What Do I Think of These Programs? First, we need a better name than "Programs to Convert Parking Meters into Fundraisers for the Homeless". That just doesn't work, in a conversational sense - way too awkward. Though each of the various municipalities have their own names for their programs, I'll go with the generic "Homeless Donation Meters" for now (unless someone comes up with something better).
In general, I am in favor of city parking meter programs that encourage donations to organizations that benefit the homeless and provide an alternative to giving money to panhandlers. We have 7 parking meters here in San Luis Obispo in a program called "Change for Change". They don't raise enough money (so far) to help provide affordable housing to the homeless, and their primary benefit is to increase awareness of homelessness and provide an alternative to paying panhandlers.
Note that I am not in favor of ever giving money to panhandlers. I never give money to people who are homeless, because I do not want to contribute to potential alcohol or drug addictions which may a contributing factor to keeping them homeless. Instead, like you, I donate to organizations which are known to provide meaningful assistance to them.
Homeless Donation Meters are an excellent alternative for those who want to help, but don't want to reward panhandling. In addition, if you feel moved to do so, consider providing food or grocery store items to the homeless. Make sure that you do this in a way that does not put you in danger (i.e., walk a person to a fast food restaurant and buy them food, or ask what they would want from a grocery store and then go buy it and drop it off to them). Also, I do believe that aggressive panhandling should be discouraged and frankly, if sufficiently invasive and threatening, prosecuted by the local law enforcement, as it is generally considered illegal.
I briefly touched on our local parking meter program when I responded to an irate SLO resident who was "sick and tired of the local homeless population". You can read my response to the letter writer, followed by the (much longer) letter to which I was responding by clicking here.
If that web page is too long to slog through, here is my relevant quote about the "change for change" portion of the above web site post: "We discourage the public from giving directly to panhandlers, but instead, encourage them to donate to local agencies such as food kitchens, housing and homeless services. Witness the 7 new "parking" style meters downtown that accept donations for homeless services. If our residents and visitors stopped giving money to panhandlers, then that behavior would stop. "Non-aggressive" panhandling has been ruled to be a constitutional first amendment right that we cannot legally outlaw and prosecute."
Describe the Various Programs: SLO is not the first, and it will not be the last city to erect Homeless Donation Meters. I will touch on 3 programs in California in which I am familar.
SAN LUIS OBISPO: Change for Change - This is the local program in downtown San Luis Obispo. It is a 2 year pilot program that currently has 7 parking meters. Each meter received a $1,000 sponsorship donation. The stated reason for the program is to discourage panhandling and to give people an outlet to help the homeless that does not enable addictive behavior (alcohol or drugs). The proceeds benefit CAPSLO.
Read about it on the KSBY.com web site.
Read about it in the Tribune newspaper.
Pasadena.
San Diego.
Denver. 55 meters.
Orlando. 15 meters.
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