Carolyn Beeler

The Salt
2:27 am
Fri July 6, 2012

Philadelphia Bans Serving Food To The Homeless In Public

Credit Alex Brandon / AP
Volunteers distribute food outside a Philadelphia Department of Public Health hearing in March on rules banning outdoor food distribution.

Originally published on Mon July 30, 2012 8:20 pm

A growing number of cities want to tackle the problem of homelessness by outlawing what are known as "acts of daily living" — sleeping, eating and panhandling in public. In Philadelphia, a new rule is targeting not the homeless but those who feed them.

When Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter announced the ban on serving food in public parks last March, he said moving such services indoors was part of an effort to raise standards for the homeless.

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