Can People Be Forced Into Shelter?

by Shannon Moriarty · 2009-09-21 20:04:00 UTC
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Should homeless individuals be forced to take refuge in shelter? If legislation proposed by B.C., Canada government officials is passed, police will be able to use force move people indoors during extreme weather conditions. While civil liberties activists are up in arms over the proposed legislation, others are wary of the government's motivation for the bill.

Last year, a British Columbia homeless woman died during a deep freeze after lighting a fire to stay warm. This, officials claim, is the primary reason for the bill. The legislation would allow authorities to make a declaration of extreme weather, which would then allow police to "use force" to get homeless individuals into shelters. Those who resist will have to take an entirely different kind of shelter - behind bars.

The Canadian version of the ACLU, the BC Civil Liberties Association, insists that this legislation is more about "saving face for the government than saving lives on the street." Perhaps the timing of this legislation is no mistake; after all, the 2010 Winter Olympics are just around the corner. Many believe that in preparation for its moment in the world spotlight, city officials are crafting ways of forcing the area's homeless into hiding. After all, if they are hidden, they cannot be forced into shelter.

If B.C. goes through with this proposed legislation, they'll join the ranks of cities that have used extreme and cruel measures in an effort to clear the streets of those without a home for a high-profile event. Who could forget Denver distributiing museum tickets to its chronically homeless population during the DNC. And then there was Tampa Bay, arresting homeless individuals and holding them in jail during January's Superbowl.

People should not be forced to seek shelter against their will. If a person chooses to stay on the streets rather than take refuge in a shelter during extreme weather situations, they probably have a good reason for doing so. It could be due to a pet. It could be shelter policies that limit the number of personal belongings one may bring. It could be for safety reasons.

Besides, just because someone has lost their home, it does not mean they've lost their free will.

Image from CTV.ca.

Shannon Moriarty has worked in various homeless shelters and service organizations around the country. She is a graduate student studying housing and urban policy at Tufts University.
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