Record numbers in the US are homeless. Can cities fine them for sleeping in parks and on sidewalks?
Record numbers in the US are homeless. Can cities fine them for sleeping in parks and on sidewalks?
https://apnews.com/article/homelessness-sleeping-outside-fines-supreme-court-e036c7041cba08d50e3d855942961253
The most significant case in decades on homelessness has reached the Supreme Court as record numbers of people in America are without a permanent place to live.
The justices on Monday will consider a challenge to rulings from a California-based appeals court that found punishing people for sleeping outside when shelter space is lacking amounts to unconstitutional cruel and unusual punishment.
A political cross section of officials in the West and California, home to nearly one-third of the nation’s homeless population, argue those decisions have restricted them from “common sense” measures intended to keep homeless encampments from taking over public parks and sidewalks.
Advocacy groups say the decisions provide essential legal protections, especially with an increasing number of people forced to sleep outdoors as the cost of housing soars.
The case before the Supreme Court comes from Grants Pass, a small city nestled in the mountains of southern Oregon, where rents are rising and there is just one overnight shelter for adults. As a growing number of tents clustered its parks, the city banned camping and set $295 fines for people sleeping there.
Homelessness is without a doubt a major problem that needs immediate attention but I wish they would give proper context. Homelessness was FAR worse in the 80s so these are in fact not record numbers. Also, take lessons from Mississippi on homelessness. Yes, Mississippi as they only have about 1000 people state wide who are homeless.
Homelessness was FAR worse in the 80s
Source? Is that a percentage or raw number of people you're referring to?
20 seconds on Google. The US government estimated 200k to 500k homeless in 1987 though this is criticized as a gross underestimate as they did not record it as well as they do today. Regan policies were responsible for a dramatic increase in the mid 80s.