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Organizations helping homeless community speak out against Safer Kentucky Act

Organizations helping homeless community speak out against Safer Kentucky Act  WLWT Cincinnati

AstheU.S.SupremeCourtissettoruleonacaseinvolvingmajorquestionsaboutthegrowingissueofhomelessness–asweepingKentuckycrimebillissettotakeeffectthisSummerthatwouldgiveauthoritiestoarrestthosewhosleepoutsideinpublicplaces.It’sthemostsignificantcasebeforethehighcourtindecadesontheissueandcomesasrecordnumbersofpeoplearewithoutapermanentplacetoliveintheUnitedStates.ThecasestartedintheruralOregontownofGrantsPass,whichbeganfiningpeople$295forsleepingoutsideasthecostofhousingescalatedandtentssprungupinthecity’spublicparks.TheSanFrancisco-basedU.S.9thCircuitCourtofAppealsstruckdownthelawunderitsholdingthatbanningcampinginplaceswithoutenoughshelterbedsamountstocruelandunusualpunishment.Meanwhile,thesweepingmeasureinKentuckywouldcriminalizehomelessnessbycreatingan“unlawfulcamping”offense,Gov.AndyBeshearsaidwhenhevetoedthebill.AdvocatessayKentuckyneedsalawthatholdscriminalsaccountable,whileopponents