North Carolina lawmakers debate rules for homeless encampments
CENTER.
>> STATE LAWMAKERS ARE DEBATING
WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS. A
HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT. ONE IDEA
WE CAN SAY IS GAINING SOME
TRACTION TONIGHT. THERE IS A
PROPOSAL APPROVED BY A
COMMITTEE TODAY WOULD ALLOW
THESE ENCAMPMENTS IN SOME
PLACES BUT BANNED THEM IN OTHER
AREAS. WRAL'S CAPITOL BUREAU
CHIEF LAURA LESLIE IS AT THE
STATE LEGISLATIVE BUILDING.
YOU'VE BEEN LISTENING IN ON
SOME OF THESE CONVERSATIONS
TODAY. EXPLAIN A BIT MORE OF
A 2.
>> DAN'S THE MEASURE WOULD
ALLOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO
DESIGNATE A PLACE, A LOCATION
FOR CAMPING BY THE HOMELESS.
HOWEVER, THEY WOULD ALSO HAVE
TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THAT
SITE AND THEY WOULD NOT BE
ALLOWED TO ALLOW PEOPLE ALMOST
PEOPLE TO CAMP ANYWHERE ELSE IN
THEIR IN THEIR AREA. LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS COULD CHOOSE A
LOCATION ON GOVERNMENT-OWNED
LAND, NOT TOO CLOSE TO
RESIDENTIAL AREAS OR TO
COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, THE CITY
OR TOWN WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE
TOILETS AND RUNNING WATER AND
SECURITY PATROLS AS WELL AS
ACCESS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
SERVICES. BUT OTHER CAMPS WOULD
HAVE TO BE DISMANTLED OR THE
CITY COULD FACE LAWSUITS FROM
RESIDENTS ARE BUSINESS OWNERS
SPONSOR REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN
BIG SAYS CITIES IN HIS DISTRICT
HAVE ASKED HIM TO DO SOMETHING.
>> IF THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO
DO, THEIR SEMI TO ANSWER SOME
OF THE HOMELESS THERE,
ANDERSON, SEN AND WHAT THIS
BILL DOES AND DOES NOT BAN
DOESN'T CRIMINALIZE
HOMELESSNESS, KNOW IT ADDRESSES
THE YOU KNOW, PUBLIC PROPERTY.
AND SLEEPING WITHOUT
PROHIBITING HOSTS ITSELF.
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO HELP
HOMELESS PEOPLE.
>> THEN YOU WOULD HELP TO
UNLOCK THE 27 EMPTY HOMES FOR
EVERY HOMELESS PERSON. YOU HELP
US GET MEDICAID FOR EVERY
PERSON YOU WOULD RAISE THE
MINIMUM WAGE SO WE COULD AFFORD
THE SKY-HIGH RENT.
>> THAT'S KRIS, NOT LIVE WITH
THE NATIONAL UNION OF THE
HOMELESS, WHO WAS CRITICAL OF
THE BILL. HE COMPARED THE IDEA
OF SANCTIONED ENCAMPMENTS TO
CONCENTRATION CAMPS AND
PREDICTED THAT MOST PEOPLE,
ESPECIALLY VETERANS, WOULD NOT
AGREE TO USE THEM US. AND
DEMOCRATS ON THE COMMITTEE SAID
THEY APPRECIATED BIGS ATTEMPT
TO OFFER SOME SOLUTION TO WHAT
THEY ALL AGREED WAS A COMPLEX
PROBLEM, BUT THEY URGED HIM
TO PAIR THAT WITH ADDITIONAL
MONEY FOR HOMELESS HOUSING.