Georgia lawmakers are telling cities and counties that they must enforce existing bans on public camping or sleeping by homeless people while saying local governments and hospitals can’t dump homeless people in other counties without permission.
The House voted 99-76 to pass Senate Bill 62 on Monday. The Senate later approved House amendments adding the ban on dumping, sending it to Gov. Brian Kemp for his signature or veto.
“We should not have cities that are looking away as people choose, or feel they must, find different places to put their head every night,” said Rep. Katie Dempsey, a Rome Republican.
The measure passed over vociferous Democratic opposition accusing Republicans of trying to criminalize homelessness and impose unworkable requirements on local governments.
“We must end policies and practices that criminalize poverty,” said Omari Crawford, a Decatur Democrat. “Criminal codes are already full of offenses that punish people for being poor. We need to repeal them all.”
GEORGIA CITIES COMPELLED TO ENFORCE BANS ON PUBLIC CAMPING, COULD LEAD TO DESIGNATED AREAS FOR THE HOMELESS
It’s unclear how much effect the bill will have after Senate Democrats amended it to say that cities and counties could only be sued if they sent out written guidance directing that their own ordinances couldn’t be enforced. The measure also requires a state audit of local spending on homelessness.
Opponents also said the bill doesn’t do enough to address underlying problems or promote permanent solutions.
“Micromanaging local governments and jurisdictions will not address the root cause of homelessness,” Crawford said.
ATLANTA HOMELESS MAN INDICTED IN DEADLY STABBING OF GRANDMA IN BUCKHEAD ENCLAVE PUSHING TO SECEDE OVER CRIME
Like in other cities and states, the push against public camping is being promoted by the Cicero Institute, which argues that creating specific areas where camping is permitted can be a faster solution than building affordable housing. The institute is…
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