Pubdate: Thu, 03 Jul 2008
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2008 Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://www.edmontonsun.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135
Author: Kerry Diotte

SPARE CHANGE SOLUTIONS

A while back, I asked for reader feedback on how Edmonton could 
tackle the issue of panhandlers, especially the burgeoning numbers of 
them downtown.

Edmonton planner Myron Belej answered my challenge by going above and 
beyond the call of duty.

Belej is a City of Edmonton plannner by day and is involved with a 
so-called urban design salon by night - a group (www.cityplanner.ca) 
that tries to come up with innovative solutions to issues that plague 
all cities.

Belej ran my column by the members of Edmonton's Urban Design Salon 
who came up with a whack of interesting notions on the panhandling 
problem by churning out a paper on it.

"Panhandlers ... ask for money largely to support addictions, and can 
be pushy when they do so, because of the incessant nature of 
addiction," said the group.

True - and it's something most law enforcement officials and social 
agencies realize.

Belej's group notes the hot spots for panhandlers include anywhere 
there are lots of people wandering with some cash. Whyte Avenue, 
Jasper Avenue and Oliver Square are heaven to panhandlers.

The group agrees with police who figure the best solution is 
educating the public to not give money since it most often goes to 
feed an addiction.

While some city council members have punted around the idea of an 
anti-panhandling bylaw, the urban design salon members don't agree.

"People should also have the option of giving the panhandlers 
something, particularly if they feel better and safer in doing so."

But the group would like to see Edmonton adopt a type of voucher 
program that's worked elsewhere.

"For this, we recommend the social agencies work together to develop 
a booklet of vouchers or tickets that people can purchase to hand out 
for services such as haircuts or for food - or for credit toward 
useful purchases such as suits for job interviews."

That might work, although you have to wonder how quickly a black 
market in coupons would spring up.

I was once approached by a street person at a grocery store who 
wanted to sell me a $10 gift certificate for $5 - likely so the quick 
cash could buy drugs or booze. Addicts can be pretty conniving.

"On the same line, many cities have put a twist on their bottle depot 
programs," the group noted.

"Rather than giving out money, some cities provide people with 
credits for education, learning new skills, getting help with a 
resume, or vouchers for various services."

That might help out a few hardcore boozers, but I'm thinking many 
would figure a way around the well-intentioned program.

Belej's group, though, rightly recognizes the bigger part of the 
panhandling problem stems from the fact we've got a homelessness 
problem in Edmonton that's getting worse."Fundamentally, we want to 
build up people's independence and self-worth. We want to help people 
to help themselves ...

"We can facilitate this by hiring social workers to approach the 
homeless directly and ask them what they need.

"Some need housing. Some need help with counselling and/or 
addictions. Some need help finding a job and some just need a cheque 
for first month's rent to get back on their feet.

"Some people require as little as $500 to $1,000 to get an address, 
food and some clean clothes to start applying for work."

Yes, that kind of program would likely change many a panhandler's 
life - so long as that person wasn't in the grips of an addiction.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom