According to Denver's CBS affiliate, the city has come up with a clever idea to (a) help the homeless and (b) recycle old parking meters.

Placed in strategic spots downtown -- including "blighted" Skyline Park (a member of the Project for Public Spaces' Hall of Shame) -- newly refurbished parking meters are encouraging people to deposit money they would otherwise have given to panhandlers. Proceeds will go to "organizations that provide meals, job training, substance abuse counseling and housing to the homeless."

And just in time: 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, according to new finalized figures."

Mayor John Hickenlooper -- Chairman of the National Association of Mayors With Memorable Names -- said in a statement, "Denver's 10-year plan to end homelessness, what we call Denver's road home, has really become a national model. I think we've had the greatest success in getting the whole community to buy in, to believe this is something we can tackle as a community."

This week, 36 of the so-called homeless meters were unveiled.

B. Brandon Barker is the author of the novel Operation EMU.