The next time you can be bothered enough to feed a homeless person you might find yourself at odds with the law. Yes, you have to be “bothered” because you are under no obligation to help your fellow mankind, who has fallen on hard times and on harder concrete slabs.
That’s right, because if you help homeless people in cities like Daytona Beach, Florida; Raleigh, N.C.; Myrtle Beach, S.C.; and Birmingham, Alabama you could be fined, physically removed and/or be threatened with time behind bars – and they have actually done it.
In fact, 33 U.S. Cities Ban Sharing Food With the Homeless have implemented similar policies, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless.
Recently, there were reports that a couple, Debbie and Chico Jimenez, were fined $2000 by the police just because they were feeding the homeless people in Dayton Beach Park on a weekly basis. The couple and two other colleagues refused to pay the ticket and the police eventually dismissed it, but still, it proves that the city is intent on making criminals out of homeless people and also, because of guilt by association, those that try to help them.
The argument that was posed by the city was that the efforts being done by the couple actually worsened homelessness. They claim that by giving food to the people in the parks, Debbie and Chico are coaxing them away from city-run, centralized programs and when they were handing the food out some of the homeless people mistreated the park and frightened other patrons.
Of course, feeding the homeless shouldn’t just be seen as the ultimate solution as it doesn’t address the underlying issue. Robert Marbut, a national homeless consultant makes a point when he says, “You’re never going to get anywhere arresting, priests, pastors and imams in the street.”
But, he also thinks a midway should be found to address the issue.
“Give me a name of one person who got a job because they were fed,” Marbut said. “Feeding alone or giving out clothing or camping equipment doesn’t address the core issues of being homeless.”
Matthew 14:
15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.
16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.
17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.
18 He said, Bring them hither to me.
19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
Matthew 6:
1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
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