homeless_ap980.jpg
Bread of Life is upset about the restriction and hopes to continue serving meals to homeless individuals who do not come into their shelter. (AP Photo/File)

Mission told not to feed the homeless in Seattle city parks

BY Brandi Kruse  on January 18, 2013 @ 12:32 am (Updated: 7:24 am - 1/18/13 )

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."

Takami said those wishing to feed the homeless need to coordinate with the Operation: Sack Lunch program, which serves up to 300 people a day at the city's outdoor meal site, located under the I-5 bridge at 6th Avenue and Columbia Street.

By requiring that all food be served at the site, Takami said the city can control the nutritional value of what the homeless eat and can prevent litter from being left behind at parks after meals.

He said the controlled environment is also safer for volunteers.

"For example, there was one group of middle school students who, out of the goodness of their hearts, wanted to serve meals to homeless people and we were concerned [...] because of possible safety issues," Takami said.

Nevertheless, Bread of Life is upset about the restriction and hopes to continue serving meals to homeless individuals who do not come into their shelter.

"We love to do it, we want to continue doing it," Parish said.

Brandi Kruse, KIRO Radio Reporter
Brandi Kruse is a reporter for KIRO Radio who is as spontaneous and adventurous in her free time as she is on the job. Brandi arrived at KIRO Radio in March 2011 and has already collected three regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her reporting.
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Comments (132)


