Morgan Butler
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You may have noticed some new meters downtown, but they’re not for parking.
The seven new white meters are part of the Make Change Count program, formerly called Change for Change.
The program hopes to redirect money given to panhandlers into local services committed to helping the homeless population.
One service, the Prado Day Center, provides shelter, meals and everyday necessities to those in need.
The revenue generated by the meters will fund program at the center aimed at transitioning people out of homelessness.
“This is a form of remediation and then we’re trying to build their capacity,” said Rick London, Chief Executive Officer of United Way San Luis Obispo. “The answer to all of this is really, coming up with solutions where people don’t get into these kinds of situations.”
The pilot program will run for two years and hopes to reduce the number of panhandlers in San Luis Obispo.