Homelessness is a rare issue in American politics that doesn’t fall along clear party or ideological lines. It may be difficult to predict who will support or oppose measures to expand inexpensive housing and services for the homeless.
San Francisco, for instance – one of the progressive US cities – has implemented quite a few policies that make it easy for opponents decelerate or block planned residential projects. In contrast, churches of many denominations within the United States have done so challenged local zoning regulations from Providing food and shelter to people without homeseven when city laws and regulations prohibit sleeping or eating within the areas where the churches are situated.
That of the Supreme Court 2024 ruling in Grants Pass v. Johnson allows cities to penalize people for sleeping in public spaces, even when shelter is just not available. It overturned the ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' earlier decision that anti-camping ordinances violated the Eighth Amendment's ban on cruel and weird punishment.
I’m a Researcher specializing in homelessnessand signed one Amicus transient filed by 57 social scientists within the Grants Pass case, he assisted plaintiffs who sued on behalf of homeless people living within the town of Grants Pass, Oregon. In my view, the consequence of the court's ruling is each predictable and deeply disturbing. Many U.S. cities are actually moving forward aggressively Clearing out the homeless campsoften without sufficient protection or support for the people they displace.
Cities are taking motion
In California, Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order in July This illustrates this shift by calling on cities to “humanely remove encampments from public spaces.” This approach, which prioritizes eliminating visible homelessness over addressing a systemic lack of housing options, often results in this forced expulsion This increases the likelihood that unhoused people will likely be arrested and experience increased instability and trauma.
Newsom's order opened the door for further punitive measures across the state. The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors is considering revisions to a neighborhood camping ordinance that will ban sleeping in a tent, sleeping bag or vehicle for greater than 60 minutes and prohibit people from sleeping inside 300 feet of a public place where they slept within the last 24 hours.
The City of Fresno recently banned public camping at any time or location, no matter whether accommodations can be found. The recent law prohibits sleeping or camping at any entrance to public or private property along a public sidewalk.
It also prohibits sitting, lying, sleeping or camping on “sensitive use” properties, including schools, child care facilities, parks, libraries, government buildings, warming or cooling centers and existing homeless shelters. Violations will likely be punished with as much as one yr in prison, a nice of as much as $1,000, or each.
Other jurisdictions are following California's lead. Grand Rapids, Michigan, has passed recent laws to criminalize activities related to homelessness, akin to: Loitering and leaving personal items unattended. In Illinois, a government lobbying group drafted a model camping ban It imposes fines for first-time violations and more severe penalties, including possible prison time, for repeat violations. Several cities in Illinois have adopted the ordinance.
Ironically, Grants Pass was unable to clear its homeless encampments on account of an Oregon law enforce in 2021. This measure allows local governments to impose restrictions on sleeping on public property, akin to time, place and manner, provided these are “objectively justifiable.” It requires communities to think about local ordinances in context available accommodation services and public space.
This approach, which balances public concerns with the needs of homeless people, prevents the form of punitive measures that the Supreme Court ruling now allows elsewhere.
The Housing First approach
Many Americans are frustrated by the homelessness crisis. In their view, cities have made little progress on this issue despite significant investments.
However, research overwhelmingly shows that homelessness is criminalized keeps the issue going. A cycle of arrest, incarceration and release ensues with nothing achieved Fighting the causesakin to economic inequality, inadequate mental health and addiction services, and a scarcity of inexpensive housing. individuals are and not using a home prone to early death from violent injuries, substance abuse or preventable illnesses.
Supportive in my view Housing first Measures are simpler than punitive bans. Housing First is a technique that gives people experiencing homelessness with rapid, everlasting housing without obligation sober, working or being treated for mental disorders.
This approach recognizes stable housing as a basic human right and as a basis for addressing other challenges often faced by people and not using a home. By meeting their immediate housing needs, it helps people recuperate from the stress of homelessness and leads to raised long-term outcomes. Research shows that Housing First programs do that simpler and cost-efficient than requiring treatment for issues akin to addiction as a condition of placement.
Critics complain that Housing First is dear and that the availability of housing without mandatory support services results in an inefficient use of funds. Some studies highlight challenges Ensuring services meet individual needs. Another criticism calls Housing First a “one-size-fits-all” solution The diverse needs of the homeless population is probably not adequately addressed.
Rental access and support
In 2024, the federal government awarded $3.16 billion to communities nationwide through the Department of Housing and Urban Development Continuum of Care Programthe biggest investment to finish homelessness in U.S. history.
This HUD program provides funding and support to local communities to coordinate their efforts to finish homelessness, akin to through the availability of homeless grants rapid housing and support services for homeless people. This is a crisis response strategy designed to attenuate trauma related to life on the streets Getting people into housing as quickly as possible.
To seriously and sustainably curb this problem, proven solutions should be expanded, akin to rental assistance and access to inexpensive rental housing space. A study published by HUD in 2016 found that providing everlasting housing assistance to homeless families, akin to: Housing alternative voucherswas essentially the most effective method to do that ensure long-term residential stability.
Housing alternative vouchers cover a majority of a family's rental costs, requiring families to pay about 30% of their income for housing, with no cut-off date, so long as participants follow this system rules. The HUD study found that, in comparison with other short-term programs, this approach improved participants' mental health, stabilized families, supported child development, and reduced the likelihood that participants would change into homeless again.
Homeless encampments raise legitimate public concerns about health and safety, including the welfare of the people living within the encampments. But evicting them and banning public camping won't solve the issue of homelessness. In my opinion, providing everlasting housing support, expanding access to inexpensive housing and implementing Housing First approaches, coupled with supportive services, is a simpler and humane approach.
image credit : theconversation.com