Earlier this week, NBC26 told you about a picture going viral that shows the Grand Chute town chairman standing next to a panhandler, warning people that some panhandlers are frauds. His sign did not sit well with everyone on the Fox Cities Housing Coalition, including Scott Peeples.
"Using words like fraudulent, you don't know what anybody's story is when they're asking for money," Peeples said.
Peeples runs the Fox Valley Warming Shelter, and said he doesn't think the sign is the way to solve the panhandling problem.
"My opinion is that's mean-spirited and counter-productive," he said.
Dave Schowalter, the Grand Chute town chairman in the picture, said he's just trying to help the community.
"Our police department gets numerous calls during the month of people that are concerned about the panhandlers that are standing out at the mall," Schowalter said.
Schowalter also said he's tried to hand out business cards and offer jobs to panhandlers, but so far none have accepted.
After seeing the picture, Peeples said the Fox Cities Housing Coalition decided to form an ad hoc committee to discuss the issue of panhandling.
"It's not to solve panhandling or take a firm stance," he said.
He said the committee will look to educate people. It's still in the early stages, so there will be more updates on what the committee plans to do in the next few weeks.
