Charity told to stop serving food to homeless in city parks
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SEATTLE -- Hot meals served to the city's homeless have now become a hot-button issue after a local charity was told to stop doing it in city parks.
"Why now? What did we do wrong? 3 years, no one said anything," said Willie Parish, Jr., executive director of the Bread of Life Mission. "We're meeting needs, people are happy."
The Mission, a local faith-based charity for 74 years, serves three meals a day to hundreds of homeless from its Pioneer Square headquarters. Once a month, every third Saturday, the non-profit heads to City Hall Park to hand out food and water to the homeless outside the county courthouse ("drive-by foodings," the charity called it).
In October, city workers approached Mission volunteers and asked them to stop, Parish said.
"We're just trying to help, and I don't understand why the city want to interfere with an organization that's been around since 1939," he added. "I'd think they'd want to get onboard and encourage us to help."
The primary issue is that the Mission didn't have a permit to serve food outdoors, said David Takami, spokesman for the Seattle Human Services Department, which oversees homeless issues in the city. The secondary issue is with food safety and the safety of volunteers, he added.
"We certainly appreciate that good (they're doing) and their work," Takami said. "But this has been the case where there are a lot of meals served at one time to the same population on the same day. It creates a possible food waste issue, garbage, and in that case a rodent issue."
Takami said the city is working with the Mission and encouraging it to partner with existing groups, such as OSL, which has been serving meals underneath the interstate at 6th and Cherry for years.
"We wash the site, we wash the benches, we make sure it's as safe as possible," said Beverly Graham, who founded the group, which started serving meals in local parks decades ago. "When you're serving somebody in a park you don't know where they're taking that trash and that garbage, so that's very difficult."
"It just is a better way to make use of people's good intentions," added Leslie Smith of the Pioneer Square Alliance. "People come downtown with good intentions, but it makes messes in parks, there are issues of food health practices, safety, etc. What the city's trying to do is to use the good intentions of volunteers to use their best."
Parish said he understands the concern, but after serving the city of generations, just can't get past how serving meals could stir up so much controversy.
"We'll do whatever they want us to do, but let us serve. We serve 300 meals a day here (indoors)," he said. "I'd think they'd want to get onboard and encourage us to help."
"Why now? What did we do wrong? 3 years, no one said anything," said Willie Parish, Jr., executive director of the Bread of Life Mission. "We're meeting needs, people are happy."
The Mission, a local faith-based charity for 74 years, serves three meals a day to hundreds of homeless from its Pioneer Square headquarters. Once a month, every third Saturday, the non-profit heads to City Hall Park to hand out food and water to the homeless outside the county courthouse ("drive-by foodings," the charity called it).
In October, city workers approached Mission volunteers and asked them to stop, Parish said.
"We're just trying to help, and I don't understand why the city want to interfere with an organization that's been around since 1939," he added. "I'd think they'd want to get onboard and encourage us to help."
The primary issue is that the Mission didn't have a permit to serve food outdoors, said David Takami, spokesman for the Seattle Human Services Department, which oversees homeless issues in the city. The secondary issue is with food safety and the safety of volunteers, he added.
"We certainly appreciate that good (they're doing) and their work," Takami said. "But this has been the case where there are a lot of meals served at one time to the same population on the same day. It creates a possible food waste issue, garbage, and in that case a rodent issue."
Takami said the city is working with the Mission and encouraging it to partner with existing groups, such as OSL, which has been serving meals underneath the interstate at 6th and Cherry for years.
"We wash the site, we wash the benches, we make sure it's as safe as possible," said Beverly Graham, who founded the group, which started serving meals in local parks decades ago. "When you're serving somebody in a park you don't know where they're taking that trash and that garbage, so that's very difficult."
"It just is a better way to make use of people's good intentions," added Leslie Smith of the Pioneer Square Alliance. "People come downtown with good intentions, but it makes messes in parks, there are issues of food health practices, safety, etc. What the city's trying to do is to use the good intentions of volunteers to use their best."
