By Christina Coulter | Fox News
Due south of Denver’s homelessness crisis, a Colorado county has nearly eradicated its own unhoused population with a simple message to its citizens: “Handouts Don’t Help.”
Throughout Douglas County, there are about 70 signs with the message at intersections and roadways that were once popular hangouts for area panhandlers. Each sign directs citizens to DouglasHasHeart.org, where they can redirect their donations to the Douglas County Community Foundation. The county took to print media and advertisements online to spread the message through the community.
“The thought dawned on me from a common sense standpoint – I saw a lot of people like my daughter feeling conflicted at an intersection,” Republican Douglas County Commissioner Abe Laydon said of the initiative.