This meter, one of four in downtown Athens, encourages donations that will go toward helping the city's homeless
By Robert Carnes
"A donation here will provide help for the homeless. Please do not give cash to panhandlers.”
Four signs bearing these words hang from four parking-meter type devices in downtown Athens. Distinguished from the nearly 750 downtown parking meters by their newly painted red heads, these meters collectively generate nearly $700 in donations annually.
All revenue collected in the meters is given to the Northeast Georgia Homeless Coalition, a group of organizations united to combat the effects of homelessness. They spend the money on bus passes for the homeless, since receiving help or finding employment can be especially difficult without reliable transportation.
“The meters act as another option to people who would rather not give money directly to people on the street,” said Ed Moore, the chair of the Homeless Coalition. “They never produce much money, but what there is goes to meet a specific need.”
All four of the meters are located on College Avenue between Broad and Clayton streets. Installed by the Athens Downtown Development Authority about 10 years ago, these meters do more than just gather money. They spread a message.
“We’re always grateful to get the money, but it is more important to educate people about the presence of organizations that help the homeless,” said Katherine Lookofsky, director of the Athens Downtown Development Authority. “The biggest thing is getting their names out there and knowing that there is an alternative to just handing cash to panhandlers.”
By giving downtown patrons this alternative, the meters promote a more organized way to donate.
“Money given directly to individual panhandlers could be abused,” Lookofsky said. “Instead, we provide an alternative to give to organizations that can spend the money more effectively.”
However, not everyone shares the opinion that these meters have a positive impact on the homeless.
“I don’t know anyone who has seen a cent of that money,” said Michael, a local schoolteacher who plays guitar on a downtown street corner to earn extra money. Although not homeless himself, he has dealt with many homeless people though his experiences downtown.
“You’re better off buying them some bananas or a burger, or something that they can actually use,” said Michael. “I just don’t think they give back enough to the people who really need it.”
Michael has needs of his own and a family to look after. “Now we can eat tonight,” he said, looking at the cash gathered in the open guitar case at his feet. “The economy’s tough and we’ve all got to get by any way we can.”
As a student at the University of Georgia, Jordon Robinson, a senior from Alpharetta, Ga. agrees.
“Every little bit helps, but you can’t get rid of poverty altogether,” she said. “I would almost rather give money directly to a person in need because you can look them in the eye and see the gratitude.”
On each donation meter is a card with the addresses of several other local Homeless Coalition organizations that provide food, shelter, clothing, employment opportunities, and medical attention.
One such organization is the Homeless Day Service Center where Moore also works as a case manager. Located at 375 S. Peter St., the center provides the homeless with access to showers, washers and driers, telephones and other resources. Case managers work one-on-one to give counsel and special attention to those in need.
Edited by Alison Loughman
