Downtown LA gets new homeless donation meters

A shot of the donation meter at Paseo Mall in Pasadena. The new meters accept change and credit card donations that will go to services that help the homeless.

The donation meters are similar to parking meters, except they're bright orange and the proceeds go to a nonprofit that helps find housing for the homeless.

It's getting easier to use your spare change to make positive change for people who live outdoors. We're all familiar with parking meters. Now there are homeless donation meters.

Bright orange and smiley-faced, six of the new meters were unveiled in downtown Los Angeles Thursday, letting people donate coins or use a credit card to help a homeless outreach program. The money collected will go to the C3 Alliance, based in Skid Row, which helps homeless people in the area find housing.

The homeless donation meter program is the result of a collaboration between City Councilmember Jose Huizar and the nonprofit Flintridge Center. Huizar and L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis are financially sponsoring two of the meters in Grand Park, with $3,500 per year. The other four meters are at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument.