The local homeless population has swelled to nearly 8,000 people over the past year. That is nearly a 12% increase year-over-year. Clark County politicians have found a simple solution to remediate the problem – lock them up!
This falls under a recent United States Supreme Court ruling that gives broad legal application of what “camping on public streets” means. What the new ordinance does is “require” those that are homeless to “voluntarily ” partake in the public services that are available to them, such as counseling, temporary housing etc.
If they refuse for whatever reason, they can be locked up for 10 days. This way the “nuisances” are off the streets, albeit temporarily. After all, nobody wants to go to jail.
If they are incarcerated, they will get three meals a day and proper personal hygrine care. They have no money; they may be victims of domestic violence; are mentally ill; or perhaps addicted to drugs and/or alcohol. Forcing them to move from one location to another under the threat of arrest or surrendering to arrest because they refuse “help” is no solution.
I’ve written about this problem over the years and suggested at least some more humane solutions. For example: Homeless Villages that are separated by families, single men and women, and the gay and transgender communities is a must. Why?
Mixing the populations under one roof is a recipe for disaster. One other point: no jurisdiction locally or nationally provides humanitarian housing for the homeless if they have pets. What would you do if you force those with pets to separate themselves from the one security blanket that is their only family connection?
As I have suggested, since 90% of the land in the State is owned by the Bureau of Land Management and land costs are about 30% of total housing costs, by donating that land to a developer of potential Homeless Villages and converting old railroad cars to sanitary housing (each estimated to cost about $30,000) is less costly than throwing them in jail!
You will create a sustainable, affordable and more humane solution to the homeless population.
