A Law to Criminalize Sleeping ?

[RLF]

As winter approaches and the Santa Cruz, California homeless shelter at the armory opens, many are discussing the Santa Cruz sleeping ban.
The camping ban, commonly called the sleeping or blanket ban, prohibits sleeping on public property between the hours of 11 p.m. and 8:30 a.m. It is also against the law to set up cooking equipment, or to cover oneself at night with the intention of sleeping.
According to attorney Kate Wells and members of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the law is “a human rights violation which criminalizes homelessness.”
Is this law against what Jesus instructs us in Matthew 25 ? Should we fight it as Christians ?? as Humans ???
Read More:
A Law to Criminalize Sleep?

 

[Babyblue]

We have a similar problem in our area. In Tampa, FL

Pinellas County approves $460,000 for tent city | Tampa Bay Independent Media

Police officers were actually cutting up these homeless peoples tents with carpet knives. They have now relocated and if you research it more Tent City just keeps moving on.

Now to Banned homeless sleeping out of an designated area is a bit scary due to we have went out on a boat ride and decided to come ashore for a break my daughter came across a homeless man that was sleeping under the mangroves, and she was so scared that she could not even move.... I walked up to her and asked her what was wrong... all she could do was point... she told me she thought the man was dead... she didn't know he was homeless. She just saw a guy laying there under the mangroves.

So if they are sleeping where ever they want then yes Ban it. They know where the shelters are.

 

[Reba]

As winter approaches and the Santa Cruz, California homeless shelter at the armory opens, many are discussing the Santa Cruz sleeping ban.
The camping ban, commonly called the sleeping or blanket ban, prohibits sleeping on public property between the hours of 11 p.m. and 8:30 a.m. It is also against the law to set up cooking equipment, or to cover oneself at night with the intention of sleeping.
According to attorney Kate Wells and members of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the law is “a human rights violation which criminalizes homelessness.”
Is this law against what Jesus instructs us in Matthew 25 ? Should we fight it as Christians ?? as Humans ???
Read More:
A Law to Criminalize Sleep?

The ACLU makes it seem like homelessness is a legal right. How messed up is that? The goal shouldn't be to allow people to sleep on the streets; the goal should be to find decent places for the people to sleep.

Matthew 25
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.


Jesus stated that the right thing to do was to take in or shelter the homeless. He did NOT say to leave the homeless people on the streets overnight.

Groups (many of the Christian) set up shelters and soup kitchens for the needy. Yet there are some people who actually prefer street life. If they refuse to stay in the shelters, they shouldn't be allowed to stay on public streets either. If they want to drink, snort, or shoot up their rent money, then they don't shouldn't be allowed to sleep, get high, urinate, or deficate on the streets.

We need to attack the root causes of "homelessness" instead of making street sleeping more available.

 

[Hwy99]

Well I disagree about criminalizing the sleeping in public area. Public area IS Public area, everyone sharing that area, period.

 

[Reba]

Well I disagree about criminalizing the sleeping in public area. Public area IS Public area, everyone sharing that area, period.

For its intended purpose, yes. A public street was not intended for sleeping and cooking. A public street is intended for people to drive or walk down, in safety, without being accosted by panhandlers, or be subjected to people urinating or vomiting in front of them.

 

[jillio]

The ACLU makes it seem like homelessness is a legal right. How messed up is that? The goal shouldn't be to allow people to sleep on the streets; the goal should be to find decent places for the people to sleep.

Matthew 25
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.


Jesus stated that the right thing to do was to take in or shelter the homeless. He did NOT say to leave the homeless people on the streets overnight.

Groups (many of the Christian) set up shelters and soup kitchens for the needy. Yet there are some people who actually prefer street life. If they refuse to stay in the shelters, they shouldn't be allowed to stay on public streets either. If they want to drink, snort, or shoot up their rent money, then they don't shouldn't be allowed to sleep, get high, urinate, or deficate on the streets.

We need to attack the root causes of "homelessness" instead of making street sleeping more available.

