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Police chief: Non-homeless, non-handicap man making $1,000/weekend panhandling
by Jamie Burch, KTXS
Thursday, August 1st 2019
Police chief: Non-homeless, non-handicap man making $1,000/weekend panhandling (KTXS/Jesse Smith)
ABILENE, Texas (KTXS) — An Abilene man -- who appears to be homeless and handicap -- is making a good living by panhandling on weekends, according to the police chief.
Chief Stan Standridge said the man panhandles every Saturday and Sunday at the intersection of Hwy 83/84 and FM 707.
He sits in a wheelchair and the police department has gotten calls from people concerned about the man thinking he's homeless.
Standridge said the department's homeless outreach team has been in contact with the man.
They learned he is not homeless. Standridge said the man lives in a home in south Abilene.
He is also not wheelchair-bound, according to Standridge.
Someone drops him off every weekend to seek charity. Standridge said the man earns about $1,000 a weekend.
KTXS found him at the intersection on Wednesday. Multiple people told KTXS he's there every day.
RJ told KTXS that he is homeless, handicap and is lucky to make $6 on a weekend.
But that conflicts with what Standridge said RJ told his officers.
"He has told our officers how much he’s making. We know where he resides. I have personally seen him dropped him off on weekends," Standridge said.
Ultimately, Standridge said his Facebook post is not about RJ.
If we each give $5 out the window, “what have we done to address homelessness? Nothing,” Standridge said.
Standridge believes the best way to address homelessness is to move away from charity toward philanthropy.
"Imagine if those dollars were given to non-profits to help get our homeless neighbors off the streets," said Standridge.
The police chief encourages people to give to non-profit groups like Hope Haven and Love And Care Ministries that help people who are down on their luck.
@Pan_Africana
by Jamie Burch, KTXS
Thursday, August 1st 2019
Police chief: Non-homeless, non-handicap man making $1,000/weekend panhandling (KTXS/Jesse Smith)
ABILENE, Texas (KTXS) — An Abilene man -- who appears to be homeless and handicap -- is making a good living by panhandling on weekends, according to the police chief.
Chief Stan Standridge said the man panhandles every Saturday and Sunday at the intersection of Hwy 83/84 and FM 707.
He sits in a wheelchair and the police department has gotten calls from people concerned about the man thinking he's homeless.
Standridge said the department's homeless outreach team has been in contact with the man.
They learned he is not homeless. Standridge said the man lives in a home in south Abilene.
He is also not wheelchair-bound, according to Standridge.
Someone drops him off every weekend to seek charity. Standridge said the man earns about $1,000 a weekend.
KTXS found him at the intersection on Wednesday. Multiple people told KTXS he's there every day.
RJ told KTXS that he is homeless, handicap and is lucky to make $6 on a weekend.
But that conflicts with what Standridge said RJ told his officers.
"He has told our officers how much he’s making. We know where he resides. I have personally seen him dropped him off on weekends," Standridge said.
Ultimately, Standridge said his Facebook post is not about RJ.
If we each give $5 out the window, “what have we done to address homelessness? Nothing,” Standridge said.
Standridge believes the best way to address homelessness is to move away from charity toward philanthropy.
"Imagine if those dollars were given to non-profits to help get our homeless neighbors off the streets," said Standridge.
The police chief encourages people to give to non-profit groups like Hope Haven and Love And Care Ministries that help people who are down on their luck.
@Pan_Africana
