A ban on feeding the homeless was passed last week and has reportedly come into effect or is planned to in Seattle, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Dallas and Philadelphia, according to the UK news outlet The Independent.

The ban extends to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where a 90-year-old Florida man, Arnold Abbott, who volunteered in feeding the homeless for two decades now faces 60 days in jail and a $500 fine for not sticking to the law that was put into effect recently, according to the Huffington Post.

"One of the police officers came over and said 'Drop that plate right now,' as if I was carrying a weapon," stated Abbott.

He continued, "These are the poorest of the poor, they have nothing, they don't have a roof over their heads. How do you turn them away?"

Abbott was reportedly arrested and charged along with two ministers from the Sanctuary Church, which prepared hundreds of meals every week in their kitchen in order to feed the homeless.

Abbott had reportedly sued the City of Fort Lauderdale in 1999 after he was banned from feeding the homeless on the beach and the court found that the rule was against the Constitution. The man is reportedly planning to sue the city again.

Abbott, who reportedly set up the organization Love Thy Neighbor in memory of his late wife Maureen in order to continue the humanitarian work they were both involved in, may face some strong disagreement from others in the city.

"Whatever discourages feeding people on the streets is a positive thing," Ron Book, a city lobbyist, told the newspaper Sun Sentinel.

Michael Stoops, community organizer at the National Coalition for the Homeless, further explained the reasons for the recent ban on feeding the homeless, telling NBC News, "Economic development and tourism don't mesh well with homeless folks and the agencies that serve them."