Almost 50 years ago, President Lyndon Johnson started an ambitious initiative to eliminate poverty in America, which he called The War on Poverty. His weapons were programs that created a national safety net for people battling poverty, like food stamps, Head Start, and Medicare.
Today, is the tide of the War on Poverty changing for the worse?
In Los Angeles, the City Council recently approved a ban on camping in city parks. While the ban was intended to prevent a new Occupy L.A. tent city, it could result in the criminalization of people who are sleeping in parks because they are homeless.
Other cities are using similar tactics to battle the encroachment of homelessness on their streets and public spaces, USA Today recently pointed out. If a congregation in Philadelphia wants to publicly feed people living on the streets of their city, they would be breaking the law. In Denver, eating or sleeping on another person's property is also illegal.
A spokesperson for Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter told USA Today said the measures are meant to ensure good public hygiene and safety. Overall, bringing homeless people inside to a "dignified" setting for a meal means they'll have access to health services they otherwise wouldn't, he said.
I don't think these measures would have received President Johnson's approval.
I often receive calls from hard-working people who have lost their jobs, are one week away from eviction, and have no choice but to live in their car or carve out a space under a bush.
Where is the crime in sleeping under a park bench until another job is found? Who is the victim here, if not the person who must sleep on the ground?
In many American cities, the perceived victims are homeowners and merchants who have lost patience with the tents near their property. Compassion is fine if it means volunteering to cook a meal in a controlled environment like a homeless shelter. But when those same hungry people camp out near your business, compassion turns to anger.
The downturn in our economy several years ago caused many Americans to lose their jobs and their homes. Many were able to stay off the streets only because of supportive family members or the help of federal programs.
You would think the large number of citizens on the brink of extreme poverty would create compassion for people living on the streets. But, instead, city leaders are feeling more pressure to enact anti-camping and anti-feeding ordinances to force homelessness out of their communities.
People are tired of compassion. Irritation has trumped tolerance for those who are homeless.
Enforcing anti-homeless ordinances is more politically expedient than actually addressing the root causes and long-term solutions to homelessness.
Instead of helping people experiencing homelessness move off the streets for good, these ordinances just force them into different neighborhoods. We are not ending homelessness, we are rearranging it.
The battle to end homelessness can only be won when more permanent affordable housing linked with intensive services is created to house those living on our streets. Then people experiencing homelessness, service providers, politicians, and community members can all say, "Mission Accomplished."
Follow Joel John Roberts on Twitter: www.twitter.com/joeljohnroberts
All those who have given over the years to this once beautiful teenager have enabled this sad, sad outcome. They should be ashamed of themselves.
Judging by your picture, Joel, you are too young to remember that there was a time when there were no homeless people living on the streets, because it would not have been tolerated. Both the cities and the homeless were better off.
The recent housing collapse and recession, of course, has landed people in some frightening situations, but having them camp out in our parks is not the answer.
I was coming Jo,e last night on the CTA and twice I had panhandlers come on the train, make an announcement, tell their sob story, and ask for help. I remained cold...simply because I've seen these guys each play their scam for years. I mean, two years now and you haven't raised the $18 you need for that bus ticket to Rockford?
I try to give money to actual charities and organizations to help the actual needy...never to anyone on the street. I'm in full support of anti-panhandling laws. Just wish more could be done to get the beggars off the streets and end the nusciance.
Most of the homeless beggars are young kids who have chosen to be on the streets.
For others who are at the end of their options, let us not let them down by leaving them to camp out on the streets and in the parks.
Let us rise to decency and find a better way to give them a leg up.
America! Really? This is how we treat our people, while we try to tell the rest of the world how to treat their citizens?
We definitely don't need to be throwing stones. What we need to be doing is taking care of the less fortunate in this country, and stay the heck out of everybody else's (other countries') business.
Most of the homeless I see here in Miami, certainly aren't looking for a WARM place to sleep in this heat and humidity either.
They are mostly addicts or mentally ill and are filthy and smelly. If I'm a business owner, I don't want them around because they drive off business. If I take my child to the park, I don't want them playing near someone who might be mentally ill, or on drugs.
I will not go to a gas station if I see anyone hanging around ready to approach you and beg for money for drugs or booze just as you've started to fill up.
I give to the United Way and various other charities to help homeless find shelter. Most that I have seen are NOT interested in getting off the streets..its comfortable for them and they're used to it.
It bothers me that no matter what housing (Habitat for Humanity), or shelters are available, the majority of the homeless aren't interested due to mental issues and addiction.
And to make matters worse, this new drug is causing cannablism so I truly won't go anywhere near them.
Yes, there are a lot of addicts amongst homeless people, but their addictions were not the cause of their homelessness for the most part. In fact, in the majority of such cases, their homelessness was the cause of their addiction.
When you have no roof over your head, little chance of getting one as once you are homeless this almost totally precludes you from the job market (very few are able to get jobs while homeless and put themselves back into housing), and a lot of time and misery to deal with, this is the most dangerous time for developing addictions of all kinds.
As for those NGO's, I recommend you read, "Dead Aid," by Dambisa Moyo, who understands, first hand, the harm these organizations inflict.
Maybe we should try giving away another $16 Trillion. Maybe it will work better the second time around.
BTW - I don't hear any of the liberals telling the people who took the $16 Trillion without earning it that they are "Greedy".
I'd rather root for the people. Yes, we have a huge poverty problem. But ... WHY do we have so many homeless?
Without the banks and Wall Street, everyone would be out on the street. That would be your war.
“1000 dollar fine and or 6 months in jail for what ?? Sleeping and trying to stay warm ? Criminalizing homelessness... City Council, Regular Meeting Civic Center Council Chambers 777 Cypress Avenue, Redding, California October 17, 2006 7:00 p.m.
ORDINANCE - Amending Redding Municipal Code Chapter 10.40 - Unlawful Camping (P-150-150)
Police Chief Moty explained that recently, numerous complaints were received regarding transient camps and illegal campfires in the Parkview Neighborhood and surrounding area. These illegal campfires have resulted in at least two uncontrolled wildfires requiring suppression by the Redding Fire Department. Chief Moty related that Redding Municipal Code (RMC), Chapter 10.40 regulates camping and fire activity on public and private property but charges the violator with an infraction only for the first two offenses making enforcement difficult. He said that amending the unlawful camping ordinance to charge violators with a misdemeanor for the first offense will provide police officers with the ability to arrest and remove, if necessary, individuals unlawfully camping or starting campfires without a permit.
http://www.ci.redding.ca.us/cclerk/Minutes-2006/Council/06-10-17.pdf
"Pastor Dave Honey of the Good News Rescue Mission (Mission) voiced support for the amendment and reported that Mission personnel are working hard to clean up areas frequented by transients, and commented on the ever-increasing homeless population.