For Pat Fitzpatrick, the lifting of the meal restrictions at the St. Francis House for three days out of the year is not only inadequate — it’s an insult.
“My father fought in World War II to fight fascism,” said Fitzpatrick, a homeless awareness activist. “We need to fight fascism here in Gainesville.”
The recent ruling by the Gainesville City Commission, which allows St. Francis House to serve beyond the 130-meal limit on Thanksgiving, Christmas and a day of the shelter’s choosing, has been met with both relief and dissatisfaction.
According to City of Gainesville spokesman Bob Woods, the move is the city’s attempt to balance its need to provide meal provisions to the homeless while protecting neighboring residents from the adverse impacts of the provision.
He emphasized the commission’s careful consideration of both sides of the issue, noting how much the measure affects the Gainesville community.
“Just imagine if your house was across the street, and you saw all these people,” he said. “Whether you like it or not, it has an impact on your quality of life.”
Kent Vann, the executive director of the St. Francis House, welcomed the commission’s decision. Although he admitted he would like to see fewer restrictions, Vann said he would take whatever days he could get.
“It’s time we recognize what’s going on in this country and quit bringing in Washington politics into our small town,” he said. “We have neighbors in need. We should be enacting codes that help one another.”
Although one of the three holidays is still left to be determined, Vann said that he is leaning toward having it on either Easter or Independence Day. He said he will let St. Francis guests decide the date.
But some were not as receptive to the news.
Jon DeCarmine, the director for the Alachua County Coalition for the Homeless and the Hungry, believes the commission ruling means nothing.
“All it means is that they’ve made it detrimental [for the homeless] for 362 days instead of 365,” DeCarmine said.
As for Fitzpatrick, the perceived indifference from the commission has forced him to take drastic action. Today, Fitzpatrick plans to challenge Gainesville’s panhandling law by collecting milk for the homeless.
“I’ve already spoken to my lawyer,” he said. “They can’t tell me who I can give a sandwich to or that I can’t give milk to a child.”
