San Mateo County officers are hoping so as to add an uncommon tactic to their multi-pronged strategy to tackling the homelessness disaster: making it a criminal offense to refuse to simply accept accessible, short-term housing.
In a unanimous vote this week, county supervisors moved ahead with the proposal — regardless of important opposition from civil rights teams and a few homeless advocates — which might enable authorities to problem a misdemeanor violation to anybody dwelling in a homeless encampment who refuses to maneuver into accessible, short-term housing after a well being analysis and no less than two warnings.
“One of many hardest challenges we face is addressing and aiding these in encampments who have a tendency to say no companies or refuse companies,” Supervisor Dave Pine stated at Tuesday’s board assembly. “The hope is will probably be a instrument to assist transfer people into shelter.”
Opponents fear it is going to criminalize homelessness.
However Pine, together with board President Warren Slocum, co-sponsor of the ordinance, stated the measure is the newest in a host of complete options — together with a road drugs crew and the conversion of motels to short-term housing — geared toward lowering homelessness in San Mateo County.
“Forty homeless individuals die in San Mateo county yearly. … That’s simply not acceptable,” Slocum stated. This proposal “isn’t about criminalizing individuals, it’s about serving to those that actually could not be capable to assist themselves. … We actually do have the capability to accommodate individuals and get individuals the assistance they want.”
Officers stated the county has as much as 30 unused shelter beds accessible each night time, although that falls wanting the estimated 44 individuals dwelling in homeless encampments throughout unincorporated San Mateo County. Many extra encampments are situated within the county’s 20 cities, together with Daly Metropolis and Redwood Metropolis, however this ordinance would apply solely in unincorporated areas.
After San Mateo made investments to answer the homelessness disaster within the final two years, the variety of individuals on the streets considerably dipped, with extra accessing shelter amenities, in line with County Govt Officer Mike Callagy.
“We’re down now to the hard-to-reach inhabitants, the inhabitants that doesn’t need to are available in,” Callagy stated.
If the proposal reaches remaining approval subsequent week, somebody in an encampment who refuses a proposal for an accessible mattress can have 72 hours to vary their thoughts, receiving two written warnings. After that, authorities may problem a misdemeanor quotation, which Callagy stated can be dealt with by way of diversion applications, like psychological well being court docket.
However nobody can be cited if county officers don’t have a mattress accessible, Callagy stated. He pressured that the aim is to not problem tickets or route individuals into the felony justice system however to get companies and housing to these in want.
“We consider that after provided these choices, most individuals will avail themselves to the companies,” Callagy stated. He hopes the citations are hardly ever issued however are used as a deterrent.
“On the finish of the day, it’s about saving lives,” stated David Canepa, one other county supervisor. “I don’t purchase into the narrative that we must always do nothing.”
County officers touting the proposal stated it was primarily based on a Houston ordinance, adopted in 2017, that made homeless encampments on public property unlawful and tried to funnel individuals into short-term housing. Whereas this system has been highlighted for its success at eradicating encampments and serving to individuals get off the streets, the Houston Chronicle discovered that tickets and arrests for violating the supply — given solely after a warning and a proposal of housing — proceed to extend.
Whereas many West Coast municipalities face authorized roadblocks to clearing encampments, San Mateo County attorneys stated the ordinance adheres to authorized precedent that protects the suitable to sleep outdoors when no different housing is offered.
In Los Angeles, metropolis officers have been making efforts to deal with rising encampments by encouraging individuals to simply accept short-term shelter and implementing legal guidelines that forbid blocking sidewalks or different particular locations.
In San Mateo County, the proposed ordinance has drawn critics, together with the American Civil Liberties Union, spiritual leaders and the San Mateo County Non-public Defender Program, which represents indigent defendants. Critics say they fear concerning the unintended penalties of such a legislation.
“Policing isn’t any strategy to get individuals into therapy,” stated William Freeman, senior council of ACLU of Northern California, decrying the “severely flawed ordinance.”
Whereas he praised the county for its latest work on homelessness, he stated that “anti-camping ordinances invite over-policing and abuse.”
Lauren P. McCombs, an Episcopal deacon and a pacesetter for Religion in Motion Bay Space, referred to as the criminalization of homelessness “inhumane therapy of our unhoused neighbors.”
“Our county wants to unravel this disaster by guaranteeing secure and inexpensive housing choices which might be accessible to all residents, with sturdy incentives and never threats of incarceration,” McCombs stated.
County officers on Tuesday took into consideration some issues from the general public, amending the ordinance to incorporate a well being analysis earlier than warnings are issued and a overview course of scheduled to launch after a couple of months.
Supervisor Noelia Corzo stated her half-brother is homeless in San Mateo County, so she is aware of first-hand how complicated the problem is. She stated she is pleased with the county for “doing one thing totally different.”
“I don’t take this calmly,” she stated, “however not doing something just isn’t working both.”
