It’s happening in many cities including Thunder Bay, people standing on traffic islands with homemade signs asking for money from drivers who are stopped at a light.
City councillor Andrew Foulds notes it is a “fairly recent development” in the city and shows poverty continues to be a serious issue calling it “very concerning and very alarming.”
Foulds wonders if we are going to see more people who are homeless and those who are “struggling” looking for food.
He asks “what kind of pressure is that going to put on the municipality in terms of providing services?”
Fellow councillor Albert Aiello says homelessness is “definitely an issue” which is becoming more and more of a “day to day reality in our city” as cuts to services come down from higher levels of government.
City police says all cases of panhandling are handled on individual basis by an officer, but generally an officer would simply request the person move as it represents a risk to their safety and the safety of other motorists and pedestrians in the area.
