As you probably know, panhandling is considered by the courts to be a form of speech that is protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.  Consequently, the courts, especially recently, have placed significant limitations on the ability of cities to regulate panhandling.   Restricting panhandling to certain designated areas and licensing panhandlers in the manner you suggest are the kind of regulations the courts are unlikely to approve. However, sometimes panhandling can become aggressive which then may make it illegal.  If the person panhandling touches you, blocks your way, or threatens you, such conduct is probably illegal and the Police should be called.

As a community, we are working on various ways to help people get services they may need (e.g. shelter, food, mental health care, substance use disorder treatment, etc.).  Many of these services are provided by non-profit agencies in our community – the Murphy Center, Catholic Charities, Fort Collins Rescue Mission, etc.  Additionally, the City offers assistance to these efforts by providing some funding, partnering with and participating in the collaborative efforts.  The City is actively involved with Homeward 2020 which is the agency leading the community’s 10 year plan to make homelessness rare, short-lived, and non-recurring.

One collaborative effort that I’d like to elaborate on a little more is called Outreach Fort Collins.  The collaborators include City of Fort Collins Social Sustainability and Police Services, Downtown Development Authority, SummitStone Health Partners, UCHealth, Homeless Gear, and Homeward 2020.  Other partners are also joining this effort.  Outreach Fort Collins is community-driven outreach to maintain our downtown as a safe and welcoming place for all while connecting our community’s most vulnerable to the services and supportive networks they need.  It is a professionally staffed, on-the-street team working in the downtown area.  They will build relationships with community members, service providers, businesses, and city services in an effort to address and deescalate disruptive behaviors (including panhandling).  It is expected to be up and running next month, and it will begin with a focus on the downtown area as mentioned above.  We know that some behaviors, such as panhandling, are increasing in all areas across the community, and we think this model will expand at some point.

Downtown businesses have also considered a campaign where people are encouraged to provide donations within the businesses that would then be given to service providers (similar to your idea about how people can donate without encouraging panhandling).  Also, Hand-Up, a program of Homeless Gear, provides training and assistance to people experiencing homelessness to help them attain employment.  Last year, they helped 125 people gain employment and are on track to surpass that number this year.