Posted on 01/19/2013 1:48:32 PM PST by Morgana
The Bread of Life Mission, which has served the homeless community in Pioneer Square for more than 70 years, said the city has directed them to stop feeding the hungry in downtown parks.
On the third Saturday of every month for the past three years, volunteers for the mission have handed out meals at places such as City Hall Park. The offering was in addition to the three meals a day they serve inside their building at 97 South Main Street.
"It was a service we were offering free of charge to be a blessing to the homeless," said Executive Director Willie Parish, Jr. "All we were doing was just a continuation of what we do on a daily basis."
In December, however, Parish said Seattle police told them they were no longer allowed to serve food at the park.
City officials say the restriction is nothing new, and that Bread of Life simply operated in the park for three years without being caught or reported.
David Takami with the Seattle Human Services Department said the city does not allow groups of people to feed the homeless outdoors without approval.
"This has happened in the past where there are a lot of meals served in a short period of time on the same day," he said. "It's a little chaotic and it can also lead to wasted food."
(Excerpt) Read more at mynorthwest.com ...
This excerpt from the interwebs might help (and some history!):
Pioneer Square is Seattle’s oldest neighborhood... The classic red brick buildings give a warmth to the area not found in most sprawling US suburbias. The term “skid row” originated in Pioneer Square– when timber would be slid down Yesler to a steam powered mill on the Seattle waterfront.
Pioneer Square is a ninety acre historic district, devoted to art, history, culture and entertainment....
One word of caution, Pioneer Square is near the city and county courthouses as well as the county jail. Almost every time you walk through the area, you see something or somebody that seems a little off. The area is also popular with the homeless.
It’s not a threatening environment, but is definitely one where you are better off staying aware of your surroundings. After dark in particular you should think twice about leaving the 1st Avenue corridor. The folks in the bars are pretty harmless. The same may not always be true up around the bus stops on 2nd and 3rd Avenues....
I always hear that charities should step in so the taxpayers aren’t burdened. I guess not.
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