Parish said he understands the concern, but after serving the city of generations, just can't get past how serving meals could stir up so much controversy.
"We'll do whatever they want us to do, but let us serve. We serve 300 meals a day here (indoors)," he said. "I'd think they'd want to get onboard and encourage us to help."
When the City starts enforcing the loitering laws, then maybe Pastor Willie can stop giving free box lunches once a month to folks living in that park. Isn't sleeping outside in 30 degree weather on cardboard in that park also a health, or sanitation, or safety problem? The Bread runs the "Heroes Cafe" at World Vision Headquarters in Federal Way, and a box lunch catering business, and feeds 300 homeless people a day at the Mission. We're not protecting the civil rights of anybody by "allowing" them to sleep on the streets. Â
There should be no permit required for somebody who is sacraficing time and money to feed strangers for FREE. So lets have the homeless starve, because that will be better for them than having a stomach ache God forbid from bad food.
"The primary issue is that the mission didn't have a permit to serve food outdoors" said David Takami.
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That simply means that the city of Seattle was not collecting their fee from the mission as it performed
its public service. That also, to me, indicates a bunch of !@#$%%^&*(*&^%$ (deleted explitives) in
the city' of Seattle's government.
The mission has been providing this sort of service in the city for about 74 years now, but some
Ding-a-Lings in government suddenly that they are not receiving THEIR FEE and they are pi**ed off.
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Health concerns were stated as one of the reasons, but those same health conditions have been
overlooked for almost 3/4 of a century until someone decided in city government decided that they
should have been collecting a fee all along.
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Was this vegan Food Not Bombs outfit in several cities and they would actually throw them in jail for feeding strictly vegetarian meals outdoors. They used to bring their own garbage can even.
But wait George Bush is evil...he wanted to route funding to faith based organizations like this one. Pure evil
 @yeahguy George just wanted to put them under his thumb - and buy their votes.
I am so ashamed to say that I live in Seattle! Downtown is by the water, there will always be rats in the area. Don't blame the homeless, this is probably their only hot meal of the day. Mr. Tacami I hope you never have to live on the streets!
Ok. I'm trying to wrap my head around this one.
Does this mean we can no longer public BBQ's at work for our customers?
No more burgers and dogs, brat fries, oil fried turkeys with all the furnishings?
NO ONE where I work has a license for food prep/serving. NO ONE has ever got sick from eating the food we prepare. Thousands of folks over the last 20 years.
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Is it because it's on company property vs public? Is that the problem?
Or is this simply a money grab by the city?
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Seattle SUCKS!
 @bobalouie Bums = bad view for the tourists downtown what it boils down too. It"s all about the $$$
 @bobalouie Its called tyranny. Its when the government wants to control everything you do. So much of what everything all levels of government does is about revenue generating.
Where's Ken Schram when you need him.lol
 @Blindman  @bobalouie This is not tyranny.  I don't think you all understand the whole scope of this problem.  First of all I was a waitress/bartender in pioneer square for 10 years right next to the Mission in which they are speaking of.  There is a HUGE rodent problem!!!!!  I used to walk through a park to get to work and would hear rustling in the bushes and one day I realized exactly what it was.  Cockroaches and Rats infest this area and the pest control companies have told me that for every person walking on the street above ground in this area, there are 10X as many rats below ground in Seattle's Underground. Â
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We all know what rats are attracted to, FOOD. Â The city has a responsibility to keep this problem somewhat under control, and honestly their concerns are valid. Â It's hard to tell who came first the rats or the homeless, but sadly they have been living together in this area for quite sometime. Â There must be an obvious lack of sanitation or waste control for the city to intervene.
 @keri555  @Blindman  @bobalouie Actually, the rat problem stems in some part to the history of the area, which was originally tide flat filled in with sawdust from Yesler's mill up the street. The current draw is likely as much human waste as food - but that is because of the abysmal lack of sanitary services for the homeless population that has lived in the area for maybe 160 years or more.
