Opinion

Homeless feeding ordinance working out well

Volunteers with Food Not Bombs, a homeless service organization, feed the homeless at the Houston Public Library downtown courtyard. Volunteers with Food Not Bombs, a homeless service organization, feed the homeless at the Houston Public Library downtown courtyard. Photo: Karen Warren Photo: Karen Warren Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Homeless feeding ordinance working out well 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

When first debated last spring, the proposed homeless feeding ordinance received heavy push back from a diverse group of opponents worried that it would criminalize charity under the guise of an unnecessary anti-littering, anti-trespassing law.

Yielding to pressure, supporters of the ordinance weakened the language, essentially only requiring good Samaritans to receive written permission from property owners - including city-owned property - before feeding more than six people. The rewritten ordinance passed an unusually divided City Council, 11-6, with opponents still warning that the city was making it illegal to help the less fortunate.

Then a funny thing happened: nothing. Groups applied for, and were granted, permission to feed on city property. No kids were ticketed for sharing food with friends. No pastors went to jail for helping the homeless. The mayor even granted Food Not Bombs, which refuses to ask permission before using city property, a special exemption to continue feeding the homeless at the downtown library.

Under this mayor and City Council, a potentially disastrous law has been reined in and implemented fairly. The one remaining problem is that some people don't know that, so the ordinance has had a bit of a chilling effect, driving a few people away from charitable acts. Nick Cooper, a volunteer with Food Not Bombs, told the Chronicle that groups like his have seen people drop out under the shadow of the ordinance. The mayor and City Council should remind people that there is nothing in the ordinance that prevents Houstonians from handing a sandwich to those in need, or doing charitable feeding in approved locations.

In some other cities, ordinances like this one have been subject to bureaucratic creep, with new barriers and regulations added over time. Our City Hall has acted carefully in treading the line between public charity and city beautification. We hope future elected officials will follow that lead.