While I disagree with criminalizing homelessness, I certainly agree that the root causes are what needs to be addressed. Arresting people will not solve the problem of homelessness. The fastest growing segment of the homeless population is families with children. Most of us live paycheck to paycheck given the financial climate of this country. There but for the grace of God go I.

 

[Reba]

While I disagree with criminalizing homelessness, I certainly agree that the root causes are what needs to be addressed. Arresting people will not solve the problem of homelessness. The fastest growing segment of the homeless population is families with children. Most of us live paycheck to paycheck given the financial climate of this country. There but for the grace of God go I.

Families with children are homeless but not shelterless. A shelter is not a fun place to live but it's not a cold, urine covered sidewalk.

Many of the "homeless" are just drunken, addicted bums who chose their "lifestyle". They don't have the "right" to take over our city streets and parks. Many of them collect SSI, Social Security retirement, VA disability, etc., but they blow it on alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs.

Some "homeless" are people who should be in mental hospitals because they truly need help but because it's politically insensitive to confine people to state hospitals, they are set "free" to roam our streets and scare women and children.

Some women and children are homeless because the courts aren't vigorously pursuing child support from the deadbeat dads.

More shelters could open if not for too restrictive regulations that hinder grassroots aid organizations.

Too many resources are siphoned off and wasted that could be used for those who really need the help and won't abuse the help.

 

[Bebonang]

The homelessness people don't have any where to go even if they don't want to go into shelters. My hearing sister who is the director of the homelessness shelters has been trying to help them get them into shelters but they don't want to because it is not safe and no trusting the other people. I know that it is wrong for them to sleep out on the streets but that is the way they want to. They can go to the kitchen to get food, but shelters no way for them, only some of them can go into shelters. Really

 

[Hwy99]

For its intended purpose, yes. A public street was not intended for sleeping and cooking. A public street is intended for people to drive or walk down, in safety, without being accosted by panhandlers, or be subjected to people urinating or vomiting in front of them.

Yeah I understand, but what about those Walmart that allows people to sleep in cars or RVs on their parking lots?

 

[Bear]

You may think that they have no right to sleep in the streets. But where are they to sleep? Many shelters are overcrowded as it is, and ends up turning people away due to overcrowding.

Also what will youd o if it happens to you? As the state of our world worsens, this is gonna be a problem that escalates. If SS is revamped and SSI programs are cut then you will see even more homeless. Plus with job cuts, closures and layoffs that will create an even worse situation. If it came down to it, I would find a way to get a hold of a RV type of thing and camp out anywhere I could find a place to park it overnight, rather than to go into a shelter where rapes and theft happens.

But then again that is just me. I would rather live in a RV that I can lock and hide my valuables for protection if at all possible and have little plants where I can grow seeds for food.

 

[Reba]

Yeah I understand, but what about those Walmart that allows people to sleep in cars or RVs on their parking lots?

Walmart's property is private property, not public property. It's their decision and their responsibility.

 

[Reba]

You may think that they have no right to sleep in the streets. But where are they to sleep? Many shelters are overcrowded as it is, and ends up turning people away due to overcrowding.

Also what will youd o if it happens to you? As the state of our world worsens, this is gonna be a problem that escalates. If SS is revamped and SSI programs are cut then you will see even more homeless. Plus with job cuts, closures and layoffs that will create an even worse situation. If it came down to it, I would find a way to get a hold of a RV type of thing and camp out anywhere I could find a place to park it overnight, rather than to go into a shelter where rapes and theft happens.

But then again that is just me. I would rather live in a RV that I can lock and hide my valuables for protection if at all possible and have little plants where I can grow seeds for food.

People "sleeping on the streets" are literally sleeping on the sidewalks and park benches. They aren't staying in RV's. People walking on the sidewalks have to step around their bodies, and over puddles of urine, poop, and vomit. Pedestrians have to avoid stepping on broken bottles, used needles, and used condoms. They also have to run from panholders and thieves who boldly approach them. That's not the same thing as families parking overnight.

 

[jillio]

Families with children are homeless but not shelterless. A shelter is not a fun place to live but it's not a cold, urine covered sidewalk.

Many of the "homeless" are just drunken, addicted bums who chose their "lifestyle". They don't have the "right" to take over our city streets and parks. Many of them collect SSI, Social Security retirement, VA disability, etc., but they blow it on alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs.

