Panhandling

uOttawa research is reframing panhandling as a question of urban governance, bringing together policymakers, researchers, and community organizations to examine how cities can enact policies and programs that balance public safety, public space, and human dignity. Professor Huhua Cao, an urban studies expert and co-president of ICCCASU, argues that intersections deserve to be examined as distinct spaces — windows into deeper societal challenges including housing affordability, unemployment, addiction, and social exclusion.

By studying panhandling through an urban governance lens, researchers can move beyond quick judgments toward a more nuanced, evidence-based understanding. Practical measures could include outreach teams connecting people with housing, health-care, and mental-health services; partnerships between municipalities and community organizations; and safer intersection designs that reduce risks for both panhandlers and road users.

The University of Ottawa sponsored a roundtable on panhandling at urban intersections that featured uOttawa researchers, Ottawa city councillors, and community service representatives. The event revealed a shared sentiment that panhandling remains a difficult topic for cities to address — not only in governance, but in matters of public safety and human dignity. "Our goal is to understand what those intersections tell us about the health of our cities — and how we can build cities that are safer, more inclusive and more humane," says Cao.