ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 3, 2007

Orlando: Please Do Not Feed The Homeless

Law Limits Feeding Large Groups Of People In Parks

  • Chelsea England, lower right, of the group Photo

    Chelsea England, lower right, of the group "Food Not Bombs," serves dinner to a homeless woman in downtown Orlando, Fla., on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2006.  (AP Photo/Joanne Carole)

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    A state-by-state look at U.S. Census Bureau data on income and poverty levels.

(AP)  At Lake Eola park, there is much beauty to behold: robust palms, beds of cheery begonias, a cascading lake fountain, clusters of friendly egrets and swans, an amphitheater named in honor of Walt Disney.

Then there are the signs.

DO NOT LIE OR OTHERWISE BE IN A HORIZONTAL POSITION ON A PARK BENCH ... DO NOT SLEEP OR REMAIN IN ANY BUSHES, SHRUBS OR FOLIAGE ... per city code sec. 18A.09 (a) and (o).

Visit the park's restrooms, and you'll find this sign on the wall above the hand dryers:

BATHING AND/OR SHAVING IN RESTROOM IS PROHIBITED ... per city code 18A.09 (p) ... LAUNDERING CLOTHES IN LAKE EOLA PARK IS NOT PERMITTED.

Since joggers and dog walkers tend not to snooze in flower beds, and because employees at the glittering office towers around Lake Eola don't scrub laundry in park sinks, it's clear, says Monique Vargas, at whom the notices are targeted.

“They're talking to us, to the homeless,” says Vargas, 28, who says she has lived on the streets, in parks or under overpasses, since age 16. “It's a way of saying, 'Your kind isn't wanted in our city.’”

Orlando, population 200,000, works hard to conjure the image of a true-life Pleasantville. But its spotless sidewalks and twinkling skyline belie a real city with real maladies — most notably, a surging homeless population that authorities are struggling to control.

After a law that banned panhandling was struck down by the courts, the city tried to discourage aggressive beggars by obliging them to carry ID cards, and later by confining them to 3-by-15-foot “panhandling zones” painted in blue on sidewalks downtown.

Despite these laws, the number of people living on the streets of the metro area swelled, from roughly 5,000 in 1999 to an estimated 8,500 today, dwarfing the city's shelter capacity for 2,000 people.

So in July, the city commission tried a “supply-side” approach: It passed an ordinance regulating the feeding of large groups of people in Orlando's downtown parks.

Those who wished to feed more than 25 hungry individuals at parks within a 2-mile radius of City Hall could do so, but only if they obtained a “Large Group Feeding Permit” from the parks department — and no one would be granted more than two feeding permits a year.

For the first time anyone in Orlando could remember, not only would panhandlers find themselves in the crosshairs of the law, but so would those trying to help them.




A week before Orlando's ordinance took effect, Las Vegas criminalized giving food to even a single transient in any city park.

In August, the American Civil Liberties Union filed suit challenging the Las Vegas ban, saying it violated constitutional protections of free speech, right to assembly and right to practice one's religion. A federal court in Nevada has prohibited the city from enforcing the ordinance until a final ruling is issued.

Advocates for the homeless feared it wouldn't be long before other cities passed similar laws.

Already, the cities of Dallas, Fort Myers, Fla., Gainesville, Fla., Wilmington, N.C., and Atlanta have laws restricting or outright prohibiting the feeding of the homeless. In Fairfax County, Va., homemade meals and meals made in church kitchens may not be distributed to the homeless unless first approved by the county.

