A group of downtown clergy members has taken the unusual step of publicly urging other religious organizations to stop feeding homeless people on the streets of Skid Row, saying the effort is well meaning but misguided.

The Downtown Clergy Council, which comprises faith-based leaders from a variety of churches, synagogues and homeless ministries, released a position paper on the longstanding issue earlier this month as a way to raise public awareness that giving away food from the backs of trucks and vans to the down-and-out is not as helpful as it would seem.

Much of the food and wrappings end up in the gutter, creating a trash and vermin problem, while three nearby missions serve 8,000 free meals a day.