I did some research, because this issue is bothering me and I believe there must be a better solution. (Take it for what its worth)... Since January 2013, 21 cities have restricted the practice of sharing food with people who are experiencing homelessness while at least ten others have introduced ordinances that are pending approval. These restrictions primarily come about in three different forms; the first is by restricting the use of public property. In this scenario, individuals and organizations are generally required to obtain a permit, often for a fee, to share food in a park or in another public space. 12 cities have recently passed legislation that imposes this type of restriction. The second type of legislative restriction is to require groups to comply with city/county/state food-safety regulations. Since January 2013, four cities have passed legislation that required individuals and organizations to comply with their food-safety regulations when sharing food with people experiencing homelessness. The last method utilized to deter food-sharing are community actions driven by the principle of “Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY)”. Often, local businesses and homeowners do not want to attract people experiencing homelessness to their community join together to put pressure on local government or directly on individuals and organizations that share food with people experiencing homelessness. These groups are harassed and in result feel compelled to relocate their food-sharing efforts or cut the program all together. Since January 2013, four cities have successfully utilized this tactic, with local community pressure, to pass legislation to restrict sharing food with people experiencing homelessness. Since January, 2013 the following 22 cities have passed ordinances that restrict the food-sharing process. Public Property: Food Safety: Forced Relocation: Fort Lauderdale, FL Lake Worth, FL Daytona Beach, FL Houston, TX Shawnee, OK Costa Mesa, CA Chico, CA Hayward, CA Manchester, NH Olympia, WA Columbia, SC Medford, OR Raleigh, NC Salt Lake City, UT Myrtle Beach, SC St. Louis, Missouri Pasadena, CA Lafayette, IN Harrisburg, PA Seattle WA Charlotte, NC St. Petersburg, FL For more information about food-sharing restrictions please read this year’s report and/or contact the National Coalition for the Homeless.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 01:27:05 +0000
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