Homeless ordinance hard to swallow

Despite the ordinance, many charity groups, like Food Not Bombs, continue to feed the homeless. Despite the ordinance, many charity groups, like Food Not Bombs, continue to feed the homeless. Photo: Karen Warren Photo: Karen Warren Image 1 of / 6 Caption Close Homeless ordinance hard to swallow 1 / 6 Back to Gallery

Bread, vegetables, plants, livestock, herbs, fruit - all of these things and more are mentioned throughout the Bible. Whether literal, in terms of sustenance, or symbolic, in terms of conviction, faith and food are religiously linked.

That's why some faith-based groups remain concerned about the new city of Houston ordinance that curbs their efforts to feed the homeless.

Organizations that want to feed the homeless must now follow city guidelines on things such as when and where feedings happen, and standards for food preparation and handling. They also must have at least one person within the organization attend the city's free food-safety class. Violators face misdemeanor charges and fines.

Some groups have stopped their food programs; others are carrying on despite the risk.

"It's very discouraging, and it has discouraged us from doing it," said Bobby Herring, a Christian rapper whose stage name is "Tre9." He and his wife Amanda put their "Feed a Friend" program on hiatus in December. They regularly fed the homeless on public property near the Spaghetti Warehouse downtown.

"It completely shut us down," Herring said. "We don't want to break the law, so for now we've put this in the Lord's hands."

Herring said they've decided to put more resources into at-risk youths for now, hoping to prevent them from becoming homeless.

"If (the city of Houston) can handle it, fine," Herring said. "But it remains to be seen. If all of the Christian charities would just stop feeding, they can see if they actually need us or not."

Patrick Key, city of Houston bureau chief of consumer health services, said the ordinance is not meant to discourage faith-based groups from helping the homeless. In fact, he said, it will streamline their efforts and reduce waste.

"I went downtown one morning to see for myself what was going on," Key said. "The homeless at the location I was at were fed about 10 meals between 8 a.m. and noon by different organizations. Groups were coming to feed them, then they would leave, and then another would do the same thing 30 minutes later."

Not only is this a waste of food, it leads to littering - another concern the ordinance hopes to address.

Herring's not buying it. "We're adults," Herring said. "We know how to clean up our mess. If we did leave a mess, fine us for that, not for feeding the homeless."

Herring also worries that city-controlled designated times and locations for feeding the homeless creates a more institutionalized, less personalized atmosphere. Slapping food on a plate, he said, is not the same as looking someone in the eye, having a conversation, making them feel valued and providing hope.

Joe Benson of SEARCH Homeless agrees.

"We have a guy that sleeps on our sidewalk, but he won't come into the building because people come by and give him food right there on the sidewalk," Benson said. "If he did come in the building, he could get a shower, clean clothes, a caseworker - the things that get him towards not being homeless."

Benson knows of what he speaks. He's a double amputee who has been on both sides of the coin.

"I had something to eat, but it also enabled me to stay on the streets for four and a half years," said Benson, who made his home under the Pierce bridge. "It took a case manager and detox to work my way out of homelessness."

Houston attorney Paul Kubosh supports the faith-based groups and is in the midst of gathering signatures of 20,000 registered voters to fight the city's ordinance. He hopes to get the issue on the November election ballot.

"If I want to go feed people in a public space, I ought to be able to do it without having to get permission," Kubosh said. "For some, the ordinance impedes on personal freedom. For others, it's religious freedom. Either way, let the people decide."

Judith Hoffhien with Food Not Bombs, an organization that provides vegetarian meals to the homeless, said the group is still providing meals four days a week downtown.

Hoffhien, a Mennonite, said her basic belief is caring for and sharing with the needy, just as Christ lived his life.

"Religion, politics, it doesn't matter to us," Hoffhien said. "We just want to feed the hungry. We're going to keep serving, and hope that the judge ultimately rules it (the ordinance) as unconstitutional."

Kim Kyle Morgan is a freelance writer in Tomball. Write to her at kim@kimkylemorgan.com.