THE debate around giving money to the homeless has seen a charity billboard being defaced in west Belfast.
The ‘Begging for Change’ campaign is being promoted by the Depaul and the Welcome Organisations, who both help the homeless.
It aims to encourage people not to give cash to those who live on the streets, but instead urges people to give to local charities instead.
The controversial campaign, which has sparked a debate about whether people should give money directly to the homeless, argues that “by giving money to people who are begging you could be prolonging addiction and other issues”.
The PSNI, Housing Executive, Policing and Community Safety Partnership and Belfast City Centre Management have all given their backing to the campaign.
It is understood the billboard at the junction of the Springfield Road and Falls Road in west Belfast was defaced yesterday morning.
However the group which defaced the advertising billboard has defended the move.
Gerard Fitzpatrick, a spokesman for ‘West Belfast Opposes Political Policing’, described the billboard as a “fascist installation”.
“When the British police have a method to eradicate homelessness, when the British government can boast of facilities capable of assisting the needy in all their struggles, when the system accepts responsibility for what it is inflicting on the weak, homeless and vulnerable then let them advertise it on the Springfield Road,” he said.
In a joint statement the CEO of Depaul, Kerry Anthony, and Sandra Moore, Director of the Welcome Organisation, said "the campaign has been driven by the sad deaths on the streets of Belfast in recent months”
“We need to ensure people have access to services and are supported away from begging,” they said.
“It’s is not our intention to offend anyone, and we understand that people have different views on this issue, but we must reiterate that our absolute focus with this campaign is the health and well-being of those who use our services or those who are begging on the streets."