  • Add A Comment

  • Uilleam wrote...
    Parks
    January 18, 2013 5:43 am
    Then possibly the parks would be Safe, Clean, Free of Urine and Feces? Perhaps the taxpayers would even be able to use the parks they pay for? Empowering the cycle of mental illness and homelessness does not help them, it just contributes to the problem.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • denzen wrote...
    Uilleam,
    January 19, 2013 10:33 am
    If you truly wanted to use the parks, despite your spirit of contempt, then you'd go out and clean them up. Instead of languishing behind your keyboard and wringing your hands.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ADM wrote...
    Denzen,
    January 19, 2013 2:57 pm
    Wow, cleaning up human feces and urine. Sounds like fun. Maybe you'd be willing to give Uileam a hand.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • igevalt wrote...
    urine and feces
    January 19, 2013 5:33 pm
    people clean up after you everyday.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • denzen wrote...
    sounds like fun....
    January 19, 2013 9:44 pm
    ....maybe cause you have a fetish for it? I'd like to know how either of you knows that "humans" poop in "your" park? Are you a closet voyeur? Are you a mischievous night soil man? Consider these imports to your local grocer's from India, Greece, Japan, China, (and particularly in your very own fresh Chinatown), Singapore, England, Africa, Vietnam, Latin America, Mexico, and yes, EVEN the United States, and understand the contents of your next ham sandwich could quite possibly contain your very own feces. Freely available information for the ignorant is available.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • denzen wrote...
    There is a KILLING in it !
    January 19, 2013 9:55 pm
    What more could you ask for? http://www.digitaltrends.com/international/japanese-scientists-creates-meat-out-of-feces/
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CenturionNews wrote...
    Sigh this Blog
    January 19, 2013 10:46 am
    I uneducated people like you sound that have no compassion or self worth in life. I bet if you were homeless you would be crying? and then people would look at you and say "GET off your lazy *** and get a job" Think of how that would feel.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RentonConservative wrote...
    yes, you're MUCH more educated...
    January 19, 2013 11:29 am
    "I uneducated people..." That's some outstanding grammar you've got there, chief.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • BeanerECMO wrote...
    Grammar
    January 19, 2013 1:59 pm
    Maybe they hit the wrong key. Did you understand their thought? If yes, then it didn't matter. If not, it didn't matter because understanding is not your best suit(e). :
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Kdiggs wrote...
    Grammar
    January 19, 2013 3:50 pm
    Re-read that. They didn't hit the wrong key, they completely missed the keyboard.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    This website was FULL of grammar Nazi's Before being on DRUDGE
    January 20, 2013 12:55 pm
    Eat your heart out !
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • asdf9999 wrote...
    squaw
    January 20, 2013 1:28 pm
    And it's some outstanding priorities you've got there, you pedant.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Nocens wrote...
    How would I feel...
    January 20, 2013 4:44 am
    I would feel that I was given bad advice. If I were offering the advice I'd tell him to get a shower and apply liberal amounts of deodorant before looking for that job. My kid didn't feel it was right when I made him work for his room and board. Oddly enough, he's the only one out of all his friends with a job, can support himself, and still getting more job offers. Feelings don't get the job done.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • igevalt wrote...
    homeless
    January 19, 2013 5:32 pm
    did u give it one thought before you wrote that some of those homeless people could be that way because their house was leveled by a hurricane?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • igevalt wrote...
    homeless
    January 19, 2013 5:32 pm
    did u give it one thought before you wrote that some of those homeless people could be that way because their house was leveled by a hurricane?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • oneoftheonepercent wrote...
    Or dope
    January 20, 2013 7:00 am
    Or dope and bad decisions. Maybe a liberal philosophy, outright laziness, a desire to feed off of those willing to donate time and money to encourage these poop in the park, do nothing, expect everything from somebody else and for a large part criminal freeloaders to hang around. My apologies to the mentally ill. They have an excuse. If you had a dollar for everyone of these bums that "lost a house in a hurricane" you would not gain enough money for a cup of coffee.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rinker250 wrote...
    Article subject matter...
    January 20, 2013 8:39 am
    "some of those homeless people could be that way because their house was leveled by a hurricane?" ------------------- In Seattle? Seriously, do you have a short attention span?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • simkatu wrote...
    Wow.
    January 19, 2013 8:36 pm
    It must be such a burden for you to imagine that a poor homeless and hungry person has to use the restroom to urinate or defecate in a public park. Where should a homeless person urinate or defecate after 9pm when the locks are closed on every public restroom in the city? Should they just use their pants? It's hard to believe that people like you exist among the living and breathing humans. You have no compassion for the mentally ill and homeless.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    Seattle purchased Million dollar toilets.
    January 20, 2013 12:59 pm
    http://www.king5.com/news/local/60010552.html
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • TrinCyanide wrote...
