There is a town in Tennessee called COOKEVILLE. Miranda Atnip lost her home when her boyfriend moved out and she fell behind on her bills. The mother of three is living in a car and worried about getting money for food, finding a place to shower, and saving enough money for an apartment where she can live with her children again.
Tennessee is about to become the first U.S. state to make it a felony to camp on public property.
The law, which takes effect July 1st, is going to be hard.
In 2020 it will be a felony to camp on most state-owned property. In pushing the expansion, Sen. Paul Bailey noted that no one has been convicted under that law and that he doesn't expect this one to be enforced much. Bailey's plan will spur people who care about the homeless to work with him on long-term solutions, and that's why the man who has worked with homeless people in the city of Cookeville doesn't support it.
The law requires violators to be given at least 24 hours notice. The loss of voting rights is a felony charge.
Bailey said it was up to prosecutors if they wanted to issue a felony.
After several years of decline, homelessness in the U.S. began increasing in 2017). A survey in January 2020 found that the number of homeless people outside was more than those in shelters. The problem was worsened by the shelters.
Many traditionally liberal cities have been forced to clear homeless camps because of public pressure. Texas passed a statewide ban on camping last year. Failure to enforce the ban will result in losing state funding. Tennessee is the only state that makes camping a felony.
The local newspaper has chronicled the increasing number of homeless people in the city of Cookeville, which is in Bailey's district. Last year, the Herald-Citizen reported that complaints about panhandling nearly doubled. The city put up signs that encouraged residents to give to charities. The City Council considered banning panhandling.
The lawmaker acknowledges that complaints from the town got his attention. Bailey said that city council members told him that Nashville ships its homeless here. Bailey seems to believe that it is a rumor that many in Cookeville have heard. The homeless people who frequented the park were gone when it was fenced off.
The idea of people from Nashville being shipped in was laughed at by Atnip. She had to send her children to live with her parents when she lost her home in Monterey. She said that she has received some government help, but not enough to get her back on her feet. She was able to get a housing voucher, but couldn't find a landlord who would accept it. She and her husband were able to finance a used car because of their savings. She doesn't know where they will pitch the tent, but she is afraid they will lose the car and have to move.
It seems like once one thing goes wrong, it kind of snowballs. The bills were paid. We were saving. Everything goes bad when the car goes kaput.
The camping ban is being advocated by a homeless person who has worked with the homeless for a decade. He wants to help the homeless, but some people aren't motivated to improve their situation Some people are hiding from law enforcement because they are addicted to drugs. He knows about 60 people who live outside more or less permanently in Cookeville.
He said that most of them have been here a few years and have not asked for housing help.
He knows his position is unpopular.
The law does nothing to solve homelessness. Bobby Watts, CEO of the National healthcare for the Homeless Council, said that it will make the problem worse.
Watts said that not everyone wants to be in a crowded shelter with a curfew, but people will move off the streets given the right opportunities. Over the past decade, homelessness among U.S. military veterans has been cut in half through a combination of housing subsidies and social services.
It is not magic, he said.
Tina was homeless with her children when she started Seeds of Hope of Tennessee. She said that many people are just 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 It's hard to find affordable housing in her community of 5,000.
She said if you have a felony on your record, it's holy smokes.
He said that he doesn't expect many people to be prosecuted for sleeping on public property. He does not know what will happen in other parts of the state.
He hopes the new law will prompt some of his opponents to work with him on long-term solutions for the homeless. He said that if they all worked together it would mean a lot of resources and funding for those in need.
Some advocates think threatening people with a felony is not a good way to help them.
Watts said thatcriminalization of homelessness makes people criminals.
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