City Ordinances Limit Feeding the Homeless

Orlando, Fla., is one of a growing list of U.S. cities that sets limits on giving food to homeless people.

Under the law in Orlando, serving more than 25 people in a park within 2 miles of City Hall requires a permit. Applicants may serve food twice a year in each park, USA Today reported.

City Commissioner Robert Stuart voted against the ordinance. He heads Christian Service Center for Central Florida, which feeds 325 homeless people a day but isn’t affected since it uses private property.

It’s not fair to take a population without a home and make them criminals, Stuart told USA Today. And I don’t think we ought to be limiting the opportunity to help others.

Dallas; Las Vegas; and Wilmington, N.C., have also began enforcing laws that limit feeding the homeless in 2006.