Homeless respond to Lorrie Steeves racist 'handout' comments

Winnipeg's homelesswant a mayoral candidate's wife to volunteer her time to help her develop compassion after her racist tirade about the city's homeless surfaced last week.

• Gord Steeves a no show at event to feed the homeless
• Gord Steeves' wife under fire for 'drunken native' Facebook post

Gord Steeves wife Lorrie Steeves came under fire on Friday for comments she made on Facebook in 2010, in which she said she was really tired of getting harrassed (sic) by the drunken native guys in the skywalks.

She went on to say, We all donate enough money to the government to keep thier (sic) sorry assess (sic) on welfare, so shut the f**k up and don't ask me for another handout!"

Lorrie Steeves has since apologized for the comments, but Gord Steeves has yet to comment.

Glenn Houle lives on Winnipegs streets and said Lorrie Steeves comments were ignorant.

Houle, who has struggled with addictions, is now sober.

He said Winnipegs homeless are desperate and vulnerable, and Lorrie Steeves should have more compassion.

Try and stay on the street for a week and then youll find out how it is to be on the street with nowhere to go, said Houle.

Joyce Gordon was homeless for years in Winnipeg and only recently moved into her own place.

She said many people who are on the street are working toward a better life.

Gordon said an apology is not enough.

You cant just say things and think people will forget about it. Its there, she said.

Even more troubling, said Aboriginal Council of Winnipeg President Damon Johnston, is the racially charged nature of her statements. He wants Gord Steeves to resign.

"Here's a person who seems highly educated, is a professional and is a spouse of someone seeking office in our country. You would think she'd know those kind of comments would hurt, he said. A persons ethnic background should not be attacked in any form relative to anything theyre doing or not doing.

Houle, Gordon and Johnston would like Lorrie Steeves to volunteer with the less fortunate to understand the struggles they face.

Gord Steeves is expected to address the media on Tuesday.