Did you know that this area is the original "skid road"? Henry Yesler built a sawmill at the foot of what is now called... Yesler Way. He built a "road" of short logs - what used to be called a corduroy road - upon which logs from the hillside above (First Hill and S. Capitol Hill) could be dragged or "skidded" down to the mill. This "skid road" then became a hangout for down-and-out men looking for menial work or just looking for drink. Many lived in the area - either in cheap "flop houses" or simply in corners between buildings or wherever, Probably not a few worked only enough as laborers on the skids to pay for a cheap meal, some beer, and maybe a 25-cent roll with one of the whores in the buildings near where the Mission now stands.
So the area of homelessness in Seattle became known by the term for Yesler's log road - the "skid road". As the term migrated to other cities, the original meaning became detached, and so the term evolved from "skid road" to "skid row".Â
Ain't Seattle just GREAT?
 @keri555  @Blindman  @bobalouie The rats here are the two-legged variety in suits.
 @Blindman  @keri555  @bobalouie There are rats in every city but this is really bad down by the waterfront.  It's worse than a normal rat problem.  No one is blaming the Mission for the rat problem but apparently they need to control the sanitation and waste better.  They should know better than anyone.
 @keri555  @Blindman  @bobalouie There's always rats in every city, it comes with the territory. Dumpsters everywhere are over flowing with thrown away food. Don't blame The Mission for the rat problems. As long as these are just fresh sandwiches and that sort of thing handed out to the homeless no permit should be required. I suppose next they'll want a permit if I loan my phone to someone.
 @Blindman  @bobalouie Yeah, after 3 years of looking the other way, the city tells them to get a permit and it's tyranny. OK. Can I have some of what you are smoking?Â
 @lakeview  @Blindman  @bobalouie It isn't that the city wants them to get a permit: it is that the city wants them to cease operations, move themselves and the homeless they serve into the shadows, or merge with another organization that has conflicting values and goals. No doubt BoL has sought the requisite permit, and no doubt the city has set unacceptable conditions or an unacceptable price while suggesting equally unacceptable alternatives such as under some overpass somewhere - or under a rug.
The government seems to want to control every aspect of life even when it has to go after people who are actually trying to make a difference in their neighborhoods. I would say food waste and garbage are the least of the problems with this. Maybe the Human Services Department should start trying to help instead of hindering the process. Isn't that what they get paid to do is help the less fortunate.
As the old saying goes, "Follow the money!"
 Before I read thid story my husband said that he bet it was City Hall Park, Where the rich people pass by daily. And sure enough he was right. No we don't want the privledged to have to see homeless people. So stop feeding them and they will go way, you know out of sight out of mind.
 @Pat Yep!
"The primary issue is that the Mission didn't have a permit to serve food outdoors, said David Takami, spokesman for the Seattle Human Services Department, which oversees homeless issues in the city. The secondary issue is with food safety and the safety of volunteers, he added." I call this BS and see this as a revenue source for the city of Seattle. Way to go McSchwinn... This city has been sold off to special interest groups. Jerks.
 @rightandexact I wonder if Dick's Drive-In is required to have a "permit to serve food outdoors"? Both Dick's and Bread of Life are licensed RESTAURANTS and in the case of Bread of Life also a catering service. I don't think food safety is at all an issue here. And as a once-in-a-while "volunteer" at Bread of Life, I don't think safety of personnel is at all an issue either. This is just plain NIMBY and a a continuation of the same policies practiced by Greg Nickels: driving the poor and the most vulnerable out and sweeping them under the rug with no thought for actual need or actual harm.
