National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty (2012)

Reports the successful results of the litigation they brought under the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act against the City of Dallas with respect to its local law preventing religious organizations from providing food to homeless persons living outdoors. The ordinance placed burdensome and costly restrictions on food-sharing and severely limited volunteers’ ability to share food with the City’s homeless population, an integral part of their ministries. Big Heart Ministries Association Inc. v. City of Dallas

“Thanks to the Barbara McDowell Foundation we were able to protect the rights of individuals to share and receive food in accordance with their religious and moral convictions, setting forth a precedent that has helped prevent similar laws elsewhere,” said Maria Foscarinis, Executive Director.

Click here to see the original grant, including the six-month and year-end reports