Poverty and the Alternative Uses of Shopping Carts

Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Manitoba Office January 2010

POVERTY AND THE ALTERNATIVE USES OF SHOPPING CARTS

Last summer, Gabrielle Another example of alternative some and walking a long way Giroday wrote an article for uses of shopping carts is their the Winnipeg Free Press use as means to transport Handi-Transit is an option for called “Stores can’t stop laundry to the laundromat. issome difficult, but users but often must necessary. book in carts vanishing: Shoppers While most of us take our advance, making it impossible wheeling thousands away.” access to on-site laundry to utilize for emergencies or This article raised concerns facilities for granted, there spontaneous outings. about shopping carts being are many low-income families removed from store property who are forced to regularly lug The shopping cart as to be used for other purposes. garbage bags full of laundry, emergency transportation to Giroday’s article inspired me often with kids in tow, to hospital is also not uncommon. to look more closely at the way facilities far from home. Using The cost of an ambulance is shopping carts are used in my a shopping cart to make this approximately $300 per use. community as a way for low- daunting task somewhat more income people to accomplish manageable coverage, this cost is not daily tasks. is not For many withoutaffordable. specific In unreasonable. “In desperation, desperation, a In my North End a shopping shopping cart is a neighbourhood, shopping Another way I’ve good option. carts are often used as moving seen shopping cart is a good trucks. This is true in many carts used in my option...” Using a shopping neighbourhoods where low- neighbourhood is cart to collect cost housing is becoming as a wheelchair or as a walker. recyclable items is also not an increasingly scarce, forcing Elderly people and those unusual sight. In my back alley families to move more often. with physical disabilities are there is a whole network of Poor families on the move transported via shopping cart. recycling that operates outside cannot afford the price of a Transportation is an ongoing of the city’s services. My moving truck and often they do issue for many people trying neighbours and I know that if not have family or friends with to survive on low incomes. we are getting rid of something vehicles. Bus fare can be prohibitive to useful, we can put it next to the garbage bin and it will often be

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