Although the United States has an extensive shelter system to support homeless people, the reality is that in many counties these types of options They are not enough for everyone who needs them and dozens end up sleeping outdoors. That was the case of Robert Martin who, without thinking, caused the change of an entire legislation.
Martin, a resident of Boise, Idaho, had to face serious difficulties for fifteen years because, Without a home, when he found the shelters full, he slept wherever he could: on the stairs of houses, on cement, on rocks, under bridges. This caused various fines.
And it is that, In the county, sleeping or camping on public property was illegal and the man was punished for it until Howard Belodoff, from the Idaho Legal Aid Services law firm, decided to support him, not only him, but all the people in his situation.
As the lawyer shared with the media CBSNews, He decided to take the case to federal court, realizing that Robert’s situation mirrored that of all types of homeless people. “Here’s someone who has nowhere to sleep. He’s been walking all night because “He’s been warned that he can’t camp, which simply means he can’t have a blanket around him.”he expressed.
In 2009, he brought a case against the city of Boise arguing that it was violating the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, which prohibits cruel punishment of the leaving homeless people without a place to legally sleep.
In 2018, the San Francisco-based Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Belodoff. That’s why, now a person cannot be punished for being homeless if there are not enough beds in the shelters.
So, It is currently prohibited to open homeless camps unless the city can guarantee them a place to sleep. Measure that not everyone supports. In fact, Oregon has opened a new case, this time before the Supreme Court, seeking to have the law struck down. The decision is expected to be made this month.
There are several voices that are supporting the possible elimination of the measure. He San Francisco Mayor London Breed blamed the case for worsening the city’s crisissince it is estimated that there are more than 8,000 homeless people and less than 4,000 beds in shelters.
At the same time, in California, it has become practically impossible to relocate the tents that have been placed next to the town hall because the shelters are usually full.
Homeless people could be fined for sleeping on the street.
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Some states in the United States still prohibit sleeping in public
14 states still have current laws that criminalize camping in public places. Additionally, 27 have laws against loitering and loitering that can be used precisely for those who sleep in a public place.
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