Local Issues: Keeping Charities out of Parramore

In 1998 new charities were banned of setting up their facilities in the Parramore area. A group of Orlando leaders decided to pass this law, because so many charities were already swamping the Parramore area. In other words, 10 years ago there was a ban on new charities setting up in the area, and in the past 10 years matters have only gotten worse in the Parramore area of Orlando, Florida. So let’s lay down the facts:

- There is a band for new charities to set up in the Parramore area
- There is an ordinance to make it illegal to feed the homeless
- The Coalition for the Homeless is now allowed to expand their facility to more individuals in need.
- There are over 9,000 homeless individuals in Central Florida
- ¼ of the homeless are children
- There are over 60,000 children living in Poverty in Central Florida
- Parramore is one of the poorest areas in the City of Orlando
- It has been 10-years since the charity band, and matters have gotten worse!

It does not take an economist, or politician to figure out there is something very wrong with this picture! It has taken 10-years since the charity band for the city leaders to finally come up with a 10-year plan of ending homelessness. Two questions: How long is it going to take for them to start implementing the plan? And what about poverty in the Parramore area, and many other areas in Central Florida? It is time to start putting an end to the problem. Like Pastor Joel Osteen says “Stop talking about the problem, and start talking about the solution.” In an article in the Orlando Sentinel, it talked about a civil rights activist finally taking action on the Parramore charity plan. Here is a clip:

A civil-rights activist has filed a complaint accusing the city of violating
federal law by keeping new group homes out of the hardscrabble community. The
complaint could have far-reaching implications for other nonprofit groups,
including Central Florida's largest homeless shelter.

Check out the full article to learn more.

All city officials are doing with all these laws they are passing to make it harder for us to help those in need, they are delaying the time that those in need will get help, and at the meantime matters are getting worse. A 10-year plan designed today and enforcing the plan in a few years from now, is going to fail, because in a few years the problem is going to have grown into a different problem. It is time to start taking action now, and support local nonprofits ending the problem, and not band aiding the problem. By band aiding I mean, organizations that are just giving hand outs (shelter here, food there), and not giving those in need a hand up. It’s like the great Chinese proverb says: “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for life.” One of the simples, but also difficult ways to start putting an end to the problems, is to work together. If the charities, and churches in the Parramore area worked together, and let go of some pride on who’s name it is that is in the news, the fast we can put an end to the problem. So, the challenge is: who is going to be the one to let go of some of their pride, and bring the Parramore community together.
Peace & Love,

the Rock for Hunger crew