    And then they sold them
    January 20, 2013 7:34 pm
    Did you read your link? They were sold and are evidently in Thurston County now. Not exactly much help to the homeless here in Seattle . . . As far as I know, the public toilet that stays open the latest downtown is the one in the basement of Pacific Place. But still not much help if they close early for cleaning, it's too far away, or security chases you out for being scruffy. Hasn't happened to me, but I'm lucky enough not to be homeless.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • InalienableWrights wrote...
    another government boot licker
    January 20, 2013 9:43 am
    So the end justifies the means? You can violate anyone's rights because you think it will create your desired goals. Disgusting at how little Americans know of rights any longer.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    If you leave food out for one feral cat...
    January 18, 2013 6:39 am
    ...soon you will find your back deck infested w/ multiple feral cats, racoons, rats, mice etc...etc...etc...all manner of dirty, filthy, disease promiting vermin. Same w/ this.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • denzen wrote...
    READ carefully...
    January 19, 2013 10:27 am
    said as if it doesn't all end up in the same place anyway. Thinking is a good thing.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • DJA143 wrote...
    Feral Cats?
    January 19, 2013 1:03 pm
    These are people, not feral cats. You would be well advised to reconsider your attitude towards the least of these....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Kdiggs wrote...
    Feral cats
    January 19, 2013 3:52 pm
    They are feral people, not feral cats. Feral cats don't typically have substance abuse problems.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • asdf9999 wrote...
    feral conservatives
    January 20, 2013 1:33 pm
    The only "feral people" in America are the smugly self-satisfied conservatives who, like yourself, have led a privileged life and had been unable to accomodate the less fortunate in your worldview. If there were any justice in the world, someone like you would eventually lose everything they have, and get no help. Of course, there is no such justice. The people must make justice for themselves. This is why we will continue to see conservatives lose power. The eyes of the people are opened.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • oneoftheonepercent wrote...
    Cats clean up for themselves
    January 20, 2013 7:13 am
    Cats clean up after themselves and work/hunt for their own food. I've never known of a cat to rob anyone or stab anybody for an I phone. Sure a cat will come and eat your food if you put it out. But if you don't a cat will provide for it's self. Maybe they should be the role model. If you are not crazy then you have no excuse and are just a bum "BOO HOO!" You will say. "You don't know what it is like" you will say. Let me tell you.Every working person knows what it is like and that if they give up and quit they can end up pooping in the park. It is what keeps people working. Bums don't mind that. Bums are willing to endure life as such and be fed by those who think bums are just people who are less lucky than the rest of us when a lot of bums are responsible for and willing to accept their own circumstances. If it tears your heart out to see these folks in your community then why don't you take em in to your own homes?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • asdf9999 wrote...
    conservatives
    January 20, 2013 1:22 pm
    Conservatives... advocating that people live like animals, and treat each other like animals. No wonder you're losing elections. I suspect that many of you that spend so much time shouting "get a job!" don't have one yourselves.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • asdf9999 wrote...
    cats
    January 20, 2013 1:24 pm
    Since most cats live indoors and are fed by humans, I don't think your point holds water. Also, left outside, most of them die quickly from starvation, depredation, accident or disease. I suppose that's how humans should treat each other too? You are not a civilized person. And when you are someday down on your luck, you had better pray that those around you are more humane than you are.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • TrinCyanide wrote...
    You sow the wind
    January 20, 2013 7:44 pm
    and will reap the whirlwind. Your screen name identifies you as either a troll or morally bankrupt. It doesn't matter if you really are a one percenter or just identify with them. 80% of the country's wealth for 20% of the people while all the rest of us beg for table scraps like the cats you're so fond of? That's not going to last. I would not want to be you when it all comes crashing down.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • asdf9999 wrote...
    malthus
    January 20, 2013 1:30 pm
    You sound just like Malthus. I suppose we should just let everyone starve and die. You'd make a good capitalist or robber baron. Never heard of the "veil of ignorance," I suppose. No wonder conservatives are losing elections all over the country.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    Seattle police told them they were no longer allowed to serve food at the park?
    January 18, 2013 6:54 am
    ...soon you will find your back deck infested w/ multiple feral cats, racoons, rats, mice etc...etc...etc...all manner of dirty, filthy, disease promiting vermin. Same w/ this. WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • FormerOregonian wrote...
    Fish
    January 19, 2013 12:04 pm
    Jesus would teach them to fish, not feed them.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • bullsballs wrote...
    fishes and loaves?
    January 19, 2013 3:41 pm
    And after the sermon the there were several baskets of fish and bread? Jesus fed the multitudes, he did not send them away.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • astrovictor wrote...
    Jesus fed the multitudes
    January 20, 2013 2:38 pm
