SOUTHERN INDIANA — Several organizations that serve homeless people in the Southern Indiana area are concerned about a new law that will outlaw sleeping in public right-of-ways.
Senate Bill 285 was signed into law on March 5. Among the bill’s various other regulations, it prohibits people from camping or sleeping on “land owned by the state or a political subdivision.”
Leslea Townsend Cronin, executive director of the Homeless Coalition of Southern Indiana, said for the region, she could see the legislation possibly helping those who don’t normally seek help to now do so.
However, she said that the infrastructure, funding and affordable housing is simply not there even for people who do decide to seek help.
“Basically, without giving people options, you are ... making it illegal for them to not have a house,” she said. “And that doesn’t make any sense to me.”
Cronin said that if the right things were in place to address housing, then this bill would be a “moot point.” She also said that there is very little funding in the state for emergency shelters.
“We’re just basically criminalizing people for being in poverty,” she said.
Catalyst Rescue Mission Director Jim Moon said he que s tions exactly what are the public rightof- ways that are a part of this, and he believes the definition is unclear.
Moon said these people are usually vulnerable, have mental health issues and may be using drugs as well. He said even if these people were charged and released, they would most likely not be able to keep up with their court dates.
“If they’re sleeping in a public right-of-way, that means they don’t have the mental wherewithal to make decisions,” Moon said.
Cronin said that local law enforcement is compassionate when it comes to the homeless population, however, they are not social workers, and that it shouldn’t be their role.
“I know that there’s consequences if cities and towns don’t abide by this law, but I don’t know what that’s going to look like for them,” she said.
Moon said that he has a good relationship with JPD, and the department has worked well with homeless individuals at this point.
Cronin said that getting a person in some kind of housing can sometimes take up to two years.
“It simply is because the resources are not there,” she said.
She said that during a white flag shelter night this year, they had 115 people taking shelter. She said that that was the highest number they have ever seen. Last year the highest was 79 people.
She said that while families and children are able to find support and shelters if need be, single men and women have a harder time of finding it.
Moon also said there are not enough case managers in the area to be able to address the homeless population.
Cronin and Moon also said that arresting more people will continue to overcrowd the jails and cost more for the respective counties that run them.
“It starts not to make financial sense when you could just house the individuals and get them the case management that they need for the same amount,” Moon said.
Moon said he also feels that this and other laws are criminalizing the social condition, which is no cure for it, and is instead pushing it away.
“You’re not going to criminalize somebody out of homelessness,” he said.
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