Homeless people will soon have designated spots where they will be able to legally sleep in their cars in Monterey following a Tuesday night vote by the City Council.

The 18-month pilot program is dependent on businesses, churches and organizations that want to offer spots.

The first organization to volunteer a parking area was the United Methodist Church on Soledad Drive, which has six spots.

“Churches do ministry. This is a ministry,” said Pastor Cindy Storrs after the vote. “It’s exciting.”

The program will be administered through One Starfish Safe Parking and Supportive Services, which operates one parking lot in Pacific Grove, two at unincorporated spots in Carmel and one in Seaside.

Founder and director Tia Sukin said homeless participants are interviewed beforehand, cannot drink alcohol or do drugs in their vehicles and cannot have guests visiting their cars, unless it is another program member.

One Starfish started in September 2014 and operates under nonprofit Pass the Word Ministry. It attempts to help people living in their cars move into permanent housing, get them back on their feet financially and provide access to health care.

“We don’t accept everyone into the program,” she said.

[For more of this story, written by Phillip Molnar, go to http://www.montereyherald.com/...-sleep-in-their-cars]