ASKING FOR CHANGEShelby Unique

Writing 10

TABLE OF CONTENT1. Things to know2. Conflict in Merced3. Proposal4. Networks5. Fundrazr6. Why is it effective?7. Bibliography

THINGS TO KNOW

• Panhandling- To approach strangers and beg for money or food. (thefreedicionary.com)

• Anti-Panhandling Ordinance- Regulation on panhandling

CONFLICT IN MERCED• There are over 700 homeless people, currently, in the city of Merced

(mercedsunstar.com), and there has been concerns about the welfare of this group of people.

• Many of these homeless people panhandle in order to gain money to support themselves, and consequently the city has set into place an anti-panhandling ordinance

• This ordinance is meant to help keep the homeless people off of the median islands, located in the center of the streets separating the opposite sides of travel, for their safety and to maintain a peaceful order and view of the city.

CONFLICT IN MERCED, CONTD.

• The ordinance has not been completely successful in maintaining this tranquility, because although the homeless people are staying off the medians they are still occupying the street corners, sidewalks, and city parks.

• This raises concern of residents, such as myself, about the well-being of these individuals since they are consistently and prominently tarrying in these public areas of the city.

• So the goal is to get the panhandlers off the streets so that they are not loitering in these areas, but are in a safe place with a roof over their heads and food to eat.

PROPOSAL

• An idea adopted from a UK-based nonprofit called the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, called for going out and surveying the homeless to see what item they need in order to get them off the streets (gimundo.com) , seeing that a lot of times they simply need to be reconnected with a member of their family.

• Additionally, we could do some online networking and post the information we obtain with anticipation that the needed items are donated

• In addition to the item(s) requested by each individual my colleagues and I could fundraise to grant them a one-time budget of $1,000 so that once they are off the streets, they could have some money to help them stay off the streets.

NETWORKS• Facebook • Twitter

FUNDRAZR

WHY IS IT EFFECTIVE?

• proved to be effective seeing that out of 13 people who participated in a study of this practice 11 of them are now off the streets (gimundo.com).• surveying the homeless is a primary source • better determine which specific items are

needed • would help us with our focus in obtaining those

items• getting the answer of what will help these

homeless individuals directly from them is more effective than just assuming what they need, or giving the most basic essentials instead of the less conventional necessities.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• "Panhandling." The Free Dictionary. Farlex, n.d. Web. 05 May 2014.• Arnold, Nikki. "Merced Approves Anti-Panhandling Ordinance."

CaliforniaCityNews.org. Grassroots Lab, 21 Nov. 2013. Web. 16 Apr. 2014.• Miller, Thaddeus. "Merced City Council OKs Anti-panhandling Rule - The

Sacramento Bee." The Sacramento Bee. The Sacramento Bee, 18 Nov. 2013. Web. 16 Apr. 2014.

• Miller, Thaddeus. "Merced Sun-Star." Merced Project Aims to Match Homeless with Housing. Merced Sun Star, 14 Apr. 2014. Web. 16 Apr. 2014.

• Miller, Thaddeus. "Merced Sun-Star." Program Aims to Cut Panhandling, Help Homeless. Merced Sun Star, 15 July 2013. Web. 16 Apr. 2014.

PREGUNTAS?