When the government bans charity

While homelessness is increasing for the first time since the end of the Great Recession, local and state governments are jumping into action by … cracking down on charity. Six percent of American cities already ban sharing food with the homeless in public spaces, but the number of cities with burdensome regulations designed to prevent food sharing may be even higher.

The newest story comes courtesy of the Kansas City Health Department, which poured bleach on food cooked for the homeless by the charitable group, Free Hot Soup KC. Not only did the department do so for the insane reason that the group didn’t have a permit, but they organized and entire sting operation to do it.