The Supreme Court ruled Friday in favor of an Oregon city that ticketed homeless people for sleeping outside, rejecting arguments that such “anti-camping” ordinances violate the Constitution’s ban on “cruel and unusual” punishment.
@hapablap@Amoxtli I agree with you partially here. The causes of homelessness should be addressed before it is criminalized.
However, harshly cutting off drug supplies and making it easier for people who, for example, have criminal records, to get jobs, would be a better way to start than building in incentives for people to stay homeless.
You’d be surprised by how many people are literally homeless just because they got hooked on drugs.
What do you mean incentives to stay homeless? Does this include anything that reduces the discomfort of homelessness like food and medical care? I don’t have statistics about the number of homeless that actually choose to be homeless, which sounds like an impossible question to answer because. It seems likely that any homeless person would want an improvement to their lifestyle of some kind. Given the option of becoming a homeless drug addict versus not, what right-minded person would make that choice? It just isn’t a choice. Certainly, once you’re a homeless drug addict it really isn’t a choice anymore. A homeless drug addict can’t just decide not be a homeless drug addict. In fact I’d wager that once you’re a homeless drug addict, if you become housed it’s a lot harder to remain so. If a homeless drug addict becomes clean, it’s a lot harder for them to remain so. Virtually no one would choose that lifestyle. If it is such a great choice then choose it yourself!
@hapablap @Amoxtli I agree with you partially here. The causes of homelessness should be addressed before it is criminalized.
However, harshly cutting off drug supplies and making it easier for people who, for example, have criminal records, to get jobs, would be a better way to start than building in incentives for people to stay homeless.
You’d be surprised by how many people are literally homeless just because they got hooked on drugs.
What do you mean incentives to stay homeless? Does this include anything that reduces the discomfort of homelessness like food and medical care? I don’t have statistics about the number of homeless that actually choose to be homeless, which sounds like an impossible question to answer because. It seems likely that any homeless person would want an improvement to their lifestyle of some kind. Given the option of becoming a homeless drug addict versus not, what right-minded person would make that choice? It just isn’t a choice. Certainly, once you’re a homeless drug addict it really isn’t a choice anymore. A homeless drug addict can’t just decide not be a homeless drug addict. In fact I’d wager that once you’re a homeless drug addict, if you become housed it’s a lot harder to remain so. If a homeless drug addict becomes clean, it’s a lot harder for them to remain so. Virtually no one would choose that lifestyle. If it is such a great choice then choose it yourself!