Continued



BY TODD LEWAN © MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Add a Comment See all 58 Comments
by murielcc February 3, 2007 4:48 PM PST
To each action there is a reaction. ponder and pray
Reply to this comment
by laneff February 3, 2007 5:25 PM PST
Homelessness is a disease, one that the city fathers of this country choose to ignore. Every city in this country has its share of homeless folk. Homeless due to joblessness, infirmity, mental instability or the callous actions of someone with more money than God. Now, in place of ignoring homelessness, the city fathers choose to bury it or ban it. It's a good bet, if the city council members had to live one week on the streets without ready access to homeless shelters, bathrooms, beds and warmth of any form, they'd see precisely the need that corporations, cities, counties, states and governments are flat out ignoring in this world. FDR did a unique and unfathomed thing for the homeless, the jobless, he created jobs, funds, possibilities. The problem, government funds are beyond strained, beyond capacity, because we haven't invented a way to ensure that jobs can transition based on economic circumstances of people, places and corporations.
Thankfully, in the time period where my husband and I were homeless, jobless, we had others willing to assist even for a short time period. There are thousands of men, women, and children living on the streets, who have no one. Several philosophers and theologians elude to the idea, if you ignore that which is easily seen, your ignorance shall be your downfall. Peace, prosperity and comfort are attainable, if we realize we can deliver it one hungry person at a time.
Reply to this comment
by feelfree1 February 3, 2007 5:35 PM PST
The Bush League terrorists have been after "Food, Not Bombs" for quite a while now.

Apparently, voluntarily feeding poor hungry people is a threat to our national interests.
Reply to this comment
by jasperlily February 3, 2007 5:39 PM PST
So what part of "love one another" do these Cities' governments not understand? If people want to follow that teaching and show compassion to others, on religious grounds, how can the Cities prevent it, even legally? If they don't want the hungry fed by anyone, do the Cities provide them with food? And shelter? If people start removing the dead bodies of the people who have starved to death, will the Cities enact a law that requires the bodies to just lie there and rot on the street?

What a totally evil empire they are creating in those places.

I realize panhandlers, especially organized, can be a real problem. Not having food is also a problem. What are the cities doing about the problem of people not getting any food? If they don't help to resolve the problem (hunger and shelter) then they are part of the problem. And they are obviously making it a bigger problem, judging by those statistics. The ever-increasing lack of compassion amongst us today is sickening...... and frightening when they actually pass laws against compassion and mercy. They will get theirs in due time but that doesn't help those in need now.
Reply to this comment
by fascistusa February 3, 2007 6:20 PM PST
Let's ask exxon/Mobile to help with a share of that 50 billion dollar profit.

Hell, maybe a dollar or two can come out of the War Corporate Profit Machine, I mean, the Iraq War.

The measuse of an evil, fascist, sick, tyranny of the rich is best measured by how Prisoners and the Homeless are treated.

AMERICA IS A HORRIFIC, SICK FASCIST TYRANNY.

WAKE UP!!!
Reply to this comment
by gramto7 February 3, 2007 7:12 PM PST
My brother has been, several years ago, a homeless person in the city of Orlando. It is a place where a person is afraid to go to the shelter for fear of being robbed, assaulted, or outright killed.

The hell of it was that he was employed at the time. You just cannot find reasonably priced housing in the area to rent for someone making minimum wage or a little above.

Once he was returning from Disney, where he worked through a personnel pool, to the pool office. After he got onto the office grounds, he was mugged and so badly assaulted that he had to have rods and screws to piece together his arm together and he now has seizures from the head trauma.

He will never be homeless again if I can help it. He now lives with me!
Reply to this comment
by mnelsonix February 3, 2007 7:53 PM PST
Hmm...Jesus would not approve
Reply to this comment
by gabbysmomrs February 3, 2007 8:27 PM PST
So where are these people to go? Anywhere but here. Anywhere but within our sight or hearing. How are they supposed to stay alive if we don't allow them to be fed? It seems clear that a lot of people really don't care if they stay alive.

Have none of us been without at some time in our lives? If not, you are very fortunate. Many more than you would ever think have been there. And many more of us are only a paycheck, Social Security check, or Disability payment away. Oddly, there are those of us who feel that people in those situations are somehow not deserving...or are to blame. Remember, there but for the Grace of God.

Some of the homeless are on the streets by choice, yes, but most are not. They are often not employable; and they have no means access to a place to call home and they are starving. If no one can feed them the garbage cans of the community will be the only option for them. And so, you think, they will move away from our backyard. Everyone is someone's brother, sister, daughter, son, father, mother. How can we do this to our fellow human beings?

