Homeless Feeding Ban Floated For Lodi Parks
LODI (CBS13) — Several Lodi church groups feed the homeless in the city parks, but a newly formed committee wants the free meals to stop.
Lawrence Park is a popular rest area for Lodi's homeless, but next door to the park, volunteers like Theresa Bromme at the Lodi Eagles say the transients stay too long waiting for their next meal.
"They sleep in front of our gate or use our electricity for their phones," she said. "They try to come in and use the bathroom and then make a mess everywhere because they try to take a shower in there. It's a problem."
Six months ago, downtown business owners, city officials and community organizers formed the homeless committee. The goal is to find some solutions to loitering and cleanup strain on homeowners and local businesses.
"This has not been an overnight problem, so this is not going to be an overnight solution," said business owner June Aaker.
One solution is to ban feeding the homeless in the parks. It's an idea that included input from the homeless during public committee meetings.
"It was so interesting and wonderful that not only did they have the confidence to come to us publicly, but they felt open enough to be able to do so," he said.
A few homeless said they don't mind leaving the park to find a free meal.
The committee proposed having a centralized location, such as the Salvation Army, or for church groups to host meal giveaways on their properties. The committee hopes that if the homeless leave the park, they'll not only find a free meal, but additional help to get off the streets permanently.
