Fort Worth is shifting to a more targeted, data-driven approach to panhandling after a new informal report to the city council identified persistent trouble spots and recommended changes to enforcement and outreach.
The report says panhandling levels have remained steady citywide, but certain corridors continue to draw chronic complaints tied to roadway safety, aggressive behavior and gaps in service access. City officials say the findings will guide how police and outreach teams focus their efforts moving forward.
Officers report a wide range of behavior from passive sign-holding near shopping centers to more antagonistic solicitation around busy intersections and highway exits. The report also notes that panhandling involves both people experiencing homelessness and those who use high-traffic corners to generate income…