A coalition of businesses, civic leaders, social service providers and police kicked off a campaign last week urging people not to give money to beggars in the Byward Market area.

The group says there are plenty of social services in the area that provide food, shelter and anything else street people need. An increasing number of beggars are using the money to buy crack cocaine.

Instead of giving money to beggars the coalition is urging people to make donations directly to social service organizationis in the area.

"People give thinking their money will be used for food, when the exact opposite happens," says Ottawa police Const. John Gibbons, who works in the area. "The money is used to fund the addiction that is killing them."