There’s a certain kind of generosity that comes with seeing someone in need — an instinct to give when you see a person standing on the corner, holding up a sign, or looking like they’re just trying to make it through the day. But Fort Worth is stepping in with a new initiative that asks: What if we could make that generosity a little smarter?
It’s called the “It’s OK to Say No to Panhandlers” campaign, and it’s a sign of things to come in a city that’s been pushing for more sustainable, long-term solutions to homelessness. Rather than dropping spare change into the hands of someone standing on a street corner, the city is asking residents to consider another option: giving directly to the organizations that can truly help — places already doing the work to get people back on their feet.
In the coming weeks, residents will notice new signs sprouting up around Fort Worth’s most notorious panhandling hotspots — those familiar intersections that always seem to have someone with a sign or a plea. The message will be clear: “It’s OK to Say No to Panhandlers.” It’s an invitation to redirect that impulse to give to something bigger, to real solutions that don’t just momentarily ease a situation, but work toward ending it altogether.
These signs aren’t just a reminder. They’re part of a larger, city-wide effort to break the cycle of dependency that panhandling can foster. Because, while giving cash to someone asking for it may seem like the easiest way to help, it doesn’t always get to the root of the problem. It doesn’t provide long-term support, and it sometimes leads to unsafe interactions with panhandlers on the streets…