Denver's mechanical panhandlers fight homelessness

Unbelievable. I would accept this 100o/o if I saw the total receipt of the funds collected in comparison to what is being contributed to the "organizations". I can't help but think the cities pockets will be lined also with these funds. What also bothers me is that many of the homeless have mental disorders that will make it difficult for them to seek out the help needed. Will they just be left behind? In certain cases of mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, they are more prone to resist help out of fear. Some of the monies should go towards medical/mental treatments. Also, most children and teenagers are runaways from bad home situations. Do you think they will go for help our of fear they might get discovered and sent back home? I pray the soup kitchens and shelters are running full force, while this plan begins.

Having worked with people facing poverty due to AIDS or aging, and then becoming disabled myself, I have some appreciation for the plight of the needy. These "homeless meters" sound promising, but what if they incite heartlessness toward real people forced to beg for money? Soup kitchens and shelters are crucial and wonderful, but some condone prejudice or have policies not even remotely user friendly. The sea of social services is confusing to navigate, and the gaps between what's needed and what's available may be huge. Sometimes cash is the only way to solve a problem or survive the night. What better could those of us fortunate enough to have spare change do than share with another.

I volunteer at a Homeless shelter in Ft Worth, TX & we have really helped some people but there are always some that don't want to be comply to the rules so they live outside the Mission. We just had our homeless count here.

It looks like just another till for politicians to dip their fingers into. Give to the people who need it, not the govt.

good grief.. so what do ya tell the guy thats hungry, hand out- wanting some change to eat (yes, they do eat with a lot of the money contrary to popular belief) "ohhhhh yes... well i just gave at the meter!!! have a nice day!!!????
sorry.. ill keep handing the change out the car window for now...

I'm sorry, but I don;t give money to homeless people. If they want food I give them food, if they want something to drink I give them something to drink. I'm going to waste my money by giving it to them when most of the homeless people just go out and buy drugs or alcohol with the money. Where I live there are many shelters and places for them to go that provide food and shelter. I'm not quite sure if the parking meter idea is a good one, but it would be better if an organization ran it instead of the government.

Great idea. Another way is to buy a meal for someone. My father did this daily for a man; coffee and a giant breakfast sandwich from a diner.

Good idea. At least if all the money goes toward shelter, food, clothing, training, etc. Alot of these homeless people just need an opportunity to get back into society. Should be especially effective if they have the right person in charge of the distribution of the monies. It takes the pity away and may let some people look homeless vagrants in the eye.

How sure can we be that the funds raised from THESE meters will be kept separate from other meters, if the city will be running the program?

And since putting money in these meters will be a charitable contribution, will they be printing out receipts for those who give?

Will they take any denomination of coin, or only quarters-- or will electronic cards be able to be scanned as well?

Will these meters be placed in 'strategic' locations as a way to move the actuall homeless away from those areas?

Most, if not all of the so called homeless and hungry who have approached me for money, smelled of liquor and or marijuana! And most all of them stumbled around as if they were higher than a Georgia Pine!

Any of these people can begin to solve their money less, homeless, hungry problems by going out and "Get A Job" or just "Go To Work.....Today"! "One Step At A Time" is all it really takes! Tough Love can go a long way, it really can!

Fred

when i have extra money, when i'm at the grocery store, i buy a five dollar grocery gift certificate, i give that instead of money to homeless people on the street. i'm sure it doesn't change their lives, but if it can give them a meal, we're both happy.

"The Colorado Division of Housing claims an estimated total of 16,203 homeless people, one-third being children and teenagers. In addition, a summer survey revealed, up to 5,200 children and teenagers were homeless the night of Aug. 28, 2006".....hmmm... doesn't sound to me as if their programs are functioning properly with the money they receive now!

