In Orlando, when the group Food not Bombs decided to give away food in a local park: Their well-intentioned efforts led to some negative side effects for nearby residents.

Police say that crime, along with reports of trespassing and lewd behavior, spiked after many of the large feedings, which often drew hundreds of homeless into some of the nicest parts of downtown. "I was having to pick up human waste from my yard and shoo people out from sleeping in my bushes," says Robert Harding, a local attorney whose office is around the corner from Lake Eola Park. (Philips, 2006).

Clearly, there are deviant behaviors that are associated with panhandling, even if panhandling itself is not a deviant behavior. Moreover, the very serious and real life issues that contribute to homelessness and panhandling, such as addiction disorders, mental illness, and domestic violence, are all highly associated with criminal behavior. It seems like an unfair burden to require those who comply with society's rules and regulations, and also pay the taxes and other fees that support public use areas like parks, to pay for the use of those facilities by non-contributing members of society.

In addition, many panhandlers do not confine...

On the contrary, many of them attempt to solicit money on private or semi-private property. For example, there are people who solicit on sidewalks and roadways. Sidewalks and roadways are ostensibly public property; however people have to use them to access private property. The reality is that panhandlers located on the streets or sidewalks outside of a business can have an adverse effect on that business. In addition, panhandlers located outside of a private residence can cause discomfort to those living in the residence.
References

National Coalition for the Homeless. (2006). Why are people homeless? Retrieved February

12, 2007 from the National Coalition for the Homeless.

Web site: http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/facts.html

National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty. (2002). Panhandling criminalization:

Atlanta responds to beggars.

Retrieved February 12, 2007 from NLCHP.com.

Web site: http://www.nlchp.org/FA_CivilRights/Panhandling.cfm

Philips, M. (2006, November 6). OK, Sister drop that sandwhich! Newsweek Society.

Retrieved February 12, 2007, from MSNBC.com.