Volunteers who feed homeless sue Dayton, say city is ‘criminalizing charity’

City of Dayton has ordinance against distributing food in public spaces downtown without a permit; group argues that’s unconstitutional

But Nourish Our Neighbors volunteers have accused the city of “criminalizing charity.” … “Nourish Our Neighbors’ volunteers are acting on their belief that society and the government have failed the homeless,” Anastasia Boden, a senior attorney with Pacific Legal Foundation, said in a prepared statement. “Dayton can’t force individuals who simply want to help the hungry to get an onerous, expensive and needless permit.”

https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/volunteer-groups-sues-dayton-for-requiring-permit-to-hand-out-food-to-homeless-downtown/VMIOFJDP3VECDOBDUJAH6J6KGU

How Exclusionary Zoning Increases Homelessness

A new paper by housing expert Salim Furth shows it does so by making it harder for marginal people to find housing with relatives and friends.

…[A] large proportion of the homeless … could find housing with friends or relatives, if housing were cheaper. Some could potentially live with roommates. “YIMBY” policies that make it easier to build new housing in response to demand could alleviate this problem.

https://reason.com/volokh/2024/12/16/how-exclusionary-zoning-increases-homelessness