VB council approves homeless donation meters

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - New parking meters are going up in Virginia Beach, but they have nothing to do with parking.

Virginia Beach City Council on Tuesday approved the installation of 'donation meters' at the oceanfront to collect funds for the homeless.

The Resort Advisory Commission recommended implementation of the pilot program involving the meters, which is similar to a model used in both Laguna Beach, Ca., and Denver, Colo.

Officials say the objective of the program is to offer an alternative vehicle for those who wish to donate to the poor and homeless. They also hope the meters help reduce some of the aggressive panhandling at the oceanfront.

Kim Toole, a homeless woman staying at a shelter in Virginia Beach, said the program is a good idea. "Then that money will be directed toward the stuff that is priority to people. Where a lot of the pan handling is done for either alcohol or drugs or some other illegal activity."

Toole who told WAVY.com she has never pan handled, explained that some of her friends do ask strangers for money.

"I've heard people going out for eight hours and making $6, and I've heard people going out for four hours and making $40," she said.

Those who stay at the Judeo-Christian Outreach Center, like Toole, are required to have jobs. Center Director Kirk Welch said that limits the time available for clients to pan handle.

Welch supports the meter move, but has mixed feelings about what they will accomplish. "I don't think it will stop them from pan handling. It will probably increase some donations for the homeless programs - which for me, is a very good thing," he explained.

Similar programs in Baltimore, Maryland and Denver, Colorado reportedly bring in $5,000 to $15,000 a year for homeless services.

Toole hopes more money will be available for resources she has had trouble finding. "Just having access to computers or access to a bus - if you don't have the money to get on a bus to go to a job interview - that's, those are the hard parts," she said.

Another homeless Virginia Beach resident, Don Haywood is looking forward to additional services. Haywood told WAVY.com he takes odd jobs when he can find work. He believes additional money for the homeless could help him and peers find stability. "Some type of housing to get the homeless of the street and give them a chance. If they have some place to go... It's hard to go to work all day and have to come back and sleep in the woods or on the beach, not being able to take a shower properly."

The pilot program includes eight specially designed parking meters - called Donation Meters. Employees of the city's Parking System will collect the money donated and turn it over to the Department of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation.

The Department of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation will then allocate the funds to activities and organizations that provide peer intervention and other related services to the poor and homeless with a specific focus on reducing panhandling.

Officials say the pilot program also includes the possibility for charitably minded civic organizations, trade associations, and businesses to sponsor a meter for a $1000 annual sponsorship.