Does anyone have any insight into how the Supreme Court will rule if rule at all by early July as the hearings were on Monday. If they overturn the 9th district court's decision from about 6 years ago, it would mean that homeless would not be able to have a tent/encampment outside without possible risk of police being involved etc.
No insight but I hope the ruling will be helpful. There must be a good solution for those who are homeless and at the same time safeguard our public streets for all to peacefully use. May the outcome be for the highest and greatest good.
Here in Tucson they are renovating old hotels for the homeless. I also saw a news story on a non profit building tiny houses for the homeless. I am not sure it was local but whereever it was it was going great.
Tempe and Phoenix have both approved old hotels be converted into housing for homeless people. That is a great idea!
@brightrainbows81 Thanks for posting this important issue and welcome to our forum! If you want people to weigh in on the issue, it will help if you lay out the issue for people, and distinguish it from several others that have been going on in the country, and mention which one or ones could be headed to SCOTUS.
@jeanne-mayell to me, the question that needs to be asked of the court is not whether homeless folks should be allowed to exist outdoors (where else are they going to be, if they are unhoused?). A more urgent question would be "should billionaires be allowed to exist, at all?"
I get into so many fights on the Nextdoor app. People post things like "There is a homeless person walking down my street! Where are the police?, and what ever shall I do??" I reply "make them a sandwich. Give them some water. Hell, buy them a six-pack of beer, if it helps them cope."
Poverty is not a crime. But extreme wealth should be. When one person has enough money to buy out democracy, it's a real threat. This needs to stop, before we all end up unhoused.
Having a son who became homeless & living in his car due to many factors, eventually taking his own life...I am forever changed in my thought process. Homelessness, mental health, job insecurity, insanely low wages, high rent for undesirable available housing, etc., are tremendous issues facing so many. Think of all the good that could be done with billionaire $$$ anywhere in this country, let alone around the world.
Off my soapbox.
Our church recently hosted 12 homeless families. They set up a tent encampment on our property. We hosted them for several months, and helped them all acquire housing and employment through a cooperative effort with our county. Here in Florida, no less! We are supporting each family for a year ($200 a month per family helps cover their rent), we provide Saturday breakfast and a ride to church on Sunday for whomever wants to come. It is amazing. Where there's a will, there's a way.
@pat-czap Totally with you on this issue and I'm so sorry for your deep loss. We need to start thinking from the bottom up on homelessness, not top down. Most people and institutions that could help with their time and money are simply afraid that it might be catching so they blame it on the homeless person as if it's their choice. Effective and easily accessible public mental health and substance abuse programs are vital but most don't provide the type of individual, case management approach that is needed to make a lasting difference in their lives. Not all homeless situations are the same just like not all people are the same. It's a multi-faceted issue but it isn't unfixable. We are an unbelievably rich country and we must refocus our wealth so that it's possible that these individuals can thrive. House the homeless, feed the hungry and make it possible for their needs to be met.