The Paradox Of Panhandling In Illinois

Earlier this year, a federal court in Illinois ruled a state panhandling law unconstitutional, saying that it violates the First Amendment: freedom of free speech. The ruling permanently bans the law from being enforced. That means panhandlers in Illinois can no longer be ticketed. Similar local ordinances in cities across Illinois have similarly been repealed or rendered unenforceable.

We spoke to JJ Bullock, Government and Business reporter for the Peoria Journal Star, Kate Green, the Executive Director of the Heart of Illinois United Way’s Home for All Continuum of Care and Chris Schaffner is the  Program Director of the Jolt Harm Reduction Foundation to hear more about the rise in panhandling in Illinois. 

GUESTS:

JJ Bullock
Government and Business reporter for the Peoria Journal Star

Kate Green
Executive Director of the Heart of Illinois United Way’s Home for All Continuum of Care

Chris Schaffner
Program Director of the Jolt Harm Reduction Foundation in Peoria

Prepared for web by Zainab Qureshi

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