On the surface this Missouri legislation seems cruel and targeting the desperately poor.
However . . .
Anybody who REALLY understands local homeless camps knows that NOBODY THERE REALLY SLEEPS and it's pretty much a place to park junkies who have been up for a week on the finest local meth brewed in a soda bottle.
Still . . . Here's the out of touch worry . . .
The law prevents some federal and state funds from being used to construct affordable housing, instead redirecting that money towards constructing temporary camps that provide substance abuse and mental health treatment.
It also allows the Missouri attorney general to sue local governments that don’t enforce laws and orders on unauthorized public camping, sleeping or obstructions of sidewalks — and threatens the loss of all state and federal funding for housing and homelessness if they don’t abide by such bans.
It goes into effect on Aug. 28.
“There’s been no clarity or guiding information issued from the governor’s office or from any state agencies at this point,” said Sarah Owsley, director of policy and advocacy for Empower Missouri, which advocates on behalf of low-income residents. “We have reached out to [Missouri Housing Development Commission] staff, who also similarly don’t seem to really understand it.”
Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
New Missouri law makes sleeping on state land a crime for people experiencing homelessness * Missouri Independent
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed sweeping legislation Wednesday making it a Class C misdemeanor for people experiencing homelessness to sleep on state-owned land. The law prevents some federal and state funds from being used to construct affordable housing, instead redirecting that money towards constructing temporary camps that provide substance abuse and mental health treatment.
Comments
Post a Comment
TKC COMMENT POLICY:
Be percipient, be nice. Don't be a spammer. BE WELL!!!
- The Management