Downtown Clergy Council recommends alternatives to feeding Skid Row homeless
Ed Fuentes
Disney's Tania Gunadi showing a plate of food being served at the LA Mission. Donations included turkey from Morongo Tribe of Mission Indians, pies from Bonerts Slice of Pies and Jesse Lord Pie Company.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — The Downtown Clergy Council, an inter-faith group of clergy members from churches, missions, synagogues, and service providers serving in and around the Central City area, known as Skid Row, are advising people not to feed the area homeless.
“What people don’t know about giving food out on the streets is that it not only keeps them from facilities that can help them, it also pollutes the environment in which they are seeking recovery because unwanted food is thrown on the ground and creates a toxic environment in Skid Row,” said Chaplain Tina Babcock, CEO of Restoration and Recovery Resources Group and the former President of the Downtown Clergy Council, in a statement.
The council this month released a position paper that, in part says, "you must understand that when you feed the homeless in the street, you unintentionally rob them of any incentive to seek assistance from the various services in the area."
Four Skid Row missions serve approximately 8,000 meals a day, according to the council, which says that the food goes hand-in-hand with the services homeless people need but often don't get when good-hearted people simply drop off items.
“We want to encourage people to help the homeless in Skid Row and beyond with healthy food and most importantly with services that help elevate them from a state of homelessness to housing, employment and needed supportive relationships,” said Herb Smith, CEO of Los Angeles Mission, in a statement.
In its position paper the council suggests bringing bottled water instead of food to the homeless. It also recommends distributing hygiene kits as an alternative to food.
"Many homeless individuals in Skid Row will stop taking care of themselves physically as their addictions become the center of their lives. Others struggle with mental illness and are shelter resistant. Providing them with baggies containing soap, deodorant, Band-Aids, hand sanitizer, sanitary napkins, shaving products, lotion, and shampoo, has encouraged many individuals to take care of themselves hygienically, and has led them to services. We almost never see these items discarded or sold," the council wrote.
Skid Row activist Jeff Page, aka General Jeff, said that although he does not support ending food giveaways, he would like to see them better regulated so people know who is giving out the meals.
"These are random organizations. There's no identification on their clothing, or their vans or anything," he told the Associated Press. "We need to hold them accountable in case of food poisoning or trash."
The council will have a press conference at the L.A. Mission Friday at 11:30 a.m.
David McBane on August 30, 2012, at 01:20PM – #1
Great to hear. Handing out food to homeless is a great example of unintended consequences.
John G on August 30, 2012, at 02:06PM – #2
It's about time we get a better perspective on how to handle the homeless.
This is a great article and hopefully the L.A. City Council wakes up to the mess they have always created with Skid Row. For example, Jan Perry wants to focus on providing more housing for the homeless. Sounds good, but that doesn't fix a long-term problem. Us voters need to listen more closely to our politicians and encourage future election candidates to be more open about long-term strategic solutions. Subsidies like public housing and food-drives are old things that DO NOT SOLVE the problems in this area. Its time to change...
Manuel Compito on August 30, 2012, at 04:12PM – #3
Manuel Compito via Katherine McNenny We must determine which of these churchs or clergy members have actually participated in "any form of feeding " and cleaning up in Skid Row. I know for certain that Pastor Kevin Haah and Bowen of LOVE LA which has a " street ministry" has long supported both the FEEDING AND THE CLEANING UP OF SKID ROW. LOVE LA was the among the first ministry to supply SKID ROW COMMUNITY trash cans. Some of these clergy I have never seenor heard of on the front line, nor have they support our clean-up efforts. So to make suggestions may only be for the media. If this is so, than there is a serious problems of jumping on the band wagon.
DTLAFamilies (@DTLAFamilies) on August 30, 2012, at 05:38PM – #4
This is not a new problem. Back in 2010, the LAPD senior lead officer for Skid Row asked people to stop feeding the homeless and distributing clothing: http://articles.latimes.com/2010/sep/12/local/la-me-homeless-feeding-20100912
"These folks don't know what happens when they leave," said Joseph, who as senior lead officer is a liaison to the community. "We've had people get stabbed after fighting over clothes. We've had people get sick after eating their food. It's just dangerous and irresponsible."
ReddingHomeless (@ReddingHomeless) on September 06, 2012, at 10:28PM – #5
Thursday, September 6, 2012Why You Should NEVER Support Regulating the Public Feeding of Homeless People
A spirit is circulating around the leaders and charities which serve the homeless and those who attempt to defend their constitutional and civil rights. They claim our giving is hurting and not helping the homeless, and instead of giving food to the homeless it would be better to give the money used to purchase that food to established charities and homeless shelters where that money could be put to "better use".
Of course you will find no such spirit or directions in the Bible, the Christian community called the Church is to help as Jesus says "the least of these My brethren", "for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me."
You are the Church...
Christians must interact with their fellow humans and have fellowship with the poor and homeless, and those given the grace to see realize that giving a sandwich or an article of much needed clothing is an opportunity to minister to those hurting and lost on a much deeper spiritual level.
You see GOD LOVES TO USE HIS PEOPLE !, and through the Holy Spirit and your faith, love, and interaction, the Lord can plant the seeds to spiritually feed and cloth those in need, and through the believer pour forth the "Living Waters" to those who so desperately thirst.
Not only that "God has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him."
You may receive a powerful and suprising blessing from those whom you are serving!
You see in giving what you have freely received and administering compassion we are spiritually fed and clothed and given spiritual"water"to drink, healed from our spiritual sicknesses, and broken free of the bars which hold us in prison.
" For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
Those that wish to regulate the feeding and care of the homeless and leave it to the "pros" do not have those eyes to see, or for that matter ears to hear what God through Jesus Chris and the Holy Spirit has said to his body of believers called "The Church"
And reconsider giving cash donations to those charities, especially those which suggest government regulations and permits in order to feed the homeless, and those that have no method of community transparency and accountability.
Regulations and permits are the first steps cities and municipalities use to criminalize and repress the poor and homeless.
And make un announced visits to those you do give to and see what is going on with your charitable dollar donations.
Dont let the spiritual thieves steal from you, calling your compassionate love offerings an act of "feel good" giving , "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
You see God does not call the qualified or pros, but qualifies those He calls to administer to those in need.
God is holding his ministries more accountable than ever before, and salaries and pay checks are at stake.
A spirit is circulating... its not from God
Dont let anyone quench the Spirit of Love and Charity which dwells in you.
Love your neighbor, let no law or regulation be formed against this and remember...
"When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return, and repayment come to you. But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you."
Let no one criminalize and regulate the practicing of your faith and and religion...
Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
And the spirit of the world wants you to stop.
http://reddinghomeless.blogspot.com/2012/09/why-you-should-never-support-regulating.html
Cue Jn-marie on November 06, 2012, at 12:04PM – #6
Interesting, so Skid Row has been around for over 60 years and all the non profits has been there for quite some time, so this is the main issue that's keeping people homeless? there are groups like operation facelift who are working hard by attempting to keep Skid Row clean by cleaning it themselves. The Row Church without walls feed and clean on wall and winston every friday night. sometimes when we get there the place is so filthy and the past 6 years. yet all the trash does not come from the homeless, some of the trash comes from businesses; you can see the wrappings or boxes from things people have purchased. You must be on the streets to see it for what it is. We need some regulations however we better be clear about the facts before moving forward!