SANTA CLARITA / ANTELOPE VALLEY : Plan to Deter Panhandling Backed : City Council: Lancaster endorses a card and poster program proposed by agencies serving the homeless.

The Lancaster City Council has endorsed a new program called “Just Say No to Panhandlers” proposed by Antelope Valley agencies that serve the hungry and homeless.

The program’s backers ask merchants to put in their store windows “Just Say No to Panhandlers” posters showing a picture of a panhandler inside a red circle and a slash through it. The poster also will list agencies to which shoppers can donate money instead of giving it to panhandlers.

In addition, cards listing agencies that will help panhandlers will be available at local businesses and the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce. The idea is for people to hand the card to panhandlers rather than money, city officials said.

“In reality, this card is just as good as the money,” said Councilman George Runner. “And it helps them to eat in the future as well, because the dollar that you give them can hardly buy anything at a fast-food restaurant.”

The city will provide graphics help with posters and cards and will research possible anti-panhandling laws the city could adopt, Runner said.

Steven Baker, director of Grace Resource Center, an agency that helps the homeless, said the cards ensure that beggars do not use donated money for drugs, alcohol or cigarettes.

“The truth of it is most of them will just throw the card away,” Baker said. “But you’ll know how sincere they are.”

Baker proposed the “Just Say No to Panhandlers” program to the City Council on Monday night and the council endorsed it 4 to 0. Mayor Frank Roberts was absent.

Baker said businessman Brian Cooley approached him with the idea a month ago. Baker has raised about $200 for the effort from friends and the Rotary West Club in Lancaster.

Other nonprofit agencies involved are South Antelope Valley Emergency Services, the Salvation Army in Lancaster and St. Vincent de Paul Society.

“So far, people are very warm to it,” Baker said. “It meets the needs on a whole bunch of different levels.”

Baker said the program will ensure that people don’t feel like they have to give beggars money to help them.

“It all sounds very judgmental, but thousands of dollars are being lost on someone’s habit,” Baker said. “But for me, $10 buys 90 pounds of food.”