UPDATE 12/1: County Relents On Churches' Food Service To Homeless
Updated 12/1
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerry Connolly (D) blamed overzealous county employees for the policy to restrict church charitable food service to the homeless when he announced yesterday that county government would not interfere with the work. The news is here.
Originally posted 11/29
Unless they are prepared in kitchens that meet the same tough health code requirements for restaurants, meals provided by church homeless shelters are forbidden, say county officials. A front page article from today's Washington Post is here.
What's your opinion? Some community leaders say that to most homeless people, the chance for a hot, home-cooked meal would outweigh any consideration of the slight chance of contracting a food-borne illness. Should the county be getting into this?
UPDATE: This afternoon the county released the following statement in response to the Washington Post's front page story.
Fairfax County Response to Misinformation About Feeding the Homeless Work Continues on 10-Year Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness "Nobody and no bureaucratic regulation will interfere with Fairfax County's ability to feed and help the homeless this winter," vowed Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerald E. Connolly. "Fairfax County leads the region in a comprehensive approach to ending homelessness, and we won't turn our back on our community now." Today's Washington Post article about feeding the homeless was incorrect about several items. The facts are:
There is no "new Fairfax County policy." The county has had a food code in effect for many years that is consistent with the Virginia state code and the FDA national model food code. Fairfax County has issued a temporary permit so that nutritious, hot food can be served. There was never any proposal to shut down any shelters. In fact, beginning Nov. 1, three of the five county-owned, nonprofit-operated shelters expanded their capacities to handle the potential of more single individuals who might seek shelter. Fairfax County has a targeted hypothermia program. Beginning Dec. 1, faith communities, in partnership with nonprofit organizations and the county, will open hypothermia centers for single adults who need shelter during cold winter nights. Centers will be offered from the late afternoon through the overnight in local faith community facilities, on a weekly rotating basis, until March 31. The Fairfax County government, nonprofit organizations, faith communities and others are working collaboratively to provide both shelter and food and ensure the safety of homeless individuals this winter. People will be housed and fed in our community, keeping people alive this winter that otherwise would be at great risk. "We truly appreciate the efforts of the faith community to give of their own time, facilities and resources, especially at such a busy holiday time," said Connolly. "We all have the same goal -- to protect everyone this winter." "The county is providing support from many agencies, focusing staff, resources and funding on this effort," said Anthony H. Griffin, Fairfax County executive. "We want to reassure the public that baked goods such as cookies, cakes, brownies and cupcakes that are prepared at home, as well as packaged or canned foods such as purchased lasagna, may still be donated to the hypothermia centers, and we appreciate this kind assistance from our community." In 2005, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors endorsed an ambitious goal of ending homelessness in 10 years. A total of more than 2,000 single individuals and families are homeless in Fairfax County and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church. Fairfax County is leading the fight against homelessness, working with a community-wide team of government, business, philanthropic, nonprofit and faith community members. The 10-year plan is part of a national effort that more than 200 communities are participating in, following guidelines from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. For more information about the hypothermia program, contact Merni Fitzgerald at 703-324-3189, TTY 711. Volunteers and additional church facilities are still needed for the hypothermia program. To provide assistance, please contact FACETS at 703-352-5090, TTY 711. For more information about the county's emergency shelters, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/factsheets/emershelter.htm. For more information about efforts to prevent and end homelessness, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/homeless. For more information about the new Katherine K. Hanley Family Shelter, scheduled to open in spring 2007, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/factsheets/kkh_familyshelter_factsheet.htm.
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November 29, 2006; 10:36 AM ET
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Posted by: Jim Foster | November 29, 2006 2:27 PM
In Alexandria, Christ House serves nightly dinner prepared by church groups, etc. Residents of private Carpenter's Shelter are also served food brought in by groups, some of which are the same.
Earlier this year the Alexandria Health Dept. supposedly told Christ House that the food served there has to be cooked on premises. Now the churches bring in bland lasagna from Costco or cook hot dogs. Canned green beans are the only vegetable.
These same groups bring home cooked meatloaf, chicken, etc. to Carpenter's. What is the difference?
The eater suffers. We are served over-salted cholesterol laden food at Christ House and the entree variation has severely decreased. The nutritional value has dropped substantially, and the groups have to pay more to supply the dinner. I cannot for the life of me understand the logic of these Health Departments..
Now the gremlins are going to ruin the homeless's meals at the Fairfax hypothermia shelters. This really, really stinks.
We have so little. Why not a home-cooked meal to brighten a bleak life????
Posted by: homeless female | November 29, 2006 2:51 PM
My husband and I have been cooking meals for our local soup kitchen for over 25 years and have never received a complaint, in fact the food made in our town always gets extra thanks. If Hampden county in Massachusetts had to start making the food on their own they would be bankrupt in no time. What are people thinking. Was anybody ever poisoned by the food they received at a soup kitchen. Please leave people do what they are so willing to do and go fight the war in Iraq!
Posted by: Claire Hoyer | November 30, 2006 5:37 PM
It's hard to believe that such a proposal would be made without first clearing it.
Maybe it was and all this planned.
Posted by: Jim Foster | December 1, 2006 9:18 PM
The county does not have jurisdiction over the Churches...their 'codes' do not apply. They were barred in the first instance from every even being involved as the Church is a separate entity and legal as well as spiritual sanctuary from the state.
Even though most churches have a 501(c)(3) 'Tax Exempt' status (of which they should decline and rebuke (by way of rescission)), the church by way of the legal doctrine of 'separation of church and state' is a completely separate venue and jurisdiction OVER the state (not under it). *[Please reference the 13 original colonies organic Land Grants and CHARTERS in which establishes the original formation of this country].
Without authority over the venue and jurisdiction of the churches--no 'county' code applies. Think of it this way: "What if the church feeding the homeless was a Russian Embassy based on Allodial title?" [e.g. the government, neither state nor federal, would have any jurisdiction over that Embassy (as it is outside the state and federal venue and jurisdiction [it is in fact, Russian soil]).
The churches, have this same immunity, grandfathered to them not only by law, but by common law rule and practice.
Posted by: Robert L. Cheney Jr. | December 9, 2006 2:10 AM
I tend to agree with "homeless female." I sometimes volunteer at Christ House, dishing up meals that my friends have cooked. I know a few people who are happy to purchase an abundance of healthful food at their own expense, cook it at the shelter from scratch, and who spend as much (if not more time) planning healthful food for the clients as they do for themselves. These folks are rare gems and can only show up on occasion - these folk even plan for the occasional client who expresses that he or she is on restrictive diet - and it is clear that the clients appreciate it, as I often dish up seconds and thirds and pass on compliments to the chefs. Still, I've seen the cupboard and I agree there are more canned green beans than I would ever care to eat and I understand that there are more and more lasagna nights lately. The homeless need three squares just like the rest of us.
Posted by: Anne | December 12, 2006 10:06 AM
The comments to this entry are closed.
I have no doubt that the county has good intentions. But I see this as the result of big government.