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# City's $100,000 antipanhandling campaign to launch before holiday shopping season
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/file-photo-coming-soon-a-city-hall-marketing-campaign-is-designed-to-stop-people-from-giving-money-directly-to-homeless-panhandlers-panhandling-campai/
- Published: 2008-05-20T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T19:37:53.000Z
- Author: Melody Hanatani
- Tags: Government & Politics, Downtown, #archive-import, Homeless, Homelessness

*City consultant completes public opinion survey on homeless panhandling*

CITY HALL A marketing campaign aimed at curbing panhandling in Downtown Santa Monica could roll out in time for the holiday shopping season.

A senior associate with consulting firm GMMB, which was contracted by City Hall earlier this year to create the $100,000 anti-panhandling campaign, said last week that a public opinion survey on homelessness was recently completed and educational marketing materials should be ready for distribution this winter, possibly as soon as the fall.

The survey was conducted in the downtown area in late March, a sample size that included 314 respondents, many of whom reside in Santa Monica and Greater L.A.

About half of the Santa Monica residents who responded said that panhandling was an extremely or very serious problem in the city, as compared to 28 percent of the overall respondents who felt the same way. Only about 12 percent of Santa Monica residents said they frequently give to panhandlers as opposed to 16.7 percent of international visitors. International visitors comprised the largest group of respondents who say they are never asked to give money.

More than half of the respondents who never give money said they believe the cash is used for negative purposes, as opposed to 27 percent of those who always contribute, saying they believe the resources are used to better the recipient’s situation.

The consulting firm also interviewed 31 stakeholders, ranging from business owners to social-service providers, on their thoughts of the campaign.

“For the most part, people really see the value in educating the public about why we should try to curtail direct giving to panhandling,” Tanja Hester, a senior associate with GMMB, said during the City Council meeting last week.

The campaign is aimed at advising the public against giving to panhandlers and instead suggests donating the money to a social service provider that works directly with the homeless. Such campaigns have been successful in cities like Denver which launched the “Give a Better Way” campaign in 2006, cutting down panhandling in the 16th Street outdoor mall — the city’s equivalent of the Third Street Promenade — by 93 percent. An estimated $4.5 million was handed out to panhandlers in Denver in 2006\. “There is a strong desire to frame the campaign in terms of compassion... so this isn’t about judging people or stereotyping anyone,”Hester said.“It’s about helping people to see that direct giving may not be the most compassionate choice.”

Councilmember Kevin McKeown suggested that those who donate to a social-service provider be awarded an “I gave” sticker that they can wear, letting panhandlers know that they have already contributed toward their cause.

Panhandling could have more of an impact on promenade businesses after the reopening of Santa Monica Place in 2009, a privately-owned space where homeless activities can be restricted, according to Councilmember Bob Holbrook.

“It’s imperative we really get a handle on this or there will be severe impacts on some of the people who work hard... to build businesses and restaurants,” Holbrook said.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/052008-04_01.jpg)

COMING SOON: A City Hall marketing campaign is designed to stop people from giving money directly to homeless panhandlers. (Photo: Photo courtesy)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/052008-04_02.jpg)

COLLECTIONS: Homeless individuals often panhandle for change in the downtown area. (Photo: Photo courtesy)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 20, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/052008.pdf?ref=smdp.com)