After more than a year of activist outcry and some attempts at compromise, the Gainesville City Commission unanimously eliminated a much-debated soup kitchen restriction Thursday.
The commission got rid of the permit stipulation that soup kitchens and shelters in the city could only feed 130 people per day, which had been an emotionally charged issue.
IThe number limit, which excluded Christmas, Thanksgiving and a day of the shelter's choice, will be replaced by a time limit of three continuous hours a day between 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.
City shelters could start operating under the new rule as early as October .
The meal limit has been in place for city soup kitchens since the 1990s. It started at 75 meals and was increased to 130 in 2004.
However, it was largely ignored until about a year ago, when some downtown business owners called upon the commission to enforce the rule because homeless people were gathering around their stores, which are near St. Francis House, a soup kitchen and shelter.
Some downtown homeowners were also adamant about keeping the limit because they said more homeless people will gather near their homes when the limit is lifted.
Activists counter that closing the door on hungry people is inhumane, especially since there is enough food to feed more than 130 mouths.
At least 31 downtown businesses agreed, signing a petition with the Coalition to End the Meal Limit NOW. At least 736 people also signed the paper petition and 15,391 people signed the online petition.
