“Have a Heart - Give Smart” is a public outreach campaign to created by the Downtown Ottawa Coalition for a Safe Community (DOCSC) to educate downtown Ottawa residents, employees and visitors about the issue of panhandling. While panhandling is often associated with homelessness, most panhandlers are not homeless. In many cases, giving money to panhandlers supports drug and alcohol addiction.

There are many services in Downtown Ottawa that offer free meals, shelter and other vital services. “Have a Heart - Give Smart” encourages people to give more effectively by contributing to these local organizations that can offer real life change to people in need. “Have a Heart - Give Smart” is produced by the Downtown Ottawa Coalition for a Safe Community and funded by individual supporters.

 

“Have a Heart - Give Smart” brochure

 

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