it's no secret that the city of San Antonio is full of compassionate citizens who are eager to help those in need when they see them the question for many is not should I help but how can I help many citizens believe that they are doing just that when they freely donate money to panhandlers standing at busy intersections across the city the idea that these panhandlers are presenting a serious safety hazard by walking through traffic to collect money isn't something that first comes to mind for many citizens the desire to help those in less fortunate situations is often in the Forefront of their minds another alarming thought that many generous donors may not think about is exactly where their money is going after their donation some San Antonio police officers hit the streets to speak to local panhandlers whose honest answers about where your donations are going may shock you let's take a look you said of that maybe $70 on a good day that you make you spend about how much how much on her one you think 60 about $60 60 but that's including like like if I buy 320s I'll do one save one till about 12 1:00 in the morning and then I'll do one and I'll save another one for the morning that way I don't get up sick okay I know I got my fix for the morning every every since I get is just trigger me that I got to buy some heroin that is not a very good trigger you know what I mean of the $150 on a good day how much of that do you think goes toward your well your hair majority out of it about a whole 150 what about food and stuff well F sometimes they give me food you know but you know when I if I really get hungry you know I'll probably know some tacos you know something to eat but you know I'm going to make sure that I get you know first I'm going to take care of you know your your my habit your habit clearly in spite of the many daily attempts from generous San Antonio citizens to help these individuals get a hand up it merely enabled them by fueling their drug addictions even with the best of intentions we may be cutting their lives short now just to be clear we can't say that every panhandler does this but evidence shows that a large portion of your street corner donations aren't spent in the way you intended with many great charitable organizations to donate to Across the City you can be sure that by donating to any one of them 100% of your donations are going toward change that makes a difference this includes food shelter and medical care just to name a few the San Antonio Police Department is partnering with the city's designated provider for homeless Services Haven for Hope and an effort to increase Public Safety and awareness and encouraging people to give to Haven for Hope We are lessening the chances of street corner donations being used for illegal purposes and citizens in interacting with possible Predators if you or panhandlers see the streets as a viable option more stand a better chance of turning their lives around in a perfect world we would be able to give to those in need and help them however the reality is that doesn't always occur so how far does your dollar go when donating to Haven for Hope Mr Ron Brown the campus Outreach manager discusses that and his passion for helping others it takes $530 for individual to be housed here for individual to get three meals and access any of the resources that we have here on campus so you know $5.3 that's pretty reasonable how do you personally feel at the end of the day leaving it's rewarding and and in the same sense it's kind of it's tough I see where a lot of lives would be ended if we hadn't been here um we've extended lives it's people like Mr Brown that helped put success in these next several stories now we're going to introduce you to three former panhandlers who found a better way to make the most of San Antonio's generosity each of these individuals are a true Testament that Haven for Hope does live up to its name giving hope to those that previously found themselves in what appear to be hopeless situations here's an inside look at what the nonprofit organization personally means to them transformation growth hope um safe um has taught me a lot about forgiveness and understanding um but the main thing was this where my growth come from my transformation is inspirational is the strength you see you see a a lot of people that's in worse predicaments than you are and it's very very inspirational and it motivates you hey you know you you don't have it that bad you know this person right here has it way worse than you you know I can thank God every day that I still have my legs I still have my arms I still have my eyes I still you know can can take care of myself when there's there's a lot of people that that can do more ability like I can and take care of themselves why Fresh Start what does that mean to you that means I have another chance at life at getting it right you know each and every day is is a a fresh and brand new day and uh it gives me another chance to just sit down get a clear conscious thought and just that's what I that's what that's the way I look at Haven it's a place to sit down and and and and figure out what I what my next move is you know speaking of moves I think you had a great analogy when you were talking about that um it's like a chess game and you mentioned that you were locked up for for drugs at one point for an addiction and how you became so good at playing the game yes how can you equate chess with life in the situation you're in now first off you have to um figure out what your move is you have to be a couple of moves ahead of the move you going to make and you have to know you have to you just basically have to cover every move and this is the way that you and and set your goal you know in chess is your goal is to Checkmate and so therefore everything you you're moving you're moving in that direction and so I mean and and you know you got to figure out if you got a good offense good defense you know some people don't have a good you know they got a good opening but they don't have a good closing although many would never guess it by simply looking at Michelle honey or Eddie all three told a compelling story about how they misus donations received while panhandling to fuel their addictions so what's the difference between them and the two gentlemen you saw at the beginning of this video they all made a change that eventually made a difference here's what Eddie had to say about where your money has the most impact because in reality there are a lot of facilities here that will help me do everything help me and anybody else any any any situation you come up with there's Services provided to take care of that it's more beneficial if you donate to the organization because the organization is is is there and it's provided for those that want the help and guidance in doing the right thing when you put the money in a person's hands it's up to them and not to say that they're going to do the wrong thing but if it's in an organization it's going the right way nothing changes if nothing changes San Antonio it's time we work together to make a change change that makes a difference I'm Chief mcmanis and this is Samantha and Emma San Antonio is a caring community and we want to give when we see someone in need unfortunately Street Corner donations aren't the best way to help many times these donations simply enable a panhandler who has addictions to continue destructive behaviors there's a better way to help and we're here to encourage you to make the most of your donations every dollar you give to The Haven for Hope goes to help people who are truly homeless and with families and children just like Samantha and Emma to get back on their feet sapd officers will be carrying Cards just like this one to help make it simple for anyone one who wants to give it's your change that makes a difference give change to make a difference