Businesses Join Program to Aid Homeless

Homelessness in Santa Monica has been a problem that city officials and private organizations have been tackling for years.

Now Santa Monica business owners are getting into the act. They are putting their collective weight behind a new program sponsored by the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce called React: Business for Change.

The program is designed to educate business owners and their patrons about the basics of homelessness. Businesses are supplied with colorful brochures that list shelters, food banks and suggestions on where to call if they meet someone who is panhandling aggressively or trespassing.

The businesses involved will be equipped with a bank where people can deposit spare change or dollar bills.

Money collected in the boxes will be distributed to about 20 Westside organizations that provide money and services to the homeless. . . .