Salvation Army ordered to stop feeding the poor in Chicago Ward

This is a perfect story for a Sunday post. Don’t you love the so-called ”Progressives” and their feel good, know it all? Just not in my back yard. That’s right, stave em out. This reminds me of the Kennedy’s battle against the wind farm in their back yard. Here we go:

Ald. James Cappleman (46th) informed the Salvation Army on Friday that it is no longer welcome to feed the poor in Uptown from its homeless outreach trucks.

Cappleman gave the social service agency one month to find a new North Side location — outside his ward — before ceasing operations, said Capt. Nancy Powers, who oversees the Salvation Army’s homeless program in Chicago.

 Powers said the Salvation Army will depart willingly.

 “We don’t want to be where we’re not wanted,” she said.

 But Powers expressed concern for those living in the neighborhood who rely on the truck for a daily hot meal — which the agency uses as a lure to connect the homeless with its social workers.

 Powers said the Salvation Army began bringing its mobile outreach unit to Uptown at the request of Cappleman’s predecessor, Ald. Helen Shiller, soon after its creation in 2009.

While Salvation Army personnel serve up bowls of hot soup, two social workers specializing in substance abuse and mental health mingle with the crowd and try to forge relationships with the homeless to identify those who are ready to get off the street.

A “chaser van” goes along to immediately transport anyone who is ready to enter rehab or go to the hospital.

Operating from a location at Wilson and Marine, the unit feeds 100 people on average at midday Monday through Friday, Powers said. In recent years, most of those lining up for food have been residents of nearby single room occupancy buildings who can’t afford to eat, she said.

 More at Sun Times

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: 4th ward, cappleman, Chicago, poor, Poverty, Salvation Army