Say NO to panhandling
About us
Laguna Beach, like other communities and cities across the world, struggle with the universal problem of homelessness and panhandlers. The businesses and residents of Laguna Beach called for a solution to the problem, and the city responded with the Change4Homeless program.
Many panhandlers will cease their efforts if their requests are regularly rebuffed. The website Change4Homeless.com has been set up as a way to help these people in need by giving the money directly to agencies who can help, rather than directly to the person on the street. This way, donors know that their money is going to good use.
On July 16, 2008, the City Council will unveil five meters for the homeless. The meters are actually parking meters that have been individually painted by local artists as part of a pilot program to collect change to help the homeless and discourage giving to panhandlers. The specially painted meters will be installed in the sidewalks at the corners of Forest Avenue and Coast Highway, Forest Avenue and Glenneyre Street, Laguna Avenue and Coast Highway, and Broadway and Coast Highway. One meter will also be installed mid-block on the inland side of Coast Highway between Ocean Avenue and Broadway. Change deposited in these meters will be collected by the City and given to the Laguna Relief and Resource Center for programs to help the homeless. The artists that painted the meters are: Bob Bonn, Colleen Corbett (painted two meters), Marcel Mead and Robbie Reddy.
Also on Wednesday, the City’s police department will be distributing flyers and rack cards to downtown merchants. These materials were prepared by the Chamber of Commerce and are designed for display in local businesses to raise awareness about viable alternatives to
giving to panhandlers. The flyers will refer to a website set up by the Chamber of Commerce to facilitate donations to organizations that provide assistance to the homeless. The flyers and the website are funded through a cooperative effort by the Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce, Laguna Beach Visitors and Conference Bureau, and the City of Laguna Beach.
Both of these programs were recommended by the Homeless Task Force to the City Council as part of a comprehensive plan to address issues related to homelessness in Laguna Beach.
