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.
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@ISIDEWITH4yrs4Y
No
@9FLNHPY2yrs2Y
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
@9LM7W7H1yr1Y
You are a bad person. You believe that a homeless person in prison or out of sight is better than a homeless person on your front door step. "Of course" you say, "they would be doing x, or being y." You should oppose homelessness, not homeless people. And you do that not by moving them out of sight, but by giving them a home. It isn't your responsibility to be okay with someone living on your lawn, but it is your responsibility to not be okay that they don't have a better place to go. Ask more of the world you live in, and attack problems not people.
@94F7VKS 12mos12MO
Starting an argument with "you are a bad person." immediately disengages the person you are trying to convince. You are supposed to change their mind; insulting someone immediately makes your argument less effective.
@9F9G8PG2yrs2Y
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.
@9LM7W7H1yr1Y
These cities claim to be progressive, but do nothing to materially support those in need. Imprisonment only hides the problem while increasing the cost to public resources. You want to stop seeing homeless people? Put them in a house. Simple as that. Policing only hides the issue, and ignoring it just perpetuates it. If you want to live in a world where suffering is merely hidden, you are a bad person.
@9YMB5TM 8mos8MO
I love in CA and not only has Newsome ignored the homeless he's also under investigation as to where 25 million dollars went, specifically for the homeless crisis. From what I witness, nearly everyday, half need help, with either addiction mental illness or housing is just too expensive.
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.
@9FDLNTC2yrs2Y
If homeless people get free things they will not want to work and will not care about being homeless.
@BobaFett215Democrat2yrs2Y
Businesses don't hire homeless people anyway, and they'll still want homes so they won't have to take the weather.
@ISIDEWITH4yrs4Y
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.
@9GH272X2yrs2Y
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.
@9GH43YH2yrs2Y
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
@9JJ99LTLibertarian1yr1Y
Under cardboard or underpass would still be considered public property would it not? I'm inclined to say that telling them "shelter or jail" seems like an infringement on civil liberties although I also see how occupying a public space could be interpreted as blocking access to it. I would say that if they're not in the way and not bothering anyone, I'd allow it.
@9GH22S62yrs2Y
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.
@9GN56PS 2yrs2Y
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.
@9K23PQZ1yr1Y
You never know. They could all of a sudden become violent or something. Shelters have rules for a reason; beggars can't be choosers.
@9GN6GL72yrs2Y
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.
@9FBP8CSLibertarian2yrs2Y
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 Sense2yrs2Y
Its dumb and squatters shouldnt be allowed to steal peoples homes just because they are having trouble in life.
@ISIDEWITH4yrs4Y
Yes, and create more social programs to provide free food, clothing, and medicine
@9FNRLH8Peace and Freedom 2yrs2Y
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 2yrs2Y
#5 Expert Homeless Encampments
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.
@9LM7W7H1yr1Y
“judiciously across a myriad of essential services such as education, public safety, and healthcare.”
How are homeless people not included in education, public safety, and healthcare? What you need to realize is that people become homeless as a result of bad services.
@9JJ99LTLibertarian1yr1Y
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 2yrs2Y
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.
@9FJC9PTWomen’s Equality2yrs2Y
(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.
@9FLH3C42yrs2Y
The more these people are treated like human beings and given more help, The more likely they are to pull themselves out of their situations.
@9FFZ2X9Women’s Equality2yrs2Y
Creating more social programs to aid homeless people will reduce homeless people's death rates, crimes committed by homeless people, and help them to get a job and get off the streets. It is the governments responsibility to care for their citizens, even if those citizens don't rent or own a home.
@ISIDEWITH4yrs4Y
No, and make it a criminal offense
@9FNRLH8Peace and Freedom 2yrs2Y
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.
@9FP6MXG2yrs2Y
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.
@9FLBTLX2yrs2Y
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 2yrs2Y
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.
@9GMWYMM2yrs2Y
People deserve communities safe from mentally ill drug addicts, which is almost everyone who is homeless and on the streets
@8XPX7KY4yrs4Y
No, But create more social programs to provide free food, clothing, and medicine
@ISIDEWITH10mos10MO
If you were in a situation where you lost your home, what kind of support would you hope to receive from the community?
