Solutions To Panhandling Problem

DUNCAN - It's an issue for many communities up and down Vancouver Island and the city of Duncan wants to tackle panhandling before it becomes an even bigger problem. The city held a meeting Thursday aimed at coming up with ways to deal with panhandlers.
"We got a very thriving and wonderful downtown core," mayor Phil Kent said. "But for many people there is a perception that it isn't safe and they feel under pressure by this."

The community wants to change panhandler behaviour by reporting aggressive people to the RCMP and enforcing the "Safe Streets Act." It also wants people giving panhandlers money to consider donating to organizations that assist people who have limited means of support themselves.

"It's hard in the moment to say 'oh I'd like to give this person a few dollars for a cup of coffee,'" Theresa Gerritsen with Cowichan Safer Futures said, "but often times that doesn't necessarily resolve the situation for everyone overall so people could be a little bit more thoughtful about how it is they want to support people."

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