From 2020 – 2022 six US states introduced bills that would make sleeping on public property a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and a month in jail. In 2021 Texas became the first state to pass a statewide law which banned public homeless encampments statewide and pulled state grant funds from non-compliant cities. Proponents of these laws argue that that leaving tens of thousands of Americans—often with severe mental illness or substance use problems—on the streets for decades until they can all be provided with permanent, supportive housing is not a viable or humane model. Opponents argue that the laws do not provide housing solutions and simply encourage homeless people to relocate to other states.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
No
@9F9G8PG7mos7MO
Look at the western states such as Washington, Oregon, and California. All of which have turned a blind eye to homelessness and encampments on public property in major cities. In the past decade homelessness rates have skyrocketed, along with crime, and a sizeable decline in mental health among the homeless population.
Take for example Seattle, WA and Portland, OR. Both of these cities have some of the most lax and enabling laws regarding homelessness. Both cities have become overrun with transient populations, drug use, and skyrocketing crime rates.
@9FLNHPY7mos7MO
It may not be their fault as to why they are homeless but mostly it is, do you really want people who are not clean, on drugs, or mentally ill on the lawn of your home?
". . . but mostly it is [their fault]. . . "
Statistics? Source? For one thing, the question is about public property, not "the lawn of your home" (private property) so that is irrelevant. Second, I have been homeless myself and I will concede that many in such a predicament do have mental illness... but contrary to common lore, most are not lunatics running around chasing people. The vast majority are people who are mentally broken, exhausted, and afraid. It's NOT a fun or desirable way to live. And I promise, there are millions more people that are NOT homeless, like… Read more
@9F9SD6DPeace and Freedom7mos7MO
Many homeless will be living on PUBLIC PROPERTY, its doesn't look good to tourists if homeless are just camping on work building floor. This sends out wrong message and homeless might take adavatage of the rights we have given.
@9FDLNTC7mos7MO
If homeless people get free things they will not want to work and will not care about being homeless.
@BobaFett215Democrat4mos4MO
Businesses don't hire homeless people anyway, and they'll still want homes so they won't have to take the weather.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
Yes
Top Agreement
Well, if you were homeless, and you had an extreme lack of trust for other people... would you take offered housing or shelters? Maybe you would, but others wouldn't, and giving them the ability to live their lives how they need to sounds like a much better option than just leaving them to sleep under cardboard or an underpass with nothing for shelter.
@9GH272X6mos6MO
I would take the free housing. If someone is trusting you enough to give you FREE housing, you should be able to suck it up and trust the person offering you a place to live for free.
@9GH43YH6mos6MO
I would take the shelter because, it would be better than sleeping outside in the cold and ending your life earlier than what it should be. I think it would be a better option than sleeping outside
@9GH22S66mos6MO
I think it's important for homeless to be put in a shelter for multiple reason. It's important that of course those shelters are safe for the homeless but it's also important that while we as citizens are walking down clean, and safe streets that we pay tax dollars towards.
@9GH36Y36mos6MO
If given the opportunity, many would jump at the opportunity of shelter. I believe there should be more funding allocated to the homelessness issue we face. Still, I am not ignorant of the fact that more shelters are not a cure to the problem but instead acknowledge the effort as a step in the right direction.
@9GN56PS 6mos6MO
Why should be use government force to ban people from sleeping? They are not harming others, they have no where else to go. And shelters can have extremely unreasonable and strict requirements. It is not a good use of our resources to harass low income people.
@9GN6GL76mos6MO
they have homeless shelters where they can sleep and if they refuse and sleep on publics or private property it can be trespassing or loitering and the punishment would be decided by the land owner.
@9K23PQZ2mos2MO
You never know. They could all of a sudden become violent or something. Shelters have rules for a reason; beggars can't be choosers.
@9FBP8CSLibertarian7mos7MO
I think the homeless if given the opportunity; taken to a shelter to stay. If they deny and do not vacate the premises then moved to jail.
@9FGGQKXCA Common Sense7mos7MO
Its dumb and squatters shouldnt be allowed to steal peoples homes just because they are having trouble in life.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
Yes, and create more social programs to provide free food, clothing, and medicine
@9FNRLH8Peace and Freedom 7mos7MO
Top Agreement
Creating more social programs can really help homeless people and lower the rate of death for homeless people. It is the government responsibility to take care of its citizen even if they dont got money to buy or rent a place.
