War on the homeless

"Do not feed the homeless."\nIn a city like Bloomington, having signs with those words on them would be ridiculous. However, this is not true everywhere.\nOrlando, Florida, made headlines Saturday by taking an aggressive stance against the homeless. It was recently reported that in Lake Eola Park, a natural recreation area within Orlando, signs were constructed informing of the prohibition of such activities as bathing and shaving in public, laying on park benches and other actions traditionally associated with the homeless.\nSocial justice is not generally what I dedicate my column to, but this struck at even my stone-cold heart.\nOrlando's war on the homeless does not stop with park signs. After their panhandling ban was struck down, the city tried to create panhandling "zones" but failed at that too.\nTheir latest attempt to crush the homeless population came in the form of a summertime ban on feeding large groups of people. Those wishing to feed more than 25 hungry people at parks within a two-mile radius of city hall are required to obtain a "Large Group Feeding Permit." Orlando is taking aim not only at the homeless themselves, but also those trying to care for them.\nIn all fairness, I understand the city has legitimate concerns here. Large populations of homeless folks tend to strain city services, and I cannot imagine the homeless fit in well with the tropical oasis image the city has attempted to cultivate.\nThe line, however, has to be drawn somewhere, and punishing those who care for the homeless is clearly over the line. If Orlando does not want the homeless to exist within the city, perhaps they should provide better services rather than criminalizing people for situations they often cannot help.\nIt may seem like I am picking on Orlando, but the central Florida city is not alone in its callousness.\nJust before Orlando's law took effect, Las Vegas went one step further and criminalized giving food to even a single transient in any city park.\nA federal court barred the city from enforcing the ban until a final ruling is issued, but this illustrates a growing trend in America.\nMany municipalities are trying to drive the homeless out of the downtown area in an attempt to attract real-estate developers and other kinds of investments. Investment is certainly good, but where has common decency gone?\nThe citizens of Orlando and Las Vegas should be ashamed of themselves for creating a situation where people can feed animals but not human beings. I hope whatever developers these cities have been able to attract through these laws think twice about doing business with such inhospitable and cruel localities.\nThe fact of the matter is that almost all those who are homeless are not so by choice. If given a chance, I am sure many would gladly go back to having a place to live and food to eat. Options put forth by Orlando and Las Vegas are misguided and extremely cruel.\nA comprehensive education, training and recovery program is the only solution.