Houston permit rule stops couple's effort to feed homelesss

[The Northerner]

Couple must have proper permit to continue feeding dozens each day

Bobby and Amanda Herring spent more than a year providing food to homeless people in downtown Houston every day. They fed them, left behind no trash and doled out warm meals peacefully without a single crime being committed, Bobby Herring said.

That ended two weeks ago when the city shut down their "Feed a Friend" effort for lack of a permit. And city officials say the couple most likely will not be able to obtain one.

"We don't really know what they want, we just think that they don't want us down there feeding people," said Bobby Herring, a Christian rapper who goes by the stage name Tre9.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7381016.html

[Angry Dragon]

1. I am sad

This country is turning into a country that at one time we condemned
And I do not know how to stop it nor how to fix it

[leftstreet]

2. Why not get a permit and enlist other volunteers..restaurants with kitchens, etc?

Theses stories just cry out LOOK AT ME!!!!111

Build a community effort FFS

[FSogol]

5. Name themselves a Church and continue doing what they were doing before.

The 1st National Church of Feed a Friend.

[jtrockville]

14. ^ That's the ticket.

[ZombieHorde]

8. From the OP, "And city officials say the couple most likely will not be able to obtain one." nt

[leftstreet]

11. Yep, they need to build a volunteer coalition

If they're interested

[Rex]

3. So now what are those homeless people supposed to do with their

supply of food cut off!? True, they could have been serving food that was sub-standard. Seriously, as opposed to what? Eating out of the dumpster...is the HHSD going to test the food in dumpsters to see how edible it is? No, of course not they expect the homeless to have jobs the very next day and to take care of themselves with money from work.

I guess Jesus would have had to move on to another city, because he most certainly wouldn't get a permit to feed the homeless.

[Skidmore]

6. It's not abou tthe food or its quality. It's about Houston not wanting

homeless people in its downtown area or being attracted to it by hearing of a place to find a hot meal. NIMBY

[Rex]

12. Good point didn't see it like that.

Last thing we need is a big city known for feeding the homeless. :sarcasm:

[progressivebydesign]

18. I'm liberal, but I have to agree with the City on that one.

One town I lived in had a movable feast, so to speak, of groups that fed the homeless. Whenever it was downtown, we had to deal with public drunkenness, urinating in public, aggressive panhandling, homeless peeing on the doorsteps of businesses, fights, and aggressive dogs. The merchants are just trying to make a living, and customers were not willing to step across a drunk person to get into the store.. or endure the stench of urine as we walked into a local business.

It's hard enough trying to survive with a business now... there are better places to feed people that can't seem to feed themselves.

[sunnystarr]

15. Good thing the laws weren't in effect for Jesus

we'd lose out on the miracles of the loaves and fishes (there were 2) and 9000 people would have gone hungry.

[Arkansas Granny]

4. If they are so worried about foodborne illness, why shut down someone

who is keeping the homeless from scrounging through garbage cans and dumpsters for a meal? This makes no sense to me.

[ManiacJoe]

10. If the food is not prepared correctly,

the two "sources" have the same results.

[WhiteTara]

7. the cruelty of humans is unfathomable

sometimes. But as Alan Grayson says, don't get sick and die quickly to satisfy the right.

[EOTE]

9. The homeless must not be fed.

After all, if they're fed, they might get sick. They should abstain from all eating, so they can be in perfect health.

[sunnystarr]

16. Sort of like don't feed stray cats ...

they'll never leave and always come back for more food. The city doesn't want the homeless to be seen or to be there at all.

[sarcasmo]

13. Sad Houston, how sad of city to shut down someone who is trying to help.

[progressivebydesign]

17. I think that's sad, but you gotta follow the rules for a good reason.

Unfortunately, while it's a good effort, there are good reasons for needing permits to feed large groups of ANY type of people. Mostly for health and safety reasons, and for the good of the community where you're attracting crowds to feed. They would be better off working through an actual church.

[ZombieHorde]

19. So lame. nt