A rising number of municipalities have approved statutes criminalizing homelessness despite the inadequate affordable housing options, made worse by the pandemic-related surge in inflation.
Such measures are needed to protect public safety and to discourage homeless people from living in unsafe and unsanitary conditions, city officials said. However, experts are concerned that the laws do not have the desired effect.
“Most measures that criminalize homelessness are reactive to public pressure rather than based on any evidence-based solution to homelessness,” said Benjamin Henwood, director of the Center for Homelessness, Housing and Health Equity Research at the University of Southern California.
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 