A state House bill touted as a Homeless Bill of Rights would give people more grounds to sue over alleged harassment but fails to do anything to address the underlying problems of homelessness.
Homeless advocates have long complained about the increasing number of laws they claim are criminalizing the unfortunate position of being homeless.
They often cite as one of the offenders — a controversial law passed in 2012 that sought to deal with increasing numbers of people camping without permission in the city.
Denver officials maintain the goal of the law was to connect homeless people with services, not throw them in jail.
Of more than 2,500 people police have contacted for possibly violating the law since 2012, only 15 received citations. And a dozen of those were thrown out because police didn’t follow the law’s mandatory steps of contacting social services first.
No doubt Denver has struggled along with the rest of the nation on what to do about homelessness. But let us not forget that the city has spent tens of millions of dollars on the problem, too.
Denver and other cities have been careful not to violate people’s basic rights when passing laws aimed at curtailing the antisocial actions of some of the homeless. Meanwhile, upheld Boulder’s homeless camping ban, refusing to hear a case challenging the law.
The proposed legislation wouldn’t invalidate cities’ laws, but instead would say homeless people have a right to sleep in public places, among other things. And if police or security guards harass them, they could sue.
This template in Oregon, California and Hawaii.
Homelessness will not be solved through countless frivolous lawsuits if this bad bill passes, and the predicament of the homeless will not be improved.
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