A crowded corner: Homeless/panhandling debate at a crossroads

FORT WALTON BEACH - The intersection of Perry Avenue and U.S. Highway 98 continues to be a front line in the homeless-panhandling debate.

On one side, there are the vagrants with their signs saying "God bless" and seeking donations from motorists. On the other side are downtown merchants urging people to stop donating to the panhandlers in hopes that they will leave the area.

In the middle is Renee Crosby, a petite mother of two who is studying to become a minister at Shalimar United Methodist Church.

"The fact is, people don't understand who our homeless are," Crosby said. "I'm trying to get people to open their eyes and start to examine the real problem."

Crosby joined the panhandlers and downtown merchants on Perry on Wednesday afternoon with her own sign urging people who want to help the homeless to contact Opportunity Inc., which operates homeless shelters and offers other assistance. Crosby was joined by four or five panhandlers and more than a dozen people representing the downtown merchants.

Crosby said 52 percent of the homeless in Okaloosa County are children. Rather than having the community focus all of its attention on the panhandlers downtown, she believes more can be done to solve the problem.

She suggested donating to local agencies such as Opportunity Inc., Catholic Charities, Bridgeway Center or the Waterfront Rescue Mission.

The Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce started a campaign earlier this year with a similar message. In fact, its tagline, "Give a hand up, not a hand out," is similar Crosby's intentions.

However, Crosby said more should be done to educate the public on what they can do to help the homeless without giving money to vagrants. She suggested the chamber change its sign slightly to give a phone number residents can call to give assistance.

"I understand why the business owners have concerns, but they hold monthly meetings and they have never invited the homeless," Crosby said. "If they are part of the problem, let them be part of the solution."

Some panhandlers support Crosby's approach.

"I think it's lovely (what Crosby is doing)," said Bruce Lee Thompson, a homeless man who goes by the name Taxi Thom. "Primarily, the merchants get very, very positive feedback. There are more people against the homeless than for us. I'm just as happy with (Crosby) flying her sign as I am with (the downtown merchants) flying theirs. They're exercising their First Amendment rights. I am pleased to see someone come out and support us."