Please remember, There but for the grace of God go I or someone dear to me.
Reply to this comment
by vancouverboo February 3, 2007 8:36 PM PST
Keeping the *** from marriage is what Christianity is about in the US these days. And they're so much holier than you or I.
Reply to this comment
by drew30319-2009 February 3, 2007 8:42 PM PST
http://www.nrchmi.samhsa.gov/facts/facts_question_1.asp

* Most%u2014about 80%%u2014exit from homelessness within about 2%u20133 weeks. They often have more personal, social, and economic resources to draw on than people who are homeless for longer periods of time.

* About 10% are homeless for up to two months, with housing availability and affordability adding to the time they are homeless.

* Another group of about 10% is homeless on a chronic, protracted basis%u2014as long as 7%u20138 months in a two-year period. Disabilities associated with mental illnesses and substance use are common. On any given night, this group can account for up to 50% of those seeking emergency shelter.

There are also several individual risk factors that may increase people%u2019s vulnerability to becoming homeless and experiencing homelessness on a longer basis.8

* Untreated mental illness can cause individuals to become paranoid, anxious, or depressed, making it difficult or impossible to maintain employment, pay bills, or keep supportive social relationships.

* Substance abuse can drain financial resources, erode supportive social relationships, and can also make exiting from homelessness extremely difficult.

* Co-occurring disorders. Individuals with co-occurring mental illnesses and substance use disorders are among the most difficult to stably house and treat due to the limited availability of integrated mental health and substance abuse treatment in most localities.
Reply to this comment
by mamab9 February 3, 2007 9:28 PM PST
why shouldnt we be able to feed the homeless if we choose to? our tax money is being used to feed those on welfare everyday and some of those live in government housing we pay for also... they are the lucky ones they have a HOME. its sure not against the law to help feed them ! i earn my money i will spend it on whomever i choose.
Reply to this comment
by tom_gwynn February 3, 2007 10:13 PM PST
The problems that homeless people bring to communities is not small and should not be discounted. Many of these people are mentally ill in one form or another, and they do make non-homeless people feel unsafe. People don't go to where they feel unsafe, so a large homeless population can bring instant blight to an area. The homeless show up, the customers move out, shops close, drug dealers and prostitutes move in. Real estate values go down, tax rolls decrease, services are cut, jobs disappear, making even more homeless. It's a vicious circle. That's what the city of Orlando is fighting. That said though, this ordinance is clearly unconstitutional and should be struck down.
Reply to this comment
by drew30319-2009 February 3, 2007 10:59 PM PST
mamab9: We CAN feed the homeless and do every day. Across the nation through various charities funded by your tax dollars and private donations.

Many of the homeless refuse to go to these charities because of the rules they impose:

* no alcohol
* no drugs
* no crime

This is the real issue. The "hard core" of the homeless have (at a very high percentage) mental illness(es) and/or substance abuse issues that make being "homeless" their only option.

Remember. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.

I tried (for years) to help my ex-girlfriend's father (who was habitually homeless). Every opportunity given him he squandered and ruined. He opted to instead live a life filled with drugs and alcohol.

His addictions killed him last year.

Reply to this comment
by gramto7 February 3, 2007 11:15 PM PST
I just canceled out from going there...they can help themselves...because I won't.
Posted by karlagolay

You are about worthless! The area hit by the storms is NOT in Orlando! They have nothing to do with the laws passed in Orlando. None of the counties mentioned are Orange County which is Orlando's county. You should be ashamed to declare yourself a "highly trained disaster relief" anything!
Reply to this comment
by feelfree1 February 3, 2007 11:25 PM PST
drew30319,

Re: "We CAN feed the homeless and do every day. Across the nation through various charities funded by your tax dollars and private donations."

You are cllearly falling well short of meeting the need. There are still a lot of hungry Americans out there. It is understandable that some people would not choose to be bainwashed with religious dogma, just to get something to eat.

Orlando is trying to eliminate charitable groups like "Food Not Bombs", shown in the picture- a group that does not rely on tax dollars and that does not judge people before they will give them food.

