Be aware of ‘career homeless’

NOTE: This is the second in a series of three articles addressing the issue of the homeless population in the city of Enterprise and a grassroots, all volunteer organization striving to help.

“They are living in the woods, in their cars, in abandoned houses, in alleyways, behind downtown businesses, behind residential sheds and in the shadows of our shopping districts.”

That is where the homeless population in the City of Progress lives, according to a woman who strives to do something to help.

Jennifer Nichols and her husband, Dean, moved to the Wiregrass in 2014 from the greater New York City area where the number of homeless people in city shelters exceeded 60,000 for the first time in history last year.

It was Nichols’ heightened awareness of the less fortunate and her spirit of servant leadership that led to the formation of some 300 volunteers that comprise Hand Up Enterprise.

Nichols applied for and received 501(c)(3) charitable organization tax status for HUE whose board of directors are Dr. Christa Fry Bragg, Judy Crowley, Dr. Lyn Diefenderfer, Derek Goodrich, Amber Williams Heim, Deborah Brown James, Jenny Linke Jones, Laura Grimes Merritt, Heather Hopper Moore, Skip Neuwien, Jeanine Rowe Roberts, Johnna Redding Roberts and Milton Shipman.

“No one receives a salary or is compensated in any way from Hand Up donations; not the founders, board of directors, or volunteer/members,” Nichols said. “In fact all of our financial records are available for examination on our Facebook site.

“Hand Up Enterprise is committed to serving the legitimate homeless population in the best way we can with the current resources available to us,” Nichols said. “We are also familiar with most of the quirky residents that are relatively harmless.

“But just because someone appears scruffy and you might believe they are homeless, that isn't always the case,” Nichols said. “We investigate all reports of homeless individuals.

“Our assistance includse a hot meal, portable meals, personal essential items, clean/gently used clothes/sneakers/coats, blankets and towels,” she said. “For those who do not have a sleeping bag, tent, wagon or backpack our members mobilize and donate these items or HUE purchases. We ask if there is a family member or a friend we may call to report on their safety.”

It is an unfortunate fact that there are genuinely homeless people, Nichols said, adding that estimates are that at any given time Enterprise has between 10 and 40 homeless people.

“This is not acceptable,” Nichols said. “All these individuals are somebody’s somebody.”

Nichols said that are four basic classifications of legitimately homeless people.

There are some whose lack of money or a job, and/or a mental or physical condition, combined with lack of affordable housing, has left them with no roof over their heads. There are the transient homeless, also known as "drifters," who pass through town hitchhiking. What Nichols call the “feral homeless” are those who live deep in the woods and rarely venture out, especially in daylight hours. The “chronic homeless” gravitate in and out of homelessness, she said.

Nichols said that in the course of following up on reports of homelessness, HUE members frequently encounter con artists and she urges the public to be aware of the difference between people in genuine need and what she calls career homeless.

“These scammers, the career homeless, jump locations—to avoid police—in public shopping centers,” Nichols said. “They use panhandling as an easy money scam and exploit our residents for money.

“Some hold signs and others use dogs or children as props,” Nichols said. “One commonly seen man used an accessorized shopping cart which he kept stashed away and pulled out to push as if to appear homeless.

“In fact he owned a car and a van which he rolled the cart up into,” Nichols said adding that women have been known to pad themselves in order to appear pregnant. “A husband and wife team padded an empty baby carriage with blankets to make it appear they had an infant and positioned themselves at a Wal-Mart stop sign, waiting for unsuspecting drivers to stop.

“Dozens of full grocery bags were at their feet,” Nichols said. “When Hand Up arrived and questioned their circumstances they scurried into their brand new SUV.”

Nichols said there are some tips to help citizens become more aware of career homeless. “Clean clothes, new sneakers, eyes darting about, over-talking and getting way too close to you are sure signs you are being conned,” Nichols said. “All of these con artists place themselves in heavily traveled areas.

“Some of the habitual scammers are aggressive and will follow and harass you—especially if you have given them money before,” Nichols said. “They can ‘make’ up to $800 per day.

“Do not open a wallet or purse to give cash to any individual, pay for a motel room, or pay back due motel bills under any circumstances,” Nichols advised. “When in doubt of their circumstances, offer to get a meal and return with it.

“More likely than not they'll appeal for cash,” Nichols said. “Offered food has been tossed in the trash.”

According to Enterprise Police Department’s Public Information Officer Sgt. Billy Haglund, the city of Enterprise has adopted the state ordinance against loitering, Alabama Code 13A-11-9, which states that loitering is a violation.

Haglund said that under that ordinance, a person commits the crime of loitering if he:

(1) Loiters, remains or wanders about in a public place for the purpose of begging;  or

(2) Loiters or remains in a public place for the purpose of gambling;  or

(3) Loiters or remains in a public place for the purpose of engaging or soliciting another person to engage in prostitution or deviate sexual intercourse;  or

(4) Loiters or remains in or about a school, college or university building or grounds after having been told to leave by any authorized official of such school, college or university, and not having any reason or relationship involving custody of or responsibility for a pupil or any other specific, legitimate reason for being there, and not having written permission from a school, college or university administrator;  or

(5) Loiters or remains in any transportation facility, unless specifically authorized to do so, for the purpose of soliciting or engaging in any business, trade or commercial transactions involving the sale of merchandise or services;  or

(6) Loiters or remains in any place with one or more persons for purpose of unlawfully using or possessing a dangerous drug.

HUE has a website, www.handupenterpriseal.com which the group uses specifically to report suspected homeless or scammers

Nichols urges citizens to call the police at 347-2222 to report persons panhandling. “It is against the law and the police will respond,” she said.

“Even if an arrest is not made but the police move them along, scammers will learn they are not welcome here,” Nichols said. “While we may not ever eradicate these scammers 100 percent, we are making a significant dent.”