How Can I Help?

hands-with-heart-giving

Whether it is providing a meal or spare change, direct giving to individuals is often counterproductive to the initiatives taking place through the City and Continuum of Care agencies to reduce homelessness in Fort Worth. 

For those looking to help serve people experiencing homelessness and support efforts that reduce homelessness locally, consider volunteering or donating, funds, food, or items in partnership with organizations working to reduce homelessness. 

 

Volunteer / Donate

If you are a compassionate community member looking to volunteer or donate, consider directing that generosity to organizations that specialize in serving people experiencing homelessness, which results in a more sustainable impact on reducing homelessness in Fort Worth than one-time direct giving to an individual. 

Direct, one-time giving can pull individuals away from the services and resources they need and encourage continued illegally soliciting. This is especially true in a roadside setting, which creates unsafe situations for individuals and drivers.

See below for a list of organizations that have Gold Star Membership in the Tarrant and Parker County Continuum of Care and also receive funding through Homeless Strategies. Those interested in donating or volunteering with or giving to these organizations should reach out to the organizations directly:  

 

Food Distribution

The City aims to support charitable food distribution in appropriate quality and quantity, while reducing disproportionate environmental impact of food service operations on public and private property.

The majority of this is done through the services of the three main three shelters in Fort Worth, Presbyterian Night Shelter, Union Gospel Mission, and The Salvation Army, which collectively serve than 2,500 meals daily in the E. Lancaster corridor. 

Provisions for Feeding the Homeless

For individuals and organizations also interested in providing meals to individuals experiencing homelessness, there are three issues to be mindful of before serving food:

1. Safety: Be mindful of roadway safety and ordinances that prohibit activity in certain locations.

  • § 30-2: It is unlawful to distribute or to sell goods on any median or traffic island within any right-of-way.

  • § 30-5: It is unlawful to obstruct use of a street or sidewalk by other persons or refuse to move on upon being ordered to by a police officer.

2. Food Safety

  • § 16-111: No person shall operate a food establishment without a current, valid food establishment permit.

    •  A Temporary Food Establishment Permit allows food service operations under reduced requirements for not more than 14 consecutive days in conjunction with a single event, promotion or celebration.

    • A Temporary Food Establishment Permit is required for:

      • Handling food, beverages or samples of food/drink products (commercial pre-packaged, shelf-stable food products do not need a temporary permit).

      •  All outside or off-site food service not permitted for year-round or seasonal operation.

    • Temporary Food Establishment Permit requirements include: 

      • Food must be stored at a temperature of 41°F. (5°C) or below; or 135°F. (57°C) or above.

      •  Food must be transported and served within four hours of preparation. Food must be transported in a clean conveyance.

      •  Use disposable gloves.

      •  Use hand washing equipment that includes at a minimum a sink or a five-gallon container with a spigot that provides free-flowing water and a catch bucket to collect wastewater from hand washing, soap and individual paper towels.

      • Wastewater generated from any hand washing equipment shall not be disposed of on the ground or into the stormwater drainage system

  • Food handlers must adhere to guidelines for food preparation, transport, serving, handling, storage and packaging in accordance with the FDA Food Code and City of Fort Worth Ordinance.  

3. Cleanliness: Keep Fort Worth Beautiful! The City and its partners spend more than $8M each year on litter removal, prevention, and enforcement. 

  • Food distributers should ensure adequate trash receptacles, trash containment and removal measures to contain all trash, refuse, and litter on the site of the food service event and to properly dispose of all trash, refuse, litter and remove unused foods from the site at the conclusion of the food service event.

4. Designated Locations for Charitable Meal Distributions

To help maintain safety, cleanliness, and positive coordination with homeless service agencies and shelters, all interested in providing food for the homeless in E. Lancaster are encouraged to do so at one of these two locations:

Union Gospel Mission - Community Outreach Center
1321 E. Lancaster Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76102 
817-339-2553 
Contact Union Gospel to Schedule: akennedy@ugm-tc.org

Cutting Edge Haunted House - Outdoor Parking Area
1701 E. Lancaster Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76102 
Sign up to serve at Cutting Edge here

 

Panhandling

Whether it is providing a meal or spare change, giving to individuals that approach asking for assistance is often counterproductive to the initiatives taking place in the City and through Continuum of Care agencies and encourages individuals to continue illegally soliciting. This is especially true in a roadside setting, which creates unsafe situations for individuals and drivers.

 

Reporting Panhandling 

  • Call:  
    Fort Worth Police Department: Call the non-emergency number at (817) 392-4222
    Fort Worth Contact Center: Call (817) 392-1234 or 3-1-1 

  • Text: HELLO to 817-928-0311

 

Aggressive Panhandling Ordinance

The Aggressive Panhandling Ordinance (Section 30-16) creates three offenses in an effort to address aggressive panhandling. Each violation may result in a citation and/or cash bond arrest.

 

Solicitation in An Aggressive Manner in A Public Area or Public Place 

 “Aggressive Manner” is defined as:  

• Using violent or threatening gestures;  

• Continuing to solicit after person has given negative response;  

• Intentionally blocking or interfering with free passage of a pedestrian or vehicle;  

• Soliciting money from a person waiting in a line for tickets, for entry to a building, of for any other purpose;  

• Soliciting from a minor less than 16 years of age;  

• Approaching/following person in a manner that would cause a reasonable person to fear imminent bodily harm or loss of property or otherwise to be harassed or intimidated into giving money or other thing of value  

 

A “Public Area” is defined as: 

• An area to which the public has access, including:  

• Common areas of hospitals, apartment houses, office buildings, transport facilities, shops, basements, building entrances  

• Lobbies, hallways, stairways, mezzanines, elevators, foyers, public restrooms, or any other place used in common by the public What is a “Public Place”  

 

A “Public Place” is defined as a place to which a governmental entity has title to which the public has access, including:  Any street, highway, sidewalk, walkway, parking lot, plaza, transportation facility, school, place of amusement, park, or playground  

  

Solicitation in a Prohibited Place 

This Ordinance includes several specific areas where solicitation is prohibited:  

• Within 20 feet of:  ATMs, Entrance/Exit of Banks, Entrance/Exit to Check Cashing Businesses, Parking Meters, Public Parking Garages/Pay Stations, Entrance/Exit to Restaurants or Service Areas of Outdoor Eating Establishments, Marked Crosswalks, Entrance to Commercial/Government buildings;  

• In a bus, in a bus station or stop, or at a facility operated by a transportation authority Solicitation in a Prohibited Place   

• Within 5 feet of a curb or edge of a street; 

• Within 50 feet from any land owned by a public or private school and used in whole or part for providing education services to elementary age children;  

• Within 10 feet of a gas station, liquor store, or convenience store;  

• In a public restroom 

• At a public event that is operating by permit issued by the City at City Parks  

  

Solicitation on Private Property

This Ordinance prohibits:  

• Solicitation on private property or residential property without permission from the owner;  

• Solicitation in a Public Room of a private building without the written permission or consent of the Building’s Owner or Managing and Authorizing Agent;  

• Solicitation on private property where a sign is posted prohibiting solicitation on Private Property 

 

 

                 

    

Quick Links

Contact Us

Tara Perez
Manager
817-392-2235
Tara.Perez@fortworthtexas.gov

 

Kristy V. Hroch
Human Services Coordinator
817-392-6143
Kristy.Hroch2@fortworthtexas.gov

 

For questions about food distribution and food safety

Environmental Services Consumer Health

consumerhealth@fortworthtexas.gov

817-392-6975

 

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