Orlando leaders are attacking a valuable community service for no good reason- a service which local officials are obviously failing to address themselves.
Reply to this comment
by oh2sail February 3, 2007 11:42 PM PST
My city (San Francisco) has a population of 800,000, 4 times the population of Orlando's 200,000. Last year our "care not cash" program put 1,000 homeless people into housing. And according to this article, Orlando housed... 22? People sneer about "San Francisco values"... I am bursting with pride with the decency and tolerance of our beliefs.
Reply to this comment
by themooniac February 4, 2007 12:43 AM PST
How pitiful. Orlando's one place that won't be seeing a dime of my money. One classy city - treats their homeless like the plaque...don't ever visit a city that only treats you well if you have $$$ to give them. You got a homeless problem in Florida try helping people with a hand up not a kick in the pants. 8,500 homeless people in a city of 200,000?? There must be something wrong with the political/economic leadership in Orlando...
Reply to this comment
by jasperlily February 4, 2007 12:54 AM PST
gabbysmomrs

You are absolutely right on the mark on all counts.
Reply to this comment
by susanhelit February 4, 2007 1:25 AM PST
The homeless are a real problem. There are places to help them, and they don't want to use them because there they have to give up their drugs and alcohol. We're not talking about the pretty homeless, the homeless advocate's picture of the homeless, some poor person who just lost their job, or aren't paid enough to afford a roof over their heads - those are a small percent, they're helped by the charities and shelters easily, and they're not long term.

The problem is the majority of the homeless - drug addicts, alcoholics, people with serious mental problems - all of which don't want to change. Sure, they'd like a free meal, but every free meal is more encouragement, more money they panhandle to use on drugs or booze, more support to keep slowly killing themselves, more time before they hit that rock bottom, and realize they have to change.

Until they are ready to change, I see no reason we should ruin our parks, our downtowns with homeless feeding stations. Sadly, a lot of homeless steal or hurt people (due to feeding addictions, or their existing mental problems - until we kicked them out of the insane asylums, they had a good place to live where they couldn't hurt others), and we do need to think about where to encourage and discourage them to be.

Just read the papers, talk to the police - and get a look at the real face of the homeless. I'm all for as many services as possible to help them out, but real help, not help in staying on drugs, on alcohol, on the street.
Reply to this comment
by susanhelit February 4, 2007 1:31 AM PST
Given real stats about homeless having a seriously high percentage of mentally ill (often violent), druggies and alcoholics - why should Orlando be encouraging them to be in a place designated for families and children to come an play?

I'm not saying outlaw them from going there, but from living there, sure. And preventing well meaning (IMHO, naieve) groups from encouraging these homeless to be there is about the only way to work on that.
Reply to this comment
by annd2302 February 4, 2007 1:40 AM PST
middleman at 11:00 PM : Feb 03, 2007 Posted


Oh, and you ought to invest a few bucks in a dictionary so you don't look like a total *** when you post a blog.
So please, stay home and sit on your *** watching CNN. We'll take care of ourselves. We always do.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

If you have never been broke, down-and-out, abandoned or dumped by society or family, mentally ill, handicapped, disregarded or any other reason for being homeless, then don%u2019t condemn those who want to provide a meal or to now and then to the homeless.

You assume way to much responsibility to make the remark, %u201CWe'll take care of ourselves%u201D. Weeeeeeeee probably could do just that if weeeeee did not tend to take care of the WORLD. However, that is a whole issue in itself.

About the spelling, unfortunately one does not need the %u201CWebsters%u201D all he/she has to do is a simple spell check prior to committing a blog. Oh, and I say unfortunately because people currently depend on the computer for way to much as spell-check.

