"Keep the Change:" Common Council approves program aimed at addressing panhandling

MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Common Council voted Tuesday, March 1st to approve establishing a “Keep the Change” program aimed at addressing the city’s burgeoning panhandling problem.

The multifaceted resolution to create the “Keep the Change” program, sponsored by Alderman Terry Witkowski, was adopted on a unanimous vote by the full Common Council Tuesday at City Hall.

Alderman Witkowski, chair of the Public Safety Committee, said Milwaukee and other cities are seeing a growing number of panhandlers, especially individuals standing at intersections, near off-ramps and on medians asking for money.

“The problem in recent years has been made worse by people thinking they are helping by giving the panhandlers easy money – money that most likely will be used for items that feed addiction. The ‘Keep the Change’ initiative will offer common sense alternative options and information about resources, and the overall effort can reduce the (panhandling) problem,” he said.

Studies have shown that donations given to panhandlers are frequently used to support dependencies, and rarely result in any long-term improvement in the panhandlers’ quality of life.

“Keep the Change” aims to both reduce the number of panhandlers funding dependencies through donations and to provide meaningful support for those who are affected by homelessness, Alderman Witkowski has said. 

“It should be noted that up to 70% of the panhandlers are not homeless, according to the Milwaukee Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office,” Witkowski said.

The legislation directs the city's Department of Administration to establish “Keep the Change” to discourage donations to panhandlers and encourage donations to charities that provide shelter, food, clothing and other services. It will include the distribution of informational cards and a city website to act as a clearinghouse for resources and places to donate.

Specifically, “Keep the Change” features include: