Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Homeless man cleans streets instead of begging
C-News/Sun Media ^ | July 10, 2007 | By KEVIN CONNOR

Posted on 07/13/2007 10:26:59 AM PDT by SubGeniusX

He's picking up 80 bags of trash a day in return for donations

TORONTO (Sun Media) - Marc the Litter Guy needed money to pay the rent but he didn't want to panhandle.

So the 30-year-old got some garbage bags and put a sign on his back saying he was cleaning the city for donations.

"I needed to make my own job, so I thought I'd go around and clean the streets. I wear a sign -- it tells what I'm doing and asks for donations -- but I don't ask for money verbally, I leave it up to people," said Marc, who has been picking up about 80 bags of garbage a day for the past 11 months.

Marc was struggling to get work as a day labourer and was tired of lining up at 4:30 a.m every day looking for a job that wasn't there.

"I can have crappy days where I don't make minimum wage, but some days I can make $10 an hour," he said.

Marc has some specific areas where he works, and it's not uncommon for businesses to donate garbage bags and give him a few bucks to clean up their areas.

Marc is talking to faculty at the University of Toronto about starting a pilot project, where panhandlers could meet at the university and then disperse with garbage bags to different locales.

"I just think this is a viable option for panhandlers and it is good for the city," he said.

It is commonplace for many panhandlers to stake out the same corner every day to beg for money.

"I think this guy has a great idea," said Robin MacDonald, a customer at Starbucks on King St. E.

"Here you have a guy who doesn't bother people and he gives back. I wouldn't mind giving my change to him."

In response to complaints about panhandlers, the city is looking into whether downtown beggars who are not homeless need help in making use of social programs.

The executive committee has met with restaurant and other business owners who are frustrated with panhandlers on downtown streets.

The committee unanimously voted to launch a pilot project -- from July 3 to Sept. 17 -- which will include meetings between senior officials and businesses to find ways of addressing the panhandling problem.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: canada; homeless; litter
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-71 last
To: doc30
Sorry - I didn't notice this was Canada -

Carolyn

61 posted on 07/13/2007 12:58:25 PM PDT by CDHart ("It's too late to work within the system and too early to shoot the b@#$%^&s."--Claire Wolfe)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: Vinny

> He must have some mental issues.

Maybe not...

> What makes an able-bodied man go homeless.

I’ve met plenty of homeless folk who actually enjoy the lifestyle. As one explained to me:

“I have more freedom and liberty than you do. I have no debts, I have no mortgage, no family to feed, no lawns to mow, no boss, no income tax to pay because I don’t have any income! I don’t give a stuff what Helen Clark and her government think, say, or do. I never get stuck in rush-hour traffic. If it is a fine day out, I can enjoy the sunshine as much as I like, anywhere I like. If it is raining outside, I got several nice comfortable places set up all around the city...”

(Our Patrol had encountered this man — “Jim” — living under a bridge. He had knocked together a lean-to out of old Real Estate signs and Election hoardings, and had McGyvered a broken office chair and mattress together to sleep on. The far end of his lean-to was open, giving him a pleasant view across the river to where the ducks usually congregate. (his pets, perhaps? Or maybe the occasional lunch? Dunno).

“...If I’m hungry I can find something to eat 24x7 and it won’t cost me a cent! Can *you* do that???”

I had to admit, I couldn’t: every word of what he’d said was true. It was just from an unusual perspective. There was nothing mentally disturbed about this man. And he looked very able-bodied and “fit” in an extra lean sinew sort-of-way.


62 posted on 07/13/2007 1:28:07 PM PDT by DieHard the Hunter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: GovernmentIsTheProblem

> How long before the IRS inquires into his earnings?

Never. He’s a Canadian living in Toronto.


63 posted on 07/13/2007 1:29:47 PM PDT by DieHard the Hunter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: DieHard the Hunter

Easier for him to say that in New Zealand. Canada is a bit colder in the winter.


64 posted on 07/13/2007 4:26:36 PM PDT by Clive
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: Clive

> Canada is a bit colder in the winter.

I know a bit about Canada (born and raised in Vancouver).


65 posted on 07/13/2007 6:53:03 PM PDT by DieHard the Hunter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: SubGeniusX
Strange, but at least he's cleaning up the street.

I hope he's recycling aluminum cans. They are worth some money.

66 posted on 07/13/2007 6:55:21 PM PDT by LibKill (Bush betrayed conservatives on Immigration. NO support for Bush.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: TXnMA

jerk, read the title of the article. and the line about paying rent is in the past tense.


67 posted on 07/13/2007 7:21:05 PM PDT by thefactor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: SubGeniusX

Give this man a business.


68 posted on 07/13/2007 7:23:43 PM PDT by Porterville (I'm an American. If you hate Americans, I hope our enemies destroy you. I will pray for my soul.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Alberta's Child

alberta is a plenty expensive place to live.

Makes you wonder what the mines pay.


69 posted on 07/13/2007 10:14:18 PM PDT by ASOC (Yeah, well, maybe - but can you *prove* it?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Alberta's Child

Of course, you’d likely need a large percentage of that $14 per hour just to pay for an apartment in Edomonton or Fort Mac, assuming you can find one.

One of the causes of homelessness, by the way, is city zoning regulations that have pretty much driven the rooming house out of existence. For a single person of limited means living in the city, these used to be an important source of low-cost housing. Sure, most people might prefer to have a space all of their own, although then again a rooming house might be good for the socializing and shared food preparation facilities.


70 posted on 07/14/2007 8:44:35 AM PDT by -YYZ- (Strong like bull, smart like ox.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: doc30

Rubbish - I’ve seen highways that have signs saying they’ve been adopted by so and so all over Ontario, Quebec, NB and NS. Well, actually, I’m not sure I’ve seen them in Quebec, but the others, yes.


71 posted on 07/14/2007 8:47:03 AM PDT by -YYZ- (Strong like bull, smart like ox.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-71 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson