W. Palm Beach to Bar Some Handouts for Homeless

source: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/search/content/local_news/epaper/2007/09/15/s1b_minor_0915.html


City set to bar some handouts for homeless

By Emily Minor

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

(published) Saturday, September 15, 2007

The word "homeless" isn't anywhere in the proposal, but everybody knows it's the homeless they're talking about.

West Palm Beach commissioners are about to outlaw feeding the homeless at three downtown spots. No more free "food distribution" at the Centennial Fountain, the library or Meyer Amphitheatre.


And I don't think they're referring to me handing out snacks to my family.

"It says everything but 'stop feeding the homeless,'" said City Commissioner Kimberly Mitchell.

For years, various groups of mostly faith-based individuals have provided meals downtown, and the outreach was always noticeable because the fountain, library lawn and amphitheatre are popular play areas.

Years ago, it was students from Palm Beach Atlantic University, the Christian-based college a few blocks from the library, that did the feedings.

Gary Richmond, the administrator at First Presbyterian Church of West Palm Beach - where the homeless are still fed every Monday night - said the student ministry started doing bag lunches and handing them out at the fountain on Wednesday nights.

"But they got told by the city to get out of there," Richmond said.

"They moved to CityPlace, but the management there said, 'You have to move on.'''

Homeless and the just plain hungry

Eventually, the PBAU students wound up at Richmond's church at 301 S. Olive Ave, where the church added a Tuesday-night feeding that the students handled. The church and the college aren't affiliated.

Richmond said the college kids eventually faded out and the church added Tuesday night to its program. It lasted until this past August, when the church did away with it for money reasons.

"We started this program six years ago, and back then it was 25 to 30 street people," Richmond said.

But things change.

Richmond said their Monday dinners began to attractlow-income individuals and families who knew about the free food. The meals are prepared at the church kitchen, and these days the Monday night dinners can draw as many as 150 - many of them construction workers, he said.

"The workers knew there was a meal, and they started walking over," said Richmond, who said they're always looking for volunteers and donations.

Meanwhile, at the fountain, other groups kept the feedings going on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and business owners - already hard-pressed to convince customers that downtown West Palm is safe - didn't much like it.

Some understand businesses' concerns

Lela Jordan, the youth and family services coordinator for Vickers Houseanda longtime advocate for the homeless, said this ordinance - which is scheduled for a public hearing on Sept. 24 - has been a long time coming.

"You really can't blame them," said Jordan, about the worried business owners.

Frankly, Jordan says all those homeless individuals around all those kids made her nervous - and not for the reasons you might think.

She worried about her homeless clientele.

"One time I came around the corner of the library and there was a homeless individual relieving himself," she said. "That poor homeless guy could have been put in jail for life for exposing himself.

"I think this will keep everybody safe."

Plus, Jordan knows you have to give and take.

Me? I'd be shooting my mouth off about how wrong this is.

It's a public space. Of course they can feed the homeless there. Stupid politicians. Nutty rules. Heartless businessmen.

But Jordan sees the bigger picture, the greater good.

Which is why she's Lela Jordan and I'm not.

[Mote: Another of the groups that would be affected by this ordinance is West Palm Food Not Bombs.]