Homelessness shouldn’t be a crime

Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Grants Pass, Oregon, could move ahead with an ordinance making it illegal to sleep in public with bedding. That opens the door to local ordinances criminalizing homelessness across the nation.

And it piqued the interest of Iowa lawmakers, who now may revisit legislation that would level fines at people who camp, sleep or shelter on public property. Along with the misdemeanor penalty, lawmakers would micromanage how homeless assistance dollars administered by the Iowa Finance Authority would be spent to meet local needs.

We find the notion of making homelessness a crime wrongheaded. And a debate sparked by the legislation would simply distract from the real issue, which is finding housing for the homeless while making assistance programs available. It’s an effort known as “housing first,” a strategy being embraced by Cedar Rapids and other communities.

We hope local governments across Iowa refrain from making it illegal to be homeless.

Under the bill, 25% of dollars that now go toward establishing permanent housing for the homeless would be spent instead on establishing local homeless encampments. The camps would provide shelter, offer bathroom and shower facilities and evaluate people for mental health and substance abuse disorders.

But housing first provides these necessities and many more.

As with so many bills pursued by the Republican-controlled Legislature, the idea came from a conservative think tank, namely the Cicero Institute. A long list of social services providers, health care groups and other organizations opposed the bill.

The only group that supported the legislation was Cicero. Lawmakers shelved the bill, but it could take on new life in the next legislative session.

A better example of how to address homelessness is in Cedar Rapids, which has partnered with the National Alliance to End Homelessness to chart a strategy. Cedar Rapids and Linn County are funding a homeless systems manager to help coordinate local efforts and maximize resources.

The alliance recommends increasing efforts to provide housing, steering people away from homelessness and shelters.

So, any legislation that hampers these local efforts and fines homeless people who can’t afford to pay should be left on the shelf. Iowa doesn’t need another think tank solution.

(319) 398-8262; editorial@thegazette.com