A place to store their things

Newton Burr, left, organizes his personal belongings in a converted trash bin while Ed Richmond, right, wheels his bin back to the storage area at the Check-In Center.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Peggy Washington manages the Check-In Center in downtown Los Angeles. Homeless residents are able to store their personal possessions in converted trash bins provided by the center for free. The city recently provided 500 more bins at the center.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

A sign in the window of the main office of the Check-In Center warns patrons to “Be nice or get out.”  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Sai-E Johari, folds his personal items into a storage bin provided by the Check-In Center.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Artist Martina Mendoza plans how to arrange her artwork before loading the prints and canvasses into a converted trash bin used for storage. Mendoza said she was glad she was able to get a bin at the Check-In Center so that she wouldn’t have to worry about keeping her work in the homeless shelter where she was staying.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Monte, as he is known, moves his belongings from a converted trash bin into a larger one at the Check-In Center.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Earl Stovall wheels converted trash bins used for storage by homeless residents to the viewing area at the Check-In Center.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Earl Stovall prepares to open the gates at 8 a.m. for homeless residents who use converted trash bins to store their belongings at the Check-In Center.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)