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The City of Penticton is considering installing a “kindness meter” downtown Penticton to discourage panhandling in the area.
A kindness meter is a decorated parking meter that is repurposed for donations to the homeless. Similar donation receptacles have been installed in Vernon, Kamloops and Victoria for more than 10 years.
A report going before city council on Tuesday suggests the meter be placed next to the breezeway on the 200 block of Main Street, a “hot spot” for panhandlers.
In a letter to council, the Downtown Penticton Association strongly supported the idea.
“As a city, we will never have zero panhandlers or homeless but we may reduce the number of new panhandlers coming to Penticton if they are aware the public will be favouring feeding meters than dropping money into cups and hats,” wrote DPA executive director Lynn Allin.
City staff are suggesting donations from the meter be sent to 100 Homes Penticton to fund it's strategies to reduce homelessness through non-profit agencies in the city such as the Soupateria or Salvation Army Compass House.
The cost of installing the meter is being estimated at $500, with local artist Diane Way of the Front Street Gallery volunteering to paint the meter and pole.
