Homeless advocates help stall overhaul to Philadelphia law against aggressive panhandling

The bill to put more teeth in Philadelphia’s law against aggressive panhandling is on hold.

The bill would allow Philadelphia police to make decisions on the spot when they run into people harassing others for money. Homeless advocate Sister Mary Scullion says she doesn’t want the law to change.

“Right now the current law allows that the police have to call outreach before they cite them or remove them,” said Scullion. “We think that is very important to what is necessary to end homelessness in our city.”

Councilman Frank DiCicco has agreed to amend his bill to exclude homeless people from being covered by it. So police would still have to call an outreach worker before removing homeless people begging in an aggressive way.