Some "homeless" are people who should be in mental hospitals because they truly need help but because it's politically insensitive to confine people to state hospitals, they are set "free" to roam our streets and scare women and children.

Some women and children are homeless because the courts aren't vigorously pursuing child support from the deadbeat dads.

More shelters could open if not for too restrictive regulations that hinder grassroots aid organizations.

Too many resources are siphoned off and wasted that could be used for those who really need the help and won't abuse the help.

Shelters,m at least in my area of the country, are currently full to overflowing and must often turn people away due to lack of sapce and funding.

Drug and alcohol addiction is a sociological phenomena that increases dependent upon social conditions. Therefore, addressing it as a criminal act does nothing to decrease the incidence. Many mentally ill are turned away from treatment because they are not able to maintain employment and therefore do not have insurance. Unless they are proven to be a direct danger to themselves or others, there is no legal basis for comittment.

Addiction is a disease that is only controlled through treatment that addresses the underlying issues that create the addiciton. Many acloholics and addicts are not living on the streets,a s well. In fact, amny alcoholics and addicts are fully functioning and in positions of power. So you can't lay the cause for homelessness at the door of alcoholsim and addiction.

If you want to make it illegal to sleep in a park, then you must offer a solution to having to seep in the park. Obviously, the solutions that are available are not working. You cannot make something a criminal act without also providing a way for an individual to avoid that criminal act.

 

[steph9700]

I think I have seen one or two homeless people actually on the street here in Cullman. it's all churches and banks here and they don't want that on the street so they take care of them any way they can. the church in front of the county courthouse has like a shelter but even if your married your separated there to make sure sex doesn't happen. the men sleep on one side with the boy children and the women sleep on other with the girl children unless it is a single parent then they stay with the one parent. if it's an abuse case then the abused family members go to another county where the other member can't find them till they can get on their feet.

 

[Reba]

Shelters,m at least in my area of the country, are currently full to overflowing and must often turn people away due to lack of sapce and funding.

Let's use the funding and space for those people who really need it.

The shelters should be a short term safety net for honest people who have real problems beyond their resources. They should NOT be a permanent way of life for shiftless bums.

Drug and alcohol addiction is a sociological phenomena that increases dependent upon social conditions. Therefore, addressing it as a criminal act does nothing to decrease the incidence.

When it becomes public intoxication and endangers other people, then it is a criminal act.

Many mentally ill are turned away from treatment because they are not able to maintain employment and therefore do not have insurance. Unless they are proven to be a direct danger to themselves or others, there is no legal basis for comittment.

Many of them are a danger to themselves or others, and still they are not locked up.

Addiction is a disease that is only controlled through treatment that addresses the underlying issues that create the addiciton. Many acloholics and addicts are not living on the streets, as well. In fact, amny alcoholics and addicts are fully functioning and in positions of power. So you can't lay the cause for homelessness at the door of alcoholsim and addiction.

No, I didn't say that. We're discussing the ones that live on the streets, not the ones who are "fully functioning." If they want to pass out on plush penthouse bed and puke in a gold-plated toilet that's their business. When they bring those behaviors onto the public street, then it's our business. If they want to spend their money on drugs and alcohol instead of rent, then they shouldn't expect to be allowed to flop anywhere they want.

If you want to make it illegal to sleep in a park, then you must offer a solution to having to seep in the park. Obviously, the solutions that are available are not working. You cannot make something a criminal act without also providing a way for an individual to avoid that criminal act.

Jails for the criminals, hospitals for the sick, and one-way tickets back over the border for illegal aliens. That will leave more resources for short-term sheltering for those truly in need thru no fault of their own. Cut red-tape and bureaucracy so people can get the real help that they need and not end up on the street in the first place.

I don't believe letting bums take over public areas is beneficial to anyone.


What is your solution for getting them off the streets and out of the parks?

 

[jazzy]

Homeless people in Santa Cruz, it seems to me many of them are more alike hippie type of people whom want to live in free and take those things alike beach, park, sidewalk, etc.. away from us. I do not consider them homeless.