Innovative idea comes to San Diego

San Diego's not the first to do it, but at least they're doing it: using converted parking meters to raise money for homelessness programs. San Francisco, Denver and Salt Lake City are among the cities that have implemented the meter idea. Today, the San Diego Downtown Partnership unveiled the first of three meters, all located in and around Horton Plaza, where folks can drop in some change (or insert a credit card) to contribute to helping people move off the street and into permanent supportive housing (housing that's combined with a variety of social services). The primary use of any money raised will be for "move-in kits"—bedding, toiletries, kitchen supplies and basic furniture—which cost roughly $1,000 each to put together. So far, more than 50 people have been moved off the street under the "Ending Homelessness in Downtown" campaign, with the goal of housing 125 of Downtown's most vulnerable homeless individuals and, then, another 150 beyond that.