Go Directly to Jail: Punishing the Homeless for Being Homeless

[marmar]

from truthdig:


Go Directly to Jail: Punishing the Homeless for Being Homeless

Posted on Sep 10, 2015
By Bill Boyarsky


READ: Part 1: Why Ending Homelessness Is Political Poison

The main Los Angeles County jails are less than two miles from Skid Row—within walking distance for the mentally ill and addicted homeless men who are arrested for petty offenses and then released back to the streets. Returning to Skid Row, they may be nailed by the police again for any number of offenses, such as jaywalking, refusing to move their possessions from the sidewalk, urinating in an alley or sleeping in a public place.

More than a third of Los Angeles’ homeless are mentally ill; a quarter are addicts; and 21 percent are victims of domestic violence. Many suffer from a combination of these and many other afflictions and traumas. (These figures are from a census conducted by volunteers under the direction of county and city officials.)

This cruel revolving-door process—from streets to jail back to streets—is also a reality in other cities throughout the nation.

“People live in public spaces because they have no alternatives,” John Maceri, who leads Lamp Community—an organization that finds housing for the homeless—told me. “We keep perpetuating the same cycle over and over again. We have to stop punishing people for being poor and helpless.”

He added: “The vast majority ... are just trying to survive. Then to arrest them for that and to punish them seems very cruel.” ..........................(more)

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/go_directly_to_jail_punishing_the_homeless_for_beinghomeless_20150910

[Babel_17]

1. Spend some money, it will go a long way

Renovate some abandoned areas in and around a city and provide the basics. People will donate when they see a sensible cause. And you'd create jobs. I imagine that some of the homeless would love to do some of the work.

Spend some money.