This article appears in Dec 6-12, 2007.
Finally!
Looks like Fredericton is on the right track. Downtown business owners will now give panhandlers a chance to earn food chits in exchange for odd jobs like window washing, sidewalk sweeping and snow clearing. Bravo, Fredericton, and shame shame shame Ha
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Chances are that any money you donate to the downtown street people will only be used to fuel whatever addiction they have. If they’re able-bodied, they should be handed a broom or a squeegee in exchange for food or coffee. Of course, all the poverty coalition groups will be outraged but what can you expect from middle-class social activists who wouldn’t know real poverty if it bit them on the ass? Fredericton is doing the smart thing but don’t expect anything too soon from those City Hall bozos.
That’s just stupid. A lot of us spend our money on some sort of addiction. Coffee, booze, smokes, etc… etc… why the hell should I look down on them for theirs?
carnate- you bleeding heart commie pinko twinkie….eff off
lol… wow… I’m sorry Cyril. Did I disturb your morning tea & Mein Kampf scriptures? If anything is bleeding, it’s my eyes from trying to decipher exactly what it is you’re trying to say. Not to metion that I don’t think Communism & “bleeding heart” were ever uttered in the same sentence… at least not in this context.
My take on the situation is that I work 40+ hours per week for MY $$$. If I want to put that $$$ down my throat, in my nose or up my arm that’s MY choice … I’ve earned it.For somebody to ask me for MY $$$ to do the same thing is not comparable. They’re asking for something I’ve earned. Anybody on the streets with a mental illness we have a responsibility (as a whole) to help them. If they’re on the streets because they are too lazy or drug addled to do anything else then somehow it needs to stop. I don’t have the answer to that one but I’m sure an answer is out there and work for food is a great place to start.
Dude. Just because someone asks you for a handout doesn’t mean you have to give it to them. You made your point. You’re not giving them anything because it’s yours and you’ve earned it. That’s perfectly fine. If the shop owners or anyone else is willing to give them some money for some small service or even as a handout, that’s their perogative as well.If the person spends that money on whatever they want, that has nothing to do with you or anyone else.
I think it’s dangerous to place all panhandlers and the homeless under one social umbrealla … they’re all (insert cause here). Nobody chooses to live on the streets unless living at home is intolerable making the streets safer. Nobody grows up saying I want to be a drug addict. Many people are unable to work (unemployable) and in most cases find themselves on the streets begging. Not all are looking for their next “hit”. Raoul please consider yourself very fortunate to not have to face anything like this and stable enough to get and keep a steady job. I’m not saying you should help if it’s not in your heart, but please don’t accuse someone you know nothing about of laziness or willful addiction. It makes you look kind of silly :).
I am all for the slave labour of the homeless. It’s about time that you set them up to doing something usefull for society.They already collect bottles so let them clean up the streets. Give them a nice shelter to clean up and then have them work at night as prostitutes.Everyone wins and pretty soon there would be no homeless because they could pay their own way.
Nobody choose it? What about the window cleaners who show up? Its funny, about a week after all of the university kids have gone home to southern ontario and vanquoover a new crop of squeegie kids are walking around. Conicidence? Discuss amongst yourselves.
The city should provide these people with shoe shine kits. With the number of government and business offices downtown, they could earn themselves some bucks with some spit and polish. You don’t get something for nothing.
BJ, after your comments about “bitchsmacking” women you have very little wiggle room to call anybody silly.There are a multitude of reasons why people end up homeless. As a society we have an obligation to help these people and I am already on record as saying this. I’m not attaching any label to an entire group but let’s be realistic instead of idealistic. There are some people on the street that are lazy and drug addled … it’s a reality. Don’t believe it’s not in my heart to help simply because I’m not willing to support someone who is not willing to help themselves. I do plenty to help in my community but do not feel the need to publicly pat myself on the back for it. Once again please read this slowly ….” I don’t have the answer to that one but I’m sure an answer is out there and work for food is a great place to start.” If someone is willing to get off their arse and push a broom around for something to eat you have to respect that. That was the subject of the post and that’s what I was responding to. You have taken a specific topic and turned it in to a sweeping generalization. Naturally it’s easy to find fault with someone when you generalize and, at times, that can make a person look rather silly.
All I know is if my ass had to live on the street (and sometimes people end up on the street for reasons beyond their control), I’d likely want to be drunk or stoned!Whomever said you don’t HAVE to give them money when they ask is right. And remember this: you can’t get a job without and address, and welfare doesn’t get delievered to the streets.Kudos to F-town for attempting to tackle their poverty issues!
A person can get a PO box for $8 a month … there’s yer address
I understand that everybody has circumstances, but begging for money? How low can you go? As a taxpayer, I find it disgusting that these people do not have to pay tax on their so-called “earnings”, which is probably more than I make in a week! Hello, city officials? Isn’t it time for you to take a bite out of what these panhandlers make? You have done it to me, and I work at a legit job! Why don’t you elected fools follow Fredericton’s example?