    He only did that twice in his entire career
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • simkatu wrote...
    huh
    January 19, 2013 8:42 pm
    Jesus never said any such thing. How can you be so moronic? Jesus fed thousands of poor people fish. He never set up a single fishing class. 95% of homeless people are disabled mentally or physically. You're a sick person to ignore that and pretend these guys could just go buy a fishing pole and feed and house themselves.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • JohnSmith wrote...
    Jesus would feed them at the nearest Church.
    January 19, 2013 4:08 pm
    Any more questions?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • astrovictor wrote...
    WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?
    January 20, 2013 2:36 pm
    I think he would get A Klondike Bar.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • astrovictor wrote...
    WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?
    January 20, 2013 2:39 pm
    He would get a Klondike Bar
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • shark75 wrote...
    Seattle is proud of its homeless...
    January 18, 2013 6:59 am
    Unless there's a head count and it might expose Seattle as the homeless magnet it really is. Then city officials get nervous...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Veejax wrote...
    'the city can control the nutritional value of what the homeless eat'
    January 18, 2013 7:42 am
    Because... why? We are seriously supposed to buy that the government sees itself as responsible for the nutritional value of the food that homeless people eat? Are the cops going to stop them from rooting through dumpsters or buying hooch with the money they beg for? Seattle deserves this circus for voting in this elitist culture of leadership.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • zoeross wrote...
    @veejax
    January 19, 2013 1:40 pm
    Spot on! Thank you! They didn't say it was causing a vagrancy issue or that there were citizen complaints. In fact, they had been doing this for 3 years undetected, which suggests there were no issues or complaints. It is absolutely insane to put police in charge of possible food waste & nutrition.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • biff777 wrote...
    Homeless Seattle
    January 18, 2013 7:59 am
    There are so many good people in the northwest. But there is still that problem of the "still life" in Seattle. The main issue of feeding the homeless in Seattle is public image. Remember the "Goodwill Games" with Ted Turner. Moving all the homeless to a camp on Beacon Hill, and then dismantling the camp once the event was done, and making it a place for homeless people to have nowhere to go again. And removing all the people of color who sell drugs, because the are never colorless people in Seattle selling drugs. How HSBC!!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Recife wrote...
    More Government is what we need
    January 18, 2013 8:26 am
    because you can't let private organizations steal the show. Hope and change and a brave new world, but don't you dare give someone hungry a baked potato.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    What a conundrum for my conservative brothers.
    January 18, 2013 8:29 am
    On the one hand the government is restricting freedoms which they hate, but they are making it harder to feed the homeless which they love. What to do, what to do?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Recife wrote...
    Conundrum?
    January 18, 2013 8:43 am
    It's time for .gov to get out of peoples lives. That goes for whom they want to marry, whom they want to feed, and what types of firearms I desire to keep while exercising might rights.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Recife wrote...
    Correction
    January 18, 2013 8:44 am
    < my rights >
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    Just wait for it.
    January 18, 2013 9:09 am
    Some people on these blogs can't help themselves. They dislike the poor much more than they like their freedoms. It is absolute tosh that they don't want government involvement. They just want the government involved to enforce the ideas they like.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Bjenkum wrote...
    Tosh?
    January 19, 2013 10:24 am
    Your words betray you
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Kdiggs wrote...
    Conundrum solution
    January 19, 2013 4:00 pm
    Feed homeless to the homeless. Good nutritional value, reduction in homeless people. Everyone wins!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • simkatu wrote...
    duh?
    January 19, 2013 8:46 pm
    So you should be able to buy rocket propelled grenades and stinger missiles at Wal-Mart if they wanted to sell them? Come on. You must be smoking methamphetamine to think we'd all be better off if all our citizens could buy stinger missiles to take down aircraft at every Wal-Mart and Stop-And-Go.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Bjenkum wrote...
    Boy, you miss understand conservatives
    January 19, 2013 10:21 am
    Yes we do love the homeless and all God's children. We pray for their souls and donate LOTS of money to private effective and accountable charities. We also believe in Local Government, zone codes, and the right of every community of self determination. Your hometown conservatives make your communities vibrant and functional. They are the adults.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dadof3 wrote...
    What would Jesus do?
    January 18, 2013 9:41 am
    "If a man is unwilling to work, niether shall he eat." 2 Thessalonians 3:10. Charity seems to be reserved in the bible for old ladies and orphans, people who can't help themselves. Not for the lazy.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • biff777 wrote...
    Homeless Seattle
    January 18, 2013 10:08 am
    Alternet.org .....'THE' Count--HUD Ignores Millions of Homeless Persons.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }