Care on the Where?

By Diane Morris

NEOCH Intern

               Philanthropic organizations can no longer provide food on Public Square for the hungry because the city says they must first get a permit.  City of Cleveland Ordinance 133.03 states that groups holding a “special event” in an outside area must have a permit to do so. According to this ordinance, “a special event is a preplanned event or series of events of less than a week's duration, sponsored by a public or private person or entity.”  However, groups distributing food every week cannot be considered a special event.    

               An article in The Plain Dealer written by Michael K. McIntyre in May 2008 states that city officials were concerned because homeless people were leaving food on the ground and vermin was becoming a problem. The city’s goal was to make Public Square more “presentable” and not have large groups congregating to pass out food there. The city’s alternative for the groups was to move the food distribution to a different location and make conditions more sanitary and manageable. On May 5, 2008, MHS started a homeless meal distribution program at their headquarters at 1744 Payne Ave so the groups have a venue to provide food.

               The homeless meal distribution program has been in operation for over two months now and is going very well so far. Currently the program is in operation four days a week from 6-9pm with around 50-60 homeless people coming for a hot meal. Approximately 5-6 volunteers show up each week to distribute food and pass out clothing donations. There is an extra security guard on duty while the food is being distributed. Eric Morse, Director of Homeless Services for MHS, says, “Volunteers have been really good at maintaining cleanup, taking trash to the dumpsters, and generally keeping the area tidy.” Morse also says that MHS offers clothing for homeless people as well. Many of the people who come to their meal site are from one of the MHS shelters and have already had a hot meal. Some people just come looking for a donation of clothing. 

               Care on the Square, a church organization that passes out food to the hungry in Cleveland is one of the groups asked by city officials to move the location of their feeding site. Although not as nice, they are closer to the women’s shelter and consequently have seen an increase in the number of women who receive their services.  Tom Wagner of Care on the Square says, “In a meeting with MHS and the city on 4/23 we were told that we needed to move from Mall B [the previous location] to the new location [at MHS]. We were told we do not need a permit to serve there since it is on private property.  We were also told that the city is paying MHS $57,000 per year.  We have had between 75 and 200 people each Saturday.  We have ‘lost’ some people as a part of the move, but many new faces are visiting us at the new location.”

               An old Chinese proverb says, “A person who has food has many problems. A person who has no food has only one problem.” A hot bowl of soup and a piece of bread to a hungry homeless person can mean so much to him/her. Wagner says, “We watch God continually provide food, volunteers, clothing and are in awe as we

watch Him work.  We have made many friends and truly feel we are blessed to be a part of this ministry.” Groups like Care on the Square are committed to filling the stomachs of people in need, even if city officials do not always see the value of their services 

Copyright Homeless Grapevine Issue #85 in July-August 2008 Cleveland Ohio.