Bartlesville Council Launches Fund to Support Homeless Services, Discourages direct Cash Handouts
BARTLESVILLE, OK – The Bartlesville City Council has approved a plan to redirect charitable giving away from direct donations to panhandlers and toward a dedicated fund supporting local nonprofit organizations serving the homeless population. The initiative aims to address underlying issues contributing to homelessness, such as addiction and mental illness, and provide more lasting assistance.
The council voted to install signage at busy intersections frequented by panhandlers, encouraging individuals to donate via text to a fund managed by the bartlesville Community Foundation. The text-to-donate campaign will provide a link for online contributions.
“You see somebody in need you want to help. Your heart goes out to them. But sometimes giving them money is not the best way to do it,” saeid Errol Hada, Director of The Lighthouse, a local service provider.
Councilor aaron Kirkpatrick explained the fund will operate on a grant basis, dispersing money “a couple of times a year” to nonprofits actively working with the homeless. “This will allow us to fund ongoing projects through grants,” Kirkpatrick said. The fund will also be open to supporting new, community-driven ideas aimed at addressing homelessness. “We think it’s going to be great to have a sustainable way to help our unsheltered homeless neighbors,” he added.
Alongside the fund, the city will implement ”Charity Tracker,” a program allowing participating nonprofits to share details about services previously received by individuals, with their consent, to better coordinate care. The annual subscription cost for Charity Tracker is projected to exceed $14,000.
Hada believes directing funds to organizations will allow for more effective intervention. “They might have a real need, but this is to give it to organizations that can meet those needs,” he stated, adding that with appropriate care, individuals can “get back to living a functioning life.”
The council has not yet finalized the exact wording for the signs, but anticipates their installation within the next few weeks.