Sleeping on San Diego's Streets Will Once Again Be a Crime

by Jennifer Cooper · 2010-10-11 07:38:00 UTC
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Despite a known lack of shelter space, San Diego may soon once again issue tickets to those sleeping on the city's streets.

The practice was popular until a lawsuit was filed against the city and, under the terms of a settlement in 2007, the city was ordered by a federal judge to halt issuing illegal lodging citations to people sleeping on city streets at night.

However, with last week's unanimous decision by the City Council to move forward with a $31 million service and housing center for 225 people, ticketing may soon resume.

The decision to once again issue tickets may have been a condition of approval of a new homeless shelter. Though the tickets come with conditions — they are only to be issued if shelter space is available and the person in question refuses to accept the space — efforts would be better spent helping homeless residents get housing assistance and other services such as job training, drug and alcohol treatment and medical care. Tell the San Diego City Council that sleeping outside is not a crime!

It is understandable that the city would want to encourage its homeless residents to fill every available bed space. But the sad reality is that there is not always enough space — the new shelter is not expected to be completed until the end of 2012. And there are many residents who, for whatever reason, do not want to sleep in a shelter. Earlier this week a homeless encampment in San Diego was dismantled, with the police citing health and safety violations.

It makes little sense to issue tickets to those who clearly have no way to pay. Further, it is making a crime of a basic human right. Sadly San Diego is not alone in its criminalization of homelessness. Hundreds of cities and towns across the country have made everything from loitering to eating in public to panhandling a punishable offense.

San Diego's City Council should focus on getting the new shelter built as quickly and smoothly as possible instead of issuing tickets to those left with little choice but to sleep on the streets.

Photo credit: Thairms

Jennifer Cooper is a writer, activist and defender of the underdog. She is currently walking across the U.S. and writing a book about poverty and homelessness. She blogs at justabumpintheroad.org.
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