Oregon bill would decriminalize homeless encampments and propose penalties if unhoused people are harassed or ordered to leave | This makes me very happy, as it puts the onus of dealing with the #unhoused population exactly where it should be - on society in general and local municipalities specifically. If you don’t want the #homeless in your downtown, provide them a safe space elsewhere. It’s our responsibility as a society to care for our homeless citizens, it is society that has failed them in most cases. So instead of NIMBY vigilantes at all levels punting the population from one place or another, it’s long past time to deal with the crisis head on and provide the space for their tents, tiny houses and warming centers during harsh winters, cooling centers during blazing summers, and access to service at all times. Proud of my state: #oregon and proud of our Governor, Tina Kotek, who with her first lady constitute our first same sex first couple. #LGBTQIA#LGBTQ#Governancehttps://www.cnn.com/2023/04/28/us/oregon-homeless-camp-bill/index.html
@CharlieMcHenry
We desperately need to do something to help people. I'm not sure how much this bill would do practically since the federal courts already decriminalized homeless encampments under the 8th amendment and it will be very difficult to successfully sue for $1,000 except in extraordinary cases where attorneys work pro bono. But it would still be very meaningful if they can pass it. We really need housing construction and housing assistance on a large scale though. @BeamsAndBows
Seriously though the real issue is the fucking cost of housing. I'm homeless in the southwest. The solution is more public housing across the country. Unfortunately the Democrats have caved to centrism, so I wouldn't expect an LBJ style war on poverty again for a while.
Democratic Socialists, Socialist Alternative, and Cpusa all support public housing.
Here in a city right off I5 in south Willamette Valley in Oregon we have transient homeless who frequent the areas just off the freeway, and also a constant “local” homeless population. Occasionally there are some very bad apples who make many in the community quite hostile to both groups. Cost for housing continues to rise and make it impossible to even rent without help in our little town. It’s a terrible problem, getting worse. It’s not just Portland.
@CharlieMcHenry I wish this was the path California was on. Instead, we continue to criminalize homelessness at the local level and now we’ve got the terribly named “Care Courts” taking away rights from people with mental health issues at the state level. It’s a mess.
@CharlieMcHenry I'm sorry but this is the same mentality as defunding the police and expecting crime to go down. Realistically, penalizing local governments for removing dangerous encampments from public areas (an exponentially spiraling problem) won't "incentivize them" to house homeless people overnight; it will incentivize them to let homeless people do what they want because they can't afford to do anything else.
@nudiebodhi I disagree on several counts. First local governments don’t effectively remove dangerous encampments, they just force relocation to other spots or like in Portland, they unhoused simply return following the sweep. My daughter is a Portland city worker who has direct contact daily with this exact population and she tells me the sweeps never work for long. It’s not a viable, long-term solution. Secondly, I have experiential evidence that this will work - in that here in southern Oregon the mere threat of this kind of intervention prompted the city of Medford, Jackson County seat, to purchase 3 derelict downtown motels and convert them to housing for the homeless. Recognizing that was not enough, they also created two spaces, about an acre, along our greenbelt (where much of the camping was taking place) for the homeless to pitch their tents. These spaces also have a couple dozen tiny homes for winter months. Finally, they CAN afford these solutions, we’ve proved it.
@CharlieMcHenry Agree 100%. Where I live, all homeless people were found accommodation during lockdowns. The Parliament House kitchen provided free meals.
@anne_twain You’re right, it can be done. In my rural and conservative southern Oregon community our biggest city purchased three derelict downtown motels and converted them into housing, then established two tent and tiny (very tiny) house spaces along our greenbelt where most tent camping was occurring. Yes, they were kinda pushed hard to provide solutions, but they got it done. If this new bill passes, it will force cities who haven’t yet done so to do something similar.
@anne_twain We have an interest in Australian politics in common, though a yank, my mother was born and spent half her life in and around Melbourne, and I have relatives in most major AU cities. The Crean family, who produced Frank and Simon Crean in the labor party, are cousins. BTW, I’m older than you are.
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