The City of Hamilton has turned to Government to help clean up its homeless problem.Mayor Charles Gosling said that complaints about intimidating beggars and public urination have increased but the city is unable to tackle the problem on its own.“It’s not our area of expertise,” he said. “It’s one of many issues the city is called upon to address, and it’s a growing concern.”Mr Gosling said he took National Security Minister Wayne Perinchief on a walking tour of the city’s problem areas Wesley Square, Par-la-Ville Park, Barr’s Bay Park and Albuoy’s Point.He said he also met with Works Minister Derrick Burgess to find a solution to the problem.“We don’t see why these individuals should be allowed to take over a particular area as living room, bathroom and dining room,” Mr Gosling said.“This is very much a national issue, and it would not serve the Island just to knock this into someone else’s neighbourhood. Unfortunately, there does not appear to be a system for those who fall through the cracks. In days gone by, I think even with the people who had gone off the grid, they still fit into the community in some way.“What we’re seeing now is a lot of behaviour that is crassly antisocial, such as defecating and urinating in front of people, public drinking, people exposing themselves [acts that are] totally outside the social norms.”Mr Gosling said he had “an excellent meeting” with Mr Perinchief.“The Minister said that he would take some of these issues in hand. The Minister comes from a long heritage with the police force and has an expertise that few other Ministers will be able to bring to this.”Mr Gosling said the city considered converting Tuzo House, a property on Cedar Avenue, into a homeless shelter but wasn’t able to because of insufficient funds.It had been hoped the project could be done in collaboration with Government and charities such as the Salvation Army.Calling vagrancy “a social issue that goes beyond the City”, the Mayor said talks were underway with Mr Burgess to counter it.“Mr Burgess was sympathetic and has suggested a couple of courses of action, which we’re working on, and I hope to be able to say more about it,” Mr Gosling said.l Useful website: www.cityofhamilton.bm