Reply to this comment
by annd2302 February 4, 2007 1:55 AM PST
karlagolay

I fully agree with your last remark. Why don't you just stay the hell home and away from Florida. They do not need your kind, buckoo.
Reply to this comment
by davey214 February 4, 2007 2:29 AM PST
This "dont help the homeless stuff" is the most cruel and selfish any person or government could be. If you dont want to help them yourself, then just shut up and leave it to those who will. But to make laws against charity is both inhumane and to deny charitable people their constitutional right of the pursuit of happiness. Animal rights groups defend stray pets better than Orlanda defends its homeless. To say this is Rachel Ray jargon, "How heartless can they be?"
Reply to this comment
by kaliveotin February 4, 2007 2:45 AM PST
The United States is NOT the greatest nation in the world. It's not even close. The way we treat not only the homeless, but the working poor and so many other needy americans is a national disgrace. Our government has been a national disgrace for decades. If the economy is so good, why are the numbers of homeless, poor, uninsured and needy children growing? Hubert Humphrey talked about Full-employment in 1968. We should give everyone who wants a job, decent work. There's plenty that needs to be done. Lets put everyone to work who can, and give everyone shelter who needs it.
Reply to this comment
by February 4, 2007 2:50 AM PST
I was homeless for over 5 and a half years an in that time if it was not for people who cared enough to share there food with me i would have died. Is that what the city of Orando want is to have the homeless people just die and go away. I think so an it is not going to happen. Over 60percent of american live 1 paycheck away from being homeless them selves. i just hope and pray that the city mayor and the city concuil are homeless 1 day to just see how bad it really is out there on the street without any food or shelter. and i hope they goo through hell and do not have food to eat then they will understand. and have some heart for these people. these people are american who have worked hard and have fallen on hard times. So have a heart and let these group feed these people.
Reply to this comment
by kaliveotin February 4, 2007 2:52 AM PST
Its sad how FEAR and IGNORANCE motivate so many to hatefull comments. Some let their stupidity and cowardly reations fly like a flag. The smarter stupid people are well enough to try and hide their childish pontifications. Others aren't that smart. We all know who they are from how they express themselves. I pity them.
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by book54552134 February 4, 2007 3:56 AM PST
I have relatives who live in Florida & I have visited the Tampa-St. Pete area several times.
The impression I get is that Florida is a place that renders very hard treatment to anyone down on their luck in any way.
There is very little compassion to be found in the State of Florida, it's govenmental systems or the overwhelming majority of it's citizens.
Reply to this comment
by tarnold510 February 4, 2007 4:22 AM PST
SUSAN HELIT

HOW DO YHOU THINK MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE CAN CONTROL THEIR ILLNESS OR MAKE IT BETTER. DO YOU WANT THEM TO STAY SO DRUGGED UP IN MENTAL HOSPITAL THAT THEY DON'T KNOW NIGHT FROM DAY. I THINK YOU ARE VERY STUPID TO MAKE THAT COMMENT BOUT THE MENTALLY ILL, YOU COULD HAVE MENTALLY ILL CHILD OR GRANDCHILD ONE DAY AND HOW WOULD YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT.
Reply to this comment
by tarnold510 February 4, 2007 4:31 AM PST
humancitizen
If you knew what the definition of *** is you would be labeled as on because you are a very ignorant person. I know not all homeless people are black you dumb *** by the way that's how you spell dumb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Other races besides blacks are homeless, you should be to know how it feel and to let you know not all homeless people are black.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply to this comment
by susanhelit February 4, 2007 4:34 AM PST
Yes, I do want mentally ill people who have no control of their illness, and cannot care for themselves to be confined to a mental hospital. It is no kindness to let them make their own choices when they are not in their right mind. It makes no sense!

We used to take care of them - some problems, yes, some things that needed to be improved, but instead greedy people decided to eliminate the whole system, and now they're out there, killing themselves when we're lucky, killing others when we're not. Yes, absolutely, 100%, I would want myself, my husband, my mother, my sister, my daughter to be in one of those hospitals, rather than out on the street, imprisoned rather than making their own decisions based on insane delusions and paranoia.