@nboutelier 7mos7MO
While it is compassionate and just to assist those in dire straits, it is also crucial to acknowledge that resources are finite, and governments must allocate them judiciously across a myriad of essential services such as education, public safety, and healthcare.
@9JJ99LTLibertarian3mos3MO
Truth is some people are dysfunctional and will end up in jail. Many of them will commit assault or theft and imo should be prosecuted accordingly. I do think with some people, efforts to rehabilitate may be cheaper than the cost of dealing with the crime they cause or the costs they put on the healthcare or prison system, but some people are too difficult to rehabilitate.
@9FNVW8HPeace and Freedom 7mos7MO
Homeless people should be given a little bit more of being able to have access to food, clothes, shelter, etc. Helping Homeless people to get help would lower the death rate.
Most homeless people aren't happy about it. These people need our help to get a leg up in a society where it's easy to stumble. Just criminalizing these people and punishing them for struggling is inhumane. We should be looking out for our fellow Americans. We need empathy because at any moment, that could be us or someone we love.
We need to help the homeless with their issues. Mentally, physically, psychologically, they need help. If we can help, then why not? It benefits us as a whole.
@9GNF5SG6mos6MO
These people need to be able to get the help they need, they are all people too and deserve it as well.
@9FJC9PTWomen’s Equality7mos7MO
(ex. Homeless women/children are more at risk for abuse/sexual assault in shelters that don't have enough funding or space)
If we provide more clean and orderly spaces for those in need it lessens the chance of further traumatic experiences that happen in other homeless shelters. It's why the homeless will fake being sick at the ER just so they can have a clean bed and somewhere safe and professional to go. Even the homeless are allowed to have standards and set boundaries on how they want to be treated.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
No, and make it a criminal offense
@9FNRLH8Peace and Freedom 7mos7MO
Top Disagreement
I feel like homeless people shouldnt be treated differently since they are human just like everyone else. Instead we should help the homeless by providing food, shelter, water, and clothing.
@9FP6MXG7mos7MO
Those who have a problem with homeless encampments should have to provide a better solution as to where these homeless people can go. Estimates say close to 13% of the homeless population are veterans, even more are disabled. By taking away places where homeless people can live and sleep peacefully, not only are you making life worse for them, but you’re subjecting them to move to areas which can disturb even more people.
@9FLBTLX7mos7MO
Homeless people have a life already made difficult by the government. Having to show up to a court date and serve the government jail time for attempting to deal with their situation (which is most often caused by the state of the economy and government) is an unnecessary and downright cruel punch in the gut.
@9GMVBHT 6mos6MO
These human beings need help. When another human needs help you help them. This isn't a position it's human decency. How can you do nothing when see someone who clearly needs help. To make it criminal to need help is...... You know what yes let's make it criminal.
@9GMWYMM6mos6MO
People deserve communities safe from mentally ill drug addicts, which is almost everyone who is homeless and on the streets
@8XPX7KY2yrs2Y
No, But create more social programs to provide free food, clothing, and medicine
@8XQ33R92yrs2Y
No, but create more social programs to provide free food, clothing, and medicine
No, and create more social programs to provide free food, clothing, and medicine.
@8XS3GJVWomen’s Equality2yrs2Y
No, and create more social programs to provide free food, clothing, and medicine
@8XTQXPJ2yrs2Y
No, but create more social programs to provide free food, clothing, and medicine.
@94Z37B42yrs2Y
No, but create better housing and shelters to prevent encampment on public property.
@8XWTK592yrs2Y
Yes, but only in designated areas
@8XNPT7G2yrs2Y
No but create more social programs to provide free food, clothing, and medicine
@922ZQ4G2yrs2Y
No, but we should build more homeless shelters to help get all these homeless people off the streets. The shelters should offer jobs, food, clothing, medicine, and necessities to help the homeless people get jobs and to help decrease homelessness.
@8YB9MBX2yrs2Y
No, create more social programs to provide free food, clothing, and medicine
@8Y5386L2yrs2Y
Depends on the public property
@9975FV31yr1Y
No, but we should create better housing and shelters to prevent encampment on public property.
@9D5PVRW8mos8MO
The question suggests that the homeless person has been offered and refused housing or shelter. Once they have been offered shelter but still choose to stay on the streets, I feel that they should be cited for trespassing. These people are more than likely drug users who do not want to be surveilled while using. This also indicates that they are more than likely disposing of used needles in these public areas, not to mention defecating in these public areas which is very unsanitary and could spread disease.
@8ZC9PTV2yrs2Y
No but create more social programs
@ISIDEWITH5mos5MO
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