A federal judge has granted a permanent injunction allowing Food Not Bombs, a Houston group, to continue feeding homeless people outside the Central Library in downtown Houston. The group gathers near City Hall about four times a week to serve anyone who needs a meal.
Volunteers had challenged the city in court since 2024. Aliene Adams, one of the people who sued, said police had issued warnings and tickets to push the group away. She said the ruling was long overdue. Attorney Randall Kallinen said a city ordinance that limits outdoor feeding was passed under Mayor Annise Parker, enforced more under Mayor Sylvester Turner, and challenged under Mayor John Whitmire. Kallinen said many tickets were dismissed when volunteers contested them in court.
The judge asked both sides to work out reasonable arrangements, such as making sure no trash is left behind. The City of Houston had not responded to requests for comment on whether it would appeal, as of Friday.