Homeless relying more on bottle picking
Posted Nov 2, 2010 1:24 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
More of Calgary’s homeless are turning to bottle picking to feed their addictions.
A new study has found panhandling in the city is on the decline.
The survey of some 300 homeless suggests, they’d rather work than beg.
Some are walking as much as 25 kilometres a day bottle picking which is called ‘binning,’ earning on average about $40.
That compares to the $20 a day a panhandler usually collects.
Tim Richter, the president of the Calgary Homeless Foundation, tells 660News the money might be going to drugs and alcohol but that is only part of the many problems these people are dealing with.
“We also understand now that they’re facing active addiction and they’re facing challenges with housing and they’re certainly having challenges with poverty,” says Richter.
He believes the study will help the city develop new plans to address addiction, housing and employment opportunities for the homeless.
