Who is not concerned?
Nevada Senate Bill No. 155, sponsored by Nevada State Senator Ohrenschall, in February, 2023, does nothing to get homeless people off the streets. Its immediate effect is to reaffirm State authority over local government. Its secondary effect is to prevent abuse of homeless people. Although secondary, that is the effect of most importance. Well-meaning, but impetuous local interests seek to deal with the problem of homelessness by law enforcement. SB-155 moderates such enthusiasm.
The immediate problem of homelessness is protecting the homeless. Without explicitly identifying threats to homeless people, they may be presumed to include well-meaning (but misguided), persons who desire to solve the problem of homelessness by any means possible. By any means possible refers, inevitably, to law enforcement. That, then, puts law enforcement on the spot. Law enforcement fights crime. Homelessness is not a crime. What is a policeman to do?
Homelessness may ultimately become a Constitutional question. If the homeless are indeed homeless, then ipso facto, homelessness is not a State problem. It is a National problem. For comparison and contrast, consider the approach taken by Florida's House of Representatives draft Resolution 1365 (2024), “An act relating to unauthorized public camping and public sleeping.” It continues for seven pages in similarly vivid, and I might add, provocative, language.
To summarize the document (as it now stands), raises the question, Cui bono, Who benefits? In the seven pages of the draft bill, the term “property” is used 22 times. Property is the main concern of private interests, the same interests that instigate those local ordinances benefiting local interests. Who, I might ask, will operate the proposed privately-operated homeless shelters? In other words, who gets the tax payer-funded contract? When disbursement of any public funds is mandated it's not a police matter.
Starting at Line 8, the phrase “children and families” (read: families with children), is mentioned 5 times in the draft of Resolution 1365. Are we talking about the same homeless population? There are no homeless children, or homeless families with children, living in the United States. In no location, in the United States, are orphans roaming the streets naked. The U.S.A. is not a third-world population notorious for lax child and family services. It is simply not tolerated.
For whom, then, is Resolution 1365 concerned? Something for everybody -so it seems. As it now stands, the draft is far from complete. It needs to be pruned of specific remedies for issues that are not legislative. It will eventually resemble Nevada Senate Bill 155 when complete. It will be 3 pages in length (not 7). I admit I am at a loss as to why the Governor of Nevada has not signed. The Governor of Florida's involvement has been called-for in press releases about the Florida bill.
I suppose a crisis is needed to force a decision. That's how revolution works. Reforming homelessness in America will not be like negotiating corporate mergers and acquisitions. Outrage is needed. In the meantime keep talking, legislature, at the same time keeping in mind that the answer to homelessness may not be political.