North Carolina councilman calls for people to be FINED and charged with a misdemeanor crime for giving food or money directly to the homeless

  • Tariq Bokhari​, who serves as a representative for Charlotte's 6th district, floated the idea during a council business meeting
  • He said money and resources are best used when they are donated to charities, as opposed to homeless people directly
  • Bokhari's idea received significant pushback from other councilmembers and people in the local community
  • A recent survey from the Mecklenberg County - in which the city of Charlotte is located - estimates that roughly 3,000 people are homeless 

A councilman in North Carolina has been slammed after he suggested making it a misdemeanor crime to donate food and money directly to homeless people. 

Tariq Bokhari​, who serves as a representative for Charlotte's 6th district, floated the radical idea during a council business meeting on Monday. 

'People aren't getting it and they're still bringing food and money and resources directly to the folks that are out there right now,' Bokhari stated during a discussion about strategies to combat Charlotte's homelessness problem. 

'They're only making themselves feel good, they're hurting the ultimate folks, perhaps we explore making that a misdemeanor'.

The misdemeanor charge would involve paying a fine if a person was caught giving resources directly to a homeless person. 

Tariq Bokhari​, who serves as a representative for Charlotte's 6th district, floated the radical idea during a council business meeting on Monday

Tariq Bokhari​, who serves as a representative for Charlotte's 6th district, floated the radical idea during a council business meeting on Monday

Bokhari suggested that it would be better for people to donate resources to a proper charity instead. 

'I think we need a heavier dose of tough love amongst this community, especially amongst those who continually give money, and food and clothing directly to these folks instead of giving them to the organizations that are designed to help them,' he stated. 

However, fellow council member Renee Johnson voiced her strong opposition to the idea  of making direct donations a misdemeanor. 

 'That's something that I would never support, especially when there's so many systemic barriers for individuals who are homeless,' she stated during the meeting, according to ABC11. 

'People aren't getting it and they're still bringing food and money and resources directly to the folks that are out there right now,' Bokhari (right) stated during a discussion about strategies to combat Charlotte's homelessness problem.

'People aren't getting it and they're still bringing food and money and resources directly to the folks that are out there right now,' Bokhari (right) stated during a discussion about strategies to combat Charlotte's homelessness problem.

Fellow council member Renee Johnson voiced her strong opposition to the idea of making direct donations a misdemeanor

Fellow council member Renee Johnson voiced her strong opposition to the idea of making direct donations a misdemeanor

Meanwhile, locals like Kenya Joseph, who works for the non-profit Hearts for the Invisible Charlotte Coalition, also spoke out against the proposal. 

'It lacks humanity,' Joseph told the news network. 

'In what world when we as a society are at a place where we would criminalize the act of humanity, care and consideration and compassion for others in any way, shape or form, there's a huge problem.' 

Bokhari later clarified his comments on Twitter, saying: 'What we have been doing as a community for the homeless in Charlotte, though well intentioned, isn't producing the results we need. From tent city to aggressive panhandling, things are getting worse.'

'My intention has never been to harm the homeless community, rather make real change and positive outcomes for them,' he added. 

A recent survey from the Mecklenberg County - in which the city of Charlotte is located - estimates that roughly 3,000 people are homeless. 

The number has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic with encampments cropping up in various parts of the city. 

A recent survey from the Mecklenberg County - in which the city of Charlotte is located - estimates that roughly 3,000 people are homeless

A recent survey from the Mecklenberg County - in which the city of Charlotte is located - estimates that roughly 3,000 people are homeless

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