BEING HOMELESS IS A CRIME

BEING HOMELESS IS A CRIME

A 2012 U.S. government report noted that indicators of both homelessness and the criminalization of homelessness have increased steadily in recent years. For example, 33% of the 235 cities surveyed for a 2009 report cited by the U.S. government had an anti-camping ban in at least some public areas, and 17% had a citywide ban, effectively making these cities partial or total "no homeless" zones. Thirty percent prohibited sitting or lying in public places, 47% prohibited "loitering", and 47% prohibited begging in at least some public places. A subsequent 2011 report found that, since the data was collected in 2009, there had been a 7% increase in prohibitions on begging or panhandling, a 7% increase in prohibitions on camping in public places, and a 10% increase in prohibitions on loitering in particular public places. A new report from 2014 found that since 2011 city-wide bans on camping in public have increased by 60%, city-wide bans on begging in public have increased by 25%, city-wide bans on loitering, loafing, and vagrancy have increased by 35%, city-wide bans on sitting or lying down in particular public places have increased by 43%. bans on sleeping in vehicles have increased by 119% and city-wide bans on sleeping in public have continued in place since 2011.

Boise, Idaho, "anywhere from 2,000 to 4,500 people are homeless on any given night, while area shelters only have beds for approximately 300 and . . . space for approximately 400 more to sleep on mats on the floor." During the three years in which Boise resident Brian Carson has been homeless, he, like many local homeless people, has been frequently turned away from local shelters because they were at capacity. Carson received a disorderly conduct citation for sleeping in public after he had unsuccessfully attempted to find shelter. A police officer woke him up with a kick and said that if he allowed him to sleep outside others will do the same, which would be a "mess." The officer arrested Carson because of a warrant associated with a previous citation for sleeping in public, and Carson spent two days in jail. He was billed $50 for this period of incarceration, which he cannot afford to pay. Carson expressed fears that he will receive additional citations for sleeping in public places that will interfere with his ability to find employment and housing. He does not have the money to pay additional criminal fines.