WATCH: Some unusual parking meters are appearing on the streets of Victoria. Kylie Stanton explains more about the kindness metre.
Businesses in downtown Victoria are promoting a new way of helping the area’s homeless population.
If you park your car on Fort Street between Blanshard and Douglas, you might see two brightly-coloured, coin-operated parking meters. On them, a sign reads “All of the money collected in this meter is donated to community groups providing services for persons experiencing homelessness.”
The Fort Street Business Association is hoping to raise $15000 in the two meters by the end of November – enough to house two people for a year.
“That’s not really a lot of money and it’s an achievable goal, I think,” says Teri Hustings, an owner of Oscar & Libby’s Gift Store.
In just one week, they’ve already raised $620, along with a $500 donation from Vancity credit union.