This week a senate study committee will be convened to discuss approaches to unsheltered homelessness.
Earlier this year, Sen. Carden Summers (who chairs the committee) presented a bill that called for the state of Georgia to impose misdemeanor offenses for camping on public property. Georgia would ban homeless encampments and cut state funding from cities that refuse to enforce the ban. The act of sleeping outdoors due to not having shelter should not be criminalized. Each small infraction on a homeless person reduces the odds of them getting a job and securing shelter. Furthermore, public property belongs to the public at large. Jailing people for sleeping on public grounds should never be a solution to this issue.
To learn more about the bill click here. Please consider attending the committee meeting to show support and advocacy. Share this with your networks and urge them to