Yeah Right it is going to the homeless!!!! Anything that is needed from the government for the needy is a long drawn out progress, for the people the city should have saved the money from the meters, and given it directly to the organizations, I will hand my money to the people in need, not the city, all politicians are in it for themselves, I don't believe a word from any politician, and that is sad, greed is what rules this government today it is a really sad world we live in today where the almighty dollar is number one to government officials, they don't care about the people not one bit..

Sorry to most of you folks but I gotta go with Fred,(#8). I work at night and have to deal with a lot of these so called homeless people, and for the most part they are nothing more than lazy drunks and drug users. In our town we have at least 4 or 5 shelters they can go to but the shelters have standards and rules about behaviour and being high. These people WANT to live outside even the lowest standards of common decency, and they do it by choice and expect the rest of society to support them. I give to a common chatity that helps all the shelters in our town, this way I know my giving wont be wasted.
The local paper has said we also have familes and teens that are homeless and destitute, and yet the want adds in the paper are full of entry level jobs that anyone could do while staying at a shelter and trying to get back on their feet. My hat is off to thoes who do, and I will gladly give to someone who will try and help themselves.

I was homless . Since Katrina I have found it differcult to find housing . I like the idea od the meters.

I agree wholeheartedly with many of the posts I have read here. I also, however, have pretty extensive experience working with homeless people - especially teenagers: 26 years to be exact. While cash is often the only alternative, I have known few homeless individuals who used the cash for it's intent. Far too often, those who find themselves homeless develop (or had to start with) severe drug addictions. I believe many (note I did not say all) of them suffer from mental illnesses like Bi-polar disorder, ADD, ADHD, and many others, and have self medicated for years. Above cash, those individuals need treatment, but usually refuse it. I have happened upon the ocaisional individual who truly ran into very hard luck and lost eveything due to circumstances far beyond control. I have often met teenagers who ended up homeless because parents(whom should have never been parents) did not want them any longer. The plight of the homeless is truly devastating and should be addressed by government, society and the individual. Before you give a homeless person cash, let me suggest that you ask if you can take them to a restaraunt or hotel and get them a room. If they refuse, you can rest assured (most of the time), it is for something else they want the money. Giving, however, is our responsibility. The use of the gift is the responsibility of the recipient. Regardless of the use, we must give. But we should give wisely. May I humbly suggest that you give according to your ability to give, but carefully select HOW you give. Let them select the place. Take them and pay - be careful giving cash. It may not be used as it needs to be used.

Hickenlooper is one of the best politicians I've seen in a long, long time. I think if the meters will add even a few dollars to the coffers of our homeless shelters and soup kitchens it's a great idea. There are a lot of people like those who have already commented who think all homeless people are drunks and drug addicts and won't give them money directly. If meters make those potential donors feel safer; like the money will actually be used to help, then this is an idea worth expanding not to replace those who feel like they have to panhandle but to add to the fund for those who can't.

I live in Denver and I think this is a great idea. You cannot go to lower downtown (LoDo as we call it) without being approached by someone asking for money. Believe it or not, a large number of those people are NOT homeless, they are just posers trying to supplement their income or bored teenagers looking for spending money. Unfortunately, there is really no way to tell who is really homeless and who isn't and because of the fakers, a lot of people don't give.

With these new meters, we can give in good conscience knowing the money will go to the truly needy.

For the person who made the comment about the city of Denver lining it's pockets with the proceeds from these meters, if you knew anything about our mayor, John Hickenlooper and where he stands on the issue of homelessness, you would never say such a thing. Since he was elected he has strived to improve conditions for ALL the residents of Denver and unlike a lot of big talking politicians, he has actually made progress.

So would you feel the best answer to cancer research or cerebal palsey or AIDS would be just have people drop pocket change in an old parking meter? Woo woo. This from Denver, the city that knocks on people's door and confiscates their bull terriers.

I have been homeless,I am 63 years old,people don't understand that life puts people on the streets.I had untreated mental illness for 12 years.I couldn't work and I finally got treated by the VA,life is still hard but giving never hurts anyone,some wonderful human beings understood me,I am a homeless survivor.