Oh, and I do know someone who was confined, wrongly, to one of those hospitals when she was younger. Even so, even she doesn't think that her case meant the whole system should have been broken!
Reply to this comment
by susanhelit February 4, 2007 4:36 AM PST
Mentally ill people cannot control their illness. They cannot control their actions. Why do we hurt them by expecting them to control their life? Knowing that their mental illness will be in control, and continue destroying their life, eating up whatever little sanity is left in their brain?
Reply to this comment
by swwils February 4, 2007 7:21 AM PST
I think if the government would spend some of that aid money that they send around the world on their own in need,then we wouldn't have this problem here.
Reply to this comment
by plowhandle February 4, 2007 7:38 AM PST
Fact: Ronald Reagan's administration emptied the nation's loonie bins into the streets, cutting off aid and relief for those unfortunate members of society that we didn't have to necessarily SEE and DEAL WITH on a daily basis.

Where did they go ? THE STREETS.

Fact: Filthy Repubiscum Governor Jeb Bush and his ilk in the state of Florida enabled the august Burghers of Orlando to put forth this rotten set of laws that discriminate against those most unfortunate members of our society. Instead of giving them a leg up, they get a bootintheass.

Republishit Family Values.

Suggested resolution for Florida: Take the most sickly of the homeless and carve them up into stew-size chunks...brown lightly in olive oil until uniformly brown, put in pot, cover with red wine, add carrots, potatoes and greens - and - voila! - Poor People Stew that they can ladle out in the public parks to the rest of the homeless! In a matter of months, the "problem" should be solved !
Reply to this comment
by newton221 February 4, 2007 8:40 AM PST
I cant believe this story. Whoever came up with this ridiculous idea is a complete idiot. There is a such thing as carma. This is not gonna fly in the United States. If i want to feed the homeless i have that right. The stupid suits in Orlando can suck my ***. I cant wait to see Orlando try to enforce this stupid law. The courts will never allow it to be enforced. Find something better to do with your time. You stupid empty suits!!!
Reply to this comment
by lambofgoth February 4, 2007 8:42 AM PST
Wow. What a disgusting story. Starve the homeless... make them someone else's problem!
I'm sure there are a bunch of shallow minded idiots talking about how great this new law is on here, I didn't read it because there is always some buffoon who claims to be a good Christian (while they hang out with their meth-using gay pastor) who's narrow mind can't go beyond "it's not effecting me" so why should I care? Regardless, it's hard to imagine the city council is that self-centered... or is it self-righteous? I really, truly hope that every single one of those schmucks who supported this bill suffers the pain of a seriously mentally ill family member or at least loses their gay pastor in a typical scandal. It's shameful. Really, truly, incredibly shameful.
Reply to this comment
by selenite1 February 4, 2007 8:44 AM PST
The current administration has pissed away over 400 billion dollars of tax payer funds on yet another remote conflict while our own citizens starve in the streets.

The Bush administration is insane and inhumane.
Reply to this comment
by durhamnc5 February 4, 2007 8:58 AM PST
a %u201CLarge Group Feeding Permit%u201D... as if he homeless are animals. You serve people, you feeds animals. That says a lot about municipalities like Orlando... this is a really rotten reflection on society.
Reply to this comment
by myopinion1 February 4, 2007 9:46 AM PST
I can see where they are going with this ordinance but they are attacking this in a backwards way. No city wants homeless people wandering the streets. I don't think any person like to hear of people with no home. However, the fact remains that they are human beings. There are a lot of people in this country who are one paycheck away from disaster, but certainly not the idiots who passed this mess. FIRST you need to do something about the homeless people before you forbade others to feed them.

This ordinance would work if they already had in place mass housing, medical care, job programs and enough people working on this to ensure that no one would go hungry.

