"panhandler" in Stop&Shop parking lot

Today I once again watched a guy trying to talk people into giving him money in the parking lot. I've seen him there multiple times, usually on the weekends. He wears a backpack and a slouch knit hat.

He's not there every day. He tends to be there 2 days in a row and then go elsewhere for a few days. He's usually in the parking lot for several hours during the late afternoon. I see him as I go to the gym and do some shopping.

Calling the police seems extreme, especially since he is Black. I don't want to put him at risk.

What local resources are there that could provide assistance to someone who may be homeless or otherwise in need of help?

Stop and Shop in SO?  I don’t know what resources SO has to deal with this. Police are often equipped to deal with homeless issues, assuming that is the case and police operations are shifting now.  Maplewood recently hired a social worker to respond with police to calls such as this.  South Orange may have something similar. It is worth calling the non emergency number and asking.

Harriet said:

Today I once again watched a guy trying to talk people into giving him money in the parking lot. I've seen him there multiple times, usually on the weekends. He wears a backpack and a slouch knit hat.

He's not there every day. He tends to be there 2 days in a row and then go elsewhere for a few days. He's usually in the parking lot for several hours during the late afternoon. I see him as I go to the gym and do some shopping.

Calling the police seems extreme, especially since he is Black. I don't want to put him at risk.

What local resources are there that could provide assistance to someone who may be homeless or otherwise in need of help?him a few bucks or don’t.

Harriet said:

Today I once again watched a guy trying to talk people into giving him money in the parking lot. I've seen him there multiple times, usually on the weekends. He wears a backpack and a slouch knit hat.

He's not there every day. He tends to be there 2 days in a row and then go elsewhere for a few days. He's usually in the parking lot for several hours during the late afternoon. I see him as I go to the gym and do some shopping.

Calling the police seems extreme, especially since he is Black. I don't want to put him at risk.

What local resources are there that could provide assistance to someone who may be homeless or otherwise in need of help?

Give him a few bucks or don’t. Either way don’t call the police. Let him be.