@9WVP4MD8mos8MO
I would hope that people would try to help us or that I will be to find a homeless shelter even though I’m not well researched on the subject
@9WVNTCL8mos8MO
any help at all not limited funding if i’m a working citizen and it’s impossible for me to pay my bills due to rising costing and i’m on the streets because of the government taxing and such they should be liable to help
@9WVNLZX8mos8MO
Temporary housing/homeless housing and job-outreach opportunities
@9WVNC3DLibertarian8mos8MO
I’d very temporarily expect to crash at the home of friends or family then spend all my time getting back on my feet and being independent again.
No, and create more social programs to provide free food, clothing, and medicine.
@8XQ33R94yrs4Y
No, but create more social programs to provide free food, clothing, and medicine
@8XNPT7G4yrs4Y
No but create more social programs to provide free food, clothing, and medicine
@8XWTK594yrs4Y
Yes, but only in designated areas
@94Z37B43yrs3Y
No, but create better housing and shelters to prevent encampment on public property.
@8XS3GJVWomen’s Equality4yrs4Y
No, and create more social programs to provide free food, clothing, and medicine
@8ZC9PTV3yrs3Y
No but create more social programs
@8XTQXPJ4yrs4Y
No, but create more social programs to provide free food, clothing, and medicine.
@8YGNCF63yrs3Y
@8YB9MBX3yrs3Y
No, create more social programs to provide free food, clothing, and medicine
@8Y5386L4yrs4Y
Depends on the public property
Yes, but only in certain areas.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
Reflect on a time you felt out of place; how would you feel if you were asked to move just because you were trying to find a resting space?
@9H9GLLW 2yrs2Y
I feel out of place in my own home commonly. I am underaged and still live with my family. I am often told to make little unnecessary adjustments to different things I do and each time it is hurtful. sometimes it makes me angry other times sad, but more than anything it is exhausting. I have to constantly watch every aspect of what I am doing in order to avoid being yelled at or reprimanded. Now from that, the idea of being: one, cold, two, hungry, three, tired, and four 'out of place' or looked down on by anyone who may walk by as I try to find any comfort I can, is something I cou… Read more
Awful. I am a person to, just trying to survive. Let me do so.
@9H997CXProgressive2yrs2Y
I would feel hurt, as I am just trying to fit in, but am told to move and treated like an alien
@9H8L3TNIndependent2yrs2Y
There are better places and services offered for them to rest. The streets are no more safe than a homeless shelter.
@8YHNRXK3yrs3Y
Yes, in designated areas.
@922ZQ4G3yrs3Y
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.
@9975FV32yrs2Y
No, but we should create better housing and shelters to prevent encampment on public property.
@9D5PVRW2yrs2Y
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.
@8ZP8WSB3yrs3Y
No, but it should not be a criminal offense
@8YRSY9N3yrs3Y
yes, but in designated areas.
@8YF687K3yrs3Y
@B2CNL7L6mos6MO
Yes, but only in designated areas. And create more social programs to provide free food, clothing, healthcare, medication and sanitation
@8XV9YGV4yrs4Y
create more social programs to provide free food, clothing, and medicine and also create programs for the individuals who need the help and was refused of the housing or shelter
@8Z5CY4N3yrs3Y
Yes, but they should be required to perform 10 hours of community service each month from April to November.
Only in designated areas.
@8XSNJ834yrs4Y
No, but make more social programs to provide free food, clothing and medicine.
@9DCVY3W2yrs2Y
@92B9M3B3yrs3Y
No, but create more social programs to provide food, clothing, and medicine
@8XYYH2B4yrs4Y
No, but provide more social programs to provide free food, clothing, and medicine
@94GSLSK3yrs3Y
@8ZKPPN63yrs3Y
It depends on the public property.
@8XZLZYD4yrs4Y
No, but do not make it a criminal offense.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
If you had no home and didn't feel safe at available shelters, where would you go, and why might public property seem like the only option?
I would go to a public park, public property may seem as the only option because it is all around and it provides places to keep warm/dry.
@9H8JCK32yrs2Y
Go to my friends. Bc people may not have families or friends, but the rules may be outside of their possibilities
@9Q2FJZJ1yr1Y
I’d enlist in the military, or attempt to work for board.
I would try to build my own home with materials that I could use
@8YZ58CS3yrs3Y
yes, as long as they don't bother anyone
@8XTKN6L4yrs4Y
It depends on the property
No, and create more social programs.
@8YDJZ533yrs3Y
No, but there should be more social programs to provide free food, clothing, and medicine
Yes but not near residential areas
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