 @rightandexact  As a nonprofit organization, I find it unlikely that any permit would cost them a dime.Â
I think giving homeless people a meal a day is a beautiful idea and it shows that the city cares about these people. It also helps to keep them out of trouble. Some of those homeless are kids. Giving a meal is best, as giving money lets those that are addicted to something, to use gifted money to support their habbit. When I see homeless and I have a little extra money I provide the food and goods even if I have to take the time to shop for them so I know I gave them something they couldn't just go buy booze or drugs with. I like to help these people as it gives me a good feeling in my heart to do something nice for them. There's another side to this also, it's to keep them healthy to help protect all of us from the things they can spread to us such as TB. I see no reason why the city can't place a few more trash cans in the feeding areas and post a sign asking for people to help keep the area clean so the meals can keep being handed out. Even the homeless would probably help so as to keep getting a hot meal a day. Another idea would be to use some of our jailed people to clean up those areas once or twice a week as community service while serving time for those DUI's and other minor violations. Let them work some of their time off.
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Please contact below to put a stop to this. Come on Seattle where's our compassion.
Contact Us Offices
Seattle Human Services Department Seattle Municipal Tower 700 5th Avenue, Suite 5800 PO Box 34215 Seattle, WA 98124-4215 206-386-1001 206-684-0702 (TDD) Travel directions Parking directions
Seattle Human Services Department The Central Building 810 Third Avenue (3rd Avenue and Columbia Street) Seattle, WA 98104
Seattle Human Services - South King County Office Aging and Disability Services Division 600 S.W. 39th Street, Suite 155 Renton WA 98055 206-615-1855 Travel directions
Public Information Officer
David Takami, 206-684-0253
 @Yoda I'm copying this link and story and forwarding to everybody I know.
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Me to.
This reminds me of Occupy Wall Street camps in which so many just had no idea how to handle food. Â Unless you have a permit to handle that food, then you have no idea what your doing and simply saying "whats your problem, were helping the homeless!", isnt enough. Â Get the permit and move on, whats so hard to understand about this?Â
 @kinison Are you insinuating that this organization has no permit to handle food...?
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http://www.breadoflifemission.org/heroes
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Bread of Life runs a fully-equipped and fully-licensed CATERING SERVICE! Now what exactly was your source of concern?
 @JLS1950  @kinison Salvation Army did things like this and were shut down when i worked there. We had a full service kitchen in the shelter but that did not mean everyone handling food had a permit or knew what they were doing. Not at all uncommon for volunteers to help that may not be qualified.
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 @Melissa Angevine  @kinison That claim was entirely a prevarication and a dark fantasy to try to hide the real motivation which is NIMBY and depraved indifference to human misery.
I have "volunteered" at Bread of Life and I have eaten a very fine dinner prepared in their kitchens. I'd have more concern over a meal from McFuzzits.
 @JLS1950  @kinison "The secondary issue is with food safety and the safety of volunteers, he added."
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That was my whole point.Â
 @Melissa Angevine  @kinison Check out my other posts and links to the Bread of Life Heros catering service.
This is NOT about food safety: it is wholly about NIMBY yuppie condo owners in the Pioneer Square area who find both homeless persons and churches "uncool" - and a city government run by one of their own.
 @JLS1950  @kinison  Did you read the article? It clearly says that they do not have a permit for serving food outside.Â
 @lakeview  @Yoda  @kinison It has nothing whatever to do with lawsuits. It is probably all about the yuppie condo owners in Pioneer Square trying everything in their power to push the homeless and the missions (Bread of Life, Union Gospel) out of the area.
As I keep pointing out, Bread of Life is most eminently qualified to do food service in this setting, via their vocational training program:Â
http://www.breadoflifemission.org/heroes
http://www.heroessubsseattle.com
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 @Yoda  @JLS1950  @kinison I take it you've never worked in food service before? There are all kinds of liability and food safety issues. As a tax paying resident of Seattle, I would rather not get sued some day down the road because of what happened "under the radar" in some city park. Restaurants, food trucks, soup kitchens...we all have to follow sensible rules to keep people safe.Â
 @lakeview  @JLS1950  @kinison Well, if they get one then, there shouldn't be a problem right? What's the real reason.
I believe there are rodent problems in that vicinity anyway. What is the matter with the city? Homeless people need help and this group is doing a humananitarian service. This country is going to hell in a handbag. Capitalism at work.
 @Lynn Barnes Not capitalism. government trying to control everything is the problem.