I can see how having feeding programs like this would encourage the homeless to stay homeless and have a place to eat. Many are already complacent with their situation and don't want help, just food. They have the right idea but with their governmental blinders on, they don't see the whole picture. Are you surprised?
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by grumpas February 4, 2007 10:13 AM PST
Plowhandle knows what he is talking about! A lot of the current homeless problem started with Ronald Reagan! He was one of the greatest "Robber Baron" Republicans! Steal from the poor and give to the rich was his phlosophy. He will no doubt go down in Republican folklore as the greatest right behind George W Bush! Which is why he is so revered by the "let em starve" Republican's! It kind of makes one wonder what all of these Christian's find so intriguing about Republican's! If they are really Christian's or Religious Extremist's bent on imposing their sick sexual belief's upon a nation!
Reply to this comment
by Free Citizen February 4, 2007 11:23 AM PST
kaliveotin: "The United States is NOT the greatest nation in the world. It's not even close. The way we treat not only the homeless, but the working poor and so many other needy americans is a national disgrace. Our government has been a national disgrace for decades. If the economy is so good, why are the numbers of homeless, poor, uninsured and needy children growing?"

Good question. Perhaps, you might also like to ask why Americans repeatedly vote for the same party knowing full well what their policies are. They give generous tax breaks for the rich and run on borrowed money. With the loaned money, they give away billions to foreign states like Israel that isn't even a third world country. With loaned money, they wage war against foreign states that did NOT invade America let alone threaten it. Don't you think money and time would be better spent if whatever available resources is first directed to solving internal problems?
Reply to this comment
by nothappyatall February 4, 2007 12:47 PM PST
" she has lived on the streets, in parks or under overpasses, since age 16. %u201CIt's a way of saying, 'Your kind isn't wanted in our city.%u2019%u201D

It's not a way of saying it is directly saying it- get out of our WHITE, RICH right wing spotlessly clean manicured lawn city so we don't have to look at dirty people in cardboard boxes in the parkand streets.

We ship off BILLIONS of dollars, container ship loads of FREE food, supplies and all else to Africa, Afghanistan, Iraq and everywhere else- but *OUR* people who live HERE!
We have always pulled that krap, it's time we look after OUR people not some US hating morons in Iraq, Afghanistan, or people who don't have enough food, water and resources yet keep popping babies out by the dozen per South Africa etc


Reply to this comment
by hawksprings February 4, 2007 1:11 PM PST
From many of these posts I've read I can gather that most if not all of you have never had to work with the homeless or extreme poor.
From my experience dealing with many homeless people, many have simply learned to work the system to get freebies, and they have no interest in getting off the street or changing their lives.
In a sense, it's what many do for a living, and they've learned to work the system in a way that shows they have plenty of initiative and drive to get what they want. I've seen people put so much effort into concocting a story or scam it makes you wonder why they can't put that effort in to changing their lives. But the truth is, they don't want to.
For every person who is homeless and really wants to get out of that lifestyle, there are 100 others who have no interest or desire to change. They are simply working the system and will take advantage of your sympathy in a heartbeat until you wise up. Then they move on to someone else.

And that's the cold hard reality of it. If you don't believe me, go volunteer in a shelter for awhile. You'll wise up real quick.
Reply to this comment
by Free Citizen February 4, 2007 2:06 PM PST
HawkSprings: "For every person who is homeless and really wants to get out of that lifestyle, there are 100 others who have no interest or desire to change. They are simply working the system and will take advantage of your sympathy in a heartbeat until you wise up. Then they move on to someone else."

One can't help but wonder if your view could be skewed. Can you cite one reliable statistic to back your claim? Homelessness is not only a problem in the United States, it is an eyesore in Tokyo too. People are more incline to believe the opposite of what you quoted. That is, for every homeless person that elects not to change their position 100 others desire a way out of it. If they are so smart to work the system to their advantage as you say then, why are they not smart enough to work for a warm shelter in winter? Living in a cardbox in winter can't be very comfortable. You see one apple and you assume the whole bushel is bad. But everything isn't what it seem on the surface. In fact. it often does not. I believe the general view is that they are victims of discrimination, of a system that is unsympathetic to their plight. Especially a government that cares more for its image rather than helping the needy. And that is the truth.
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by hbjon February 4, 2007 3:21 PM PST
A society is judged by how the least fortunate of us are treated. A big chunk of our population lives paycheck to paycheck. If someone gave you a mental handicap, (not God of course) would you want some friendly assistance? If my taxes need to be raised to help you, then raise my taxes. I cannot stand to hear about the maltreatment of the homeless.
Reply to this comment
by cbslogin12 February 4, 2007 3:34 PM PST
I live in Orlando. I understand the situation because my church helps feed the Homeless in cooperation with other local churches to ensure that there is a hot meal every night at the Homeless Coalition located in the Parramore district. I have helped with this cause for many years, serving and preparing food, participating in clothes drives etc. I also donate money to the Orlando Union Rescue Mission every month which does a wonderful job in assisting the Homeless.

