Tighter controls for panhandlers
Mark Boscariol, Special to The Windsor Star
Published: Thursday, August 23, 2007
Most cities recognize panhandling is far more than a nuisance. Panhandling is an impediment to redeveloping our downtown, both commercially and residentially. It also plays a major role in our city’s fight against crime. Studies have shown that up to 85 per cent of the monies collected by panhandlers are used to purchase drugs, alcohol and tobacco.

Panhandlers use their funding streams as a mechanism to thwart the social services provided to them by not adhering to program rules and regulations, or by refusing the help needed to kick addictions. These monies are also a source of income to our city’s drug dealers.

The DWBIA conducted a task force to address these issues and made numerous recommendations. The task force concluded that while the Safe Streets Act adequately governed the manner in which panhandlers were permitted to behave, it ignored the critical questions of “when” and “where” these activities may be deemed appropriate.

The group also concluded that “passive” panhandling often becomes “aggressive” simply by location and time. Examples include: panhandling outside an ATM at 3 a.m.; panhandling over a restaurant/cafe patio railing where a customer enjoying their meal cannot simply walk away; and panhandling inside or at the entrance of the transit terminal where visitors are in unfamiliar surroundings. Unfortunately many people’s perception is that if the panhandlers are polite, then they are only a nuisance. They are not considering the situation of someone who is being followed closely on a deserted street with their infant child after using an ATM that has just dispensed a handful of cash. Politeness will not make them feel any safer

Taking action on panhandling is also consistent with the city’s stated priority of crime prevention and its formation of a dedicated drug squad. Eliminating panhandling would eliminate this source of funding to local drug dealers.

The Windsor Star cited a panhandler who said he easily can make $20 in an hour and a half. This is consistent with our taskforce findings that panhandlers in Windsor make on average, $16 per hour. Now consider that up to 85 per cent of those funds go to feed alcohol, drug and tobacco addictions. Our social service task force representatives stated that the panhandlers in Windsor were not users of social services, due to substance abuse problems. They also confirmed that many had income sources disqualifying them from receiving social services. I imagine that $16 per hour tax free to pay for your drugs, cigarettes and alcohol isn’t bad work these days. I was told by these representatives that they identified several Windsor panhandlers who drive in to their locations from their homes in the suburbs.

Cities like Winnipeg are leaders in their approach to panhandlers. Its “Change for the Better” program is a prime example. Winnipeg’s comprehensive panhandling programs can be a model for Windsor. Instead of waiting for a city like Toronto to come up with a policy that appeases their poverty industry, Windsor should be more concerned with helping those in need. Public education, panhandling bylaws, and fundraising for social services will do far more to help than allowing a system to continue which enables their addictions. This is a city wide social issue about how we deal with our less fortunate and addiction.
If we are ever going to implement the Community Improvement plan recommendations for City Center West and Glengarry Marentette, then panhandling policies and bylaws are key to the success of those projects. It is not appropriate to have panhandlers plying their trade in an area where you want to attract new residents.

In conclusion, the task force endorsed the COPS (Community Oriented Policing Strategies) recommendation. For any strategy to be effective there must be commitment and effort from all stakeholders of business, government, policing and residents. The DWBIA is committed to several strategies including a public education campaign, as well as managing donation boxes to Windsor social services. Windsor Police Services have committed to supporting any direction from municipal government. At this time we have contacted the city manager and are awaiting a response.

I hope we can make a presentation before council asking them to endorse our recommendations. Our city needs to discuss and define where and when it is not appropriate to panhandle.

As the city’s core successfully revitalizes, our city needs to exchange its reactive policies with proactive policies by enacting the very bylaws that so many other Canadian cities have embraced. All those who feel empathy for the panhandlers should remember the message; if you give them change, they’ll stay the same.

Please give your charity to one of the many social services in Windsor that can help those who truly need it with food, shelter and clothing. The best way to end panhandling and help these people fight addiction is to stop giving them money.

Mark Boscariol is chair of the DWBIA Panhandling Task Force.