 @RN1 No, I think you can trace many of this society's problems directly to failed, deregulated, predatory capitalism. You have no ghettos in the social democracies of Northern Europe. People work, live and retire in dignity.
 @RN1  @Lynn Barnes The city has valid concerns. There are liability issues and public space concerns, public spaces that the city is responsible for maintaining. Â
 @lakeview  @RN1  @Lynn Barnes The city all of a sudden has valid concerns? Where was their concerns years ago? Aren't there more vital concerns the city could and should be focused on?Â
If they are so concerned then they should contribute to assist the charity organizations with tangible help, instead of just demanding a permit. This is why people are so outraged about this issue. People are not stupid and know the city has other motives for sensationalizing this issue.Â
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Same problem many volunteer groups face; if they share responsibilities with another group, their leaders fear they will lose their importance. No place for egos; just serve the needy. They come first.
@Sumner31 If it were only about their "importance" these people wouldn't be doing this kind of work. There are a lot of things being done behind the scenes by thousands that most of us aren't even aware of.
I smell a Rat alright but its not the mission people or the homeless!
Pioneer Square has always been home to drunks, wino's and druggies for the past 100 years so a meal once a month at the world class City Hall Park shouldn't be a problem..
Don't need a permit to give away free food and you don't need a permit to protest. Geez things are getting bad in this country. Civil rights quickly disappearing. Not much doubt that another civil war is in our future.
@Blindman Another paranoid republican. Give up at a time when we need everyone; instead you take your ball and go home. Quit pouting!
Does anyone else see the irony in the fact that the spokesman for HUMAN SERVICES is the one who is speaking against this?? That it is apparently HUMAN SERVICES that has the issue with all of this???? SMH......unbelievable!! Many homeless will not go to a shelter or a mission because they are afraid they might be arrested or put into a hospital - and most often this is just an unfounded fear.......Lets just help people without conditions.
 @k_did Try working in Human Services for awhile. Or spend a couple years volunteering for food banks, a homeless shelter, or free meal programs and then come back and see if what you're saying really is true. It's easy to stand outside and say "Oh look at big meanie government hurting these poor, sweet homeless" but do you know the whole story? If you are that worried about it, I would like you to go downtown and take some of the "bums" in and let hem live with your for a month. But I know, it's a lot easier to sit in your nice, comfy home far away from the reality of what really goes on in the street and just assume government bad/homeless saints.
@Julia @k_did I have also volunteered for many years and the reasons these homeless people do what they do is as varied as anyone else. They are human beings and how they got to where they are at is not cut and dried, nor is it for us to judge them. If you ever find yourself on the needing end and we are seeing more of those all the time I hope someone will treat you with at least a small amount of dignity.
 @Julia  @k_did Dear Julia, no one said the homeless are saints but they are human beings. Remember there for the grace of God go I. I pray you never have to live outside your comfy home with no heat, no bathroom, no food and possibly no family and no love. Don't judge until you have walked in their shoes because we don't no the path that brought them here.
@Julia     Julia I do volunteer and your comment is out of line. Many people do what they have to do to survive. Many people refuse to stay inside the shelters because they have to be inside by an early hour, sleep inches away from a stranger who may or may not of showered that day who may or may not be coughing, hacking, snoring right next to them all night long on a uncomfortable mat on a hard floor. Then if they go to use the restroom they come back to find their backpacks or belongings rifled through. That is the reason may of the homeless choose to sleep under bridges or the viaduct for example, because they can get a small group of trusting fellow homeless people who will watch each others stuff when they leave their area and have each others back. And be totally honest if you were homeless living in the freezing cold with no family or friends to turn to and you knew writing a sign that said homeless vet would garner you some more money would you do it? I am not saying it is right but being homeless is a survival mode 365 days a year. Comparing homeless people to pigeons is a pathetic comment on your part.
 @lakeunion Another factor that keeps people out of shelters or feeding kitchens is that they can't bring their pets, and often their pets are the only thing they have of any value to them.  Thank you for your post.