The City of Winnipeg will look at “low-cost, physical elements” to help prevent panhandlers from standing on boulevards, while the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ will start outreach and job hunting programs.
The city, along with several local organizations, have been brainstorming ideas to reduce the number of people asking for money on city boulevards or streets, said Mayor Brian Bowman, who called it “unsafe panhandling.”
“In early July, I hosted a meeting with key community organizations and we discussed many of the possible underlying problems and possible solutions,” said Bowman.
READ MORE: Winnipeg man describes life as a panhandler
The group came up with short and long term solutions and made them public Friday afternoon.
Immediate solutions include a pilot program involving several groups that will “engage panhandlers, develop relationships and make connections that can assist,” and an employment program involving new positions at the Downtown BIZ that will help panhandlers find permanent jobs.
The groups will also put together an “Enhanced Boulevard Safety Pilot Program aimed at utilizing low-cost, physical elements on unsafe boulevards.”
READ MORE: Winnipeg police charge panhandler after vehicle windshield shattered
Long term efforts will be led by End Homelessness Winnipeg including a public awareness campaign, assessing the success of the short-term plans and finding key areas to address, and lobbying businesses to hire homeless people and panhandlers.
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