So please be aware that there ARE places and ways that the Homeless are being feed and provided shelters in Orlando. However the city could do a better job in providing more help. But I agree with the ordinance that a public park is NOT the place. Everyone should be allowed to enjoy the use of our parks. The Homeless have every right to enjoy the parks too. However this is NOT the place to bathe, wash clothes, sleep overnight etc.

The city offered the group who is suing over the feeding in the park to help them find an alternate place. There has been little cooperation and compromise. The real issue is, how much does this group really want to help the Homeless? They are fighting over the right to feed in the park. Instead they should be fighting to ensure that the Homeless are provided with the help they need by being willing to work with the city in finding a better location. There is no need to sue the city. There is EVERY need in finding a way to work together.
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by susanhelit February 4, 2007 3:54 PM PST
Right on cbslogin12 - this group is faking righteousness - "indeed, shouldn't we feed the homeless and let them live in our museum, they can be fed off of the Mona Lisa, and use the benches to sleep on!" There are right and wrong places to use, and a public park is no place to feed and house the homeless. It's a place set aside for families.

"The city offered the group who is suing over the feeding in the park to help them find an alternate place. There has been little cooperation and compromise. The real issue is, how much does this group really want to help the Homeless? " Sounds to me like they don't want to help the homeless, they want to sue.
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by susanhelit February 4, 2007 4:07 PM PST
There are places available to help the homeless. Maybe there could be more - but you also have to recognize when help hurts people. Unqualified help is a bad thing - giving a druggie money, for example, only lets them buy more drugs.

Set up places where they can have food and shelter, but must follow rules, like no crime (theft, assault, rape), no drugs, no being drunk (only really enforcable as no drinking), and some simple work to do, or spend time job hunting or taking courses to help become employable.

Of course, these places do exist. But that's not what these activists want... out of naivete, thoughtless compassion or arrogance, they just want to give the homeless what they ask for, without thinking about if it's what they need, or if it's the best way to help them.

I could do the same for my daughter - she'd eat only candy and ice cream, if I gave her what she wants. And she's hungry, so shouldn't I feed her? Whereever she wants (in bed!)?
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by hawksprings February 4, 2007 7:05 PM PST
Free Citizen, my "statistics" come from 15 plus years of working for an organization that is regularly approached by individuals asking for money, and working with other organizations in my community that focus on the needy and homeless. What is your expertise from?
You try it for awhile and you'll learn firsthand exactly what I'm talking about.
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by haneyr-2009 February 4, 2007 7:51 PM PST
It would be nice if people would try to fix the problems and not spout political and ideological rantings. In my humble opinion the problem is not with government but with people. An example is that my wife and I paid a local mother and her daughter enough money each month for over a year so they could live in a modest home and the daughter could keep going to school. When she graduated she went on to a very successful life.

If all the indignant people of this blog were to do the same for one family then it would be the start of a great revolution in our country called "we the people". Obviously most of you have enough money to own a PC and internet use. So don't blame the government, just look in the mirror, your wallet, and your heart.

PS. I am white, Christian, American, and a business owner who pays taxes. Sorry to ruin your stereo-type.
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by jasperlily February 4, 2007 9:27 PM PST
hawksprings

Of course there are those who work the system - duh. I know of many who work the disability system, the dole, whatever you want to call it - they are bone lazy. They are also living in homes, own cars and etc., courtesy of our system that doesn't really check up on them adequately. So, therefore, let us never help anybody in genuine need and as they and their kids get ill, stepped on or die, we can feel good all over about it because of the ones you are talking about. I've heard Pharisees fxrt under water before, They all sound the same.
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