna do what they want to anyway."
WFMY News 2's Nixon Norman asked him if the sign was offensive to him and fellow panhandlers.
"In a sense yeah, because you trying to tell me that me standing out here is wrong for them folks to give me free money, you know what I'm saying? It's the money to give, if they're willing to give it, I'm willing to accept," Bryant said.
The sign reads "Change the way you give. Donate to local charities." Bryant said in his experience, local charities haven't been able to help him out.
"A lot of the charities say they're doing something and they don't. I've been to several spots to get some help from different folks and they give you the run around, with that being said, you know, shoot, you do what you want," Bryant said.
It's something Xavier English, a senior at North Carolina A&T echoed, saying that oftentimes charities struggle with helping people on an individual level, that the burden sometimes falls on the community.
"Yes, local charities do enough in our community but if I personally feel like I want to help a homeless individual out on a one to one kind of basis, why can't I do that? Why should I be stopped from doing that?" English said.
Local business owner Jasmine Khoebakhsh of Moe's Dogs thinks the signs are a good idea, saying charities are better equipped to handling donations.
"They [charities] know what they [panhandlers] need and give them exactly what they need. They buy necessary stuff for them, not drugs or cigarettes or alcohol," Khoebakhsh said.
Regardless, Bryant believes people will continue to panhandle and continue to give money with or without these signs, "It's a free country so, people gonna do what they want to do."
WFMY News 2's Nixon Norman reached out to the city late Friday afternoon to ask about the new signs.
A rep with the city said the idea came from the city manager's office.
The City of Greensboro released this statement:
These signs, which went up earlier this year, are similar to those used in many communities who prioritize safety. We understand the deep need in our community that is inspiring people to panhandle. It's one of the reasons we support the United Way efforts to eradicate poverty. What we do not want is people standing in traffic medians. This is dangerous for pedestrians and drivers. We want people to give to those in need, but not in ways that put our neighbors in harm's way.
The signs are suggestive to those who wish to help but are not mandates.