Victoria group considers free shopping carts for the homeless

by Rob Peters | July 21, 2008 at 03:18 pm | 691 views | 26 comments

While many cities spend resources trying to fight shopping cart theft, one group in Victoria wants to give them out for free. The move is an attempt to raise visibility and awareness of the homeless crisis in the city, and of course to provide ample storage. It's sad that it probably takes a fleet of rattling cages zooming around the city for the problem to get any attention, but unless it affects business...

I did a quick search for similar programs in other cities, but came up empty. Anyone know of similar initiatives?

An ad hoc committee trying to address the problem of homelessness in Victoria wants to give those of no fixed address something they'll really use - a shopping cart.

Phil Lyons, a member of the Committee To End Homelessness in Victoria, said it's a two-pronged strategy aimed at helping the disadvantaged and putting pressure on governments to deal with the situation by increasing the visibility of the homeless.

"We don't have any time to waste," Mr. Lyons said. "People are dying every day."

A task force, convened last year by Victoria Mayor Alan Lowe, estimated that the city needs an estimated 1,500 units to house those without a home.

Some progress has been made in terms of transitional housing, but not nearly enough, Mr. Lyons said. So his group has started a drive to give the homeless the specialized shopping carts.

"It will make a difference for someone to have all their possessions with them. They're not getting any help."

The carts will be modified, with larger wheels on the back and a "guiding wheel" installed on the front. Any logos identifying a supermarket will be removed. He hopes the changes will be a signal to police that the cart has not been stolen.

This contest-winning tent/storage combo might be a good design for the carts:

The shopping cart-tent combo depicted in these images was the winner in a design contest where the goal was to "to design a cart that can provide shelter and storage." Why? Well, elsewhere on the site it explains that this was a "social awareness" design contest because "homelessness is a complex issue encompassing multiple facets of society."

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kate

at 15:21 on July 21st, 2008

Over the years there have been loads of design projects geared to creating mobile home/cart objects, and I've seen so many brilliant ones - but none that I know of have ever made it off the design charette and into the world...I'm sure it would make a big difference if someone funded their production.

julianw

at 15:25 on July 21st, 2008

There was talk a few years ago about distributing more rugged, bigger-wheeled carts to homeless people in Vancouver, too.

mchawk

at 16:29 on July 21st, 2008

good stuff:

Rob Peters, I like this story. It's good stuff.

An interesting approach to the problem, but wouldn't an outreach programme be a better way to spend the money? I applaud their goal of highlighting the problem, but surely this is just helping people be homeless, rather than even attempting to tackle the real problem.

A great story - but a wierd one.

moonwolf

at 17:29 on July 21st, 2008

good stuff:

Great idea!

pollinators

at 21:45 on July 21st, 2008

i designed this bike for folks to be able to do more on a bike than usually possible. if anyone is interested in further information about them check out phillycargocycles.com

pollinators has contributed a photo to this story.

Tommy Benton

at 22:05 on July 21st, 2008

Tommy Benton has contributed a photo to this story.

nreeque

at 22:11 on July 21st, 2008

I would like it if a law was passed that for every 100 shopping carts a company buys they have to donate 10 of them to this program. Perhaps a sign on them that would read "this cart donated by such and such"

Gh0s7

at 22:23 on July 21st, 2008

good stuff:

Rob Peters, I like this story. It's good stuff. I strongly believe in helping the homeless. Some homeless are able to help their situation while others are not. Many homeless suffer from addiction or chronic alcoholism, which are considered by some to be progressive diseases. I am a recovering addict and alcoholic myself. I can feel for some of these guys that might get stuck on the wrong path and I say help them out.

andyscott3

at 22:53 on July 21st, 2008

great cause. i'd rather have the carts go to helping someone struggling than to help facilitate consuming.

andyscott3 has contributed a photo to this story.

andyscott3

at 22:58 on July 21st, 2008

good stuff:

Rob Peters, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Marazipan

at 00:03 on July 22nd, 2008

What a fascinating idea! I'd like to hear how the program goes--it's implementation and reception.

Marazipan has contributed a photo to this story.

baptizedingin

at 00:19 on July 22nd, 2008

Someone obviously felt very near and dear to this cart.

baptizedingin has contributed a photo to this story.

greebsinmaine

at 00:48 on July 22nd, 2008

This surely would bring attention to the homeless problem. I bet those of us that are more fortunate would be surprised at the number of shopping carts we'd see around our towns. Doing something is better than doing nothing.

greebsinmaine has contributed a photo to this story.

Gh0s7

at 00:56 on July 22nd, 2008

You are right. It would give the homeless a much more visible presence. Which could be good or bad, depending on how different people take it.

Aungkw

at 01:08 on July 22nd, 2008

Interesting idea and I like this story.

feefiefee

at 02:25 on July 22nd, 2008

Stroller for Sparky.

feefiefee has contributed a photo to this story.

Lettuce1

at 16:54 on July 22nd, 2008

One of my routes from home to work is along a stretch of the river Thames in London - I'm both appalled and fascinated by the number of trolleys (carts) dumped and rusting in the river and the mud. It would be great to see trolleys on the streets serving a more useful purpose.

Lettuce1 has contributed a photo to this story.

zoestar1@sbcglobal.net

at 20:49 on July 22nd, 2008

zoestar1@sbcglobal.net has contributed a photo to this story.

zoestar1@sbcglobal.net

at 20:51 on July 22nd, 2008

Cart fit for a King

zoestar1@sbcglobal.net has contributed a photo to this story.

korejantje

at 01:32 on July 23rd, 2008

Honestly, I think this Korean shopping cart does not have the most practical shape. Basically, the only thing it is suitable for, is carrying crates of beer. Which kind of does it for me...

But what about all those other shoppers?

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shutterbug587

at 03:45 on July 23rd, 2008

Emma Oltean, 4 rests in the shopping cart while her mom Christine Oltean looks through the banana section at the Birch Community Services, Inc.'s second hand grocery store. The families that are helped by the center are able to shop once a week on a designated Monday, Wednesday or Friday and there are over 600 families being helped by the store.

shutterbug587 has contributed a photo to this story.

Attila Racz

at 18:13 on July 23rd, 2008

marky4839

at 00:04 on July 24th, 2008

Shopping Cart in the sludge filled L.A. River.

marky4839 has contributed a photo to this story.

zsazsasmore

at 17:21 on July 25th, 2008

i found this cart at the corner of s dearborn and w jackson in chicago illinois while geocaching. it was sitting under the el waiting for someone to fill it with stuff and take it with them.

zsazsasmore has contributed a photo to this story.

justintabari

at 05:41 on July 26th, 2008

Country shopping convenience

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crayon

at 18:23 on July 28th, 2008

good stuff:

There was a binning cart project that successfully rolled out in Vancouver last year and I still see some of the carts being put to good use around the city. They're pretty awesome and binners have a home base in Vancouver at United We Can on Hastings Street. Maybe a similar centre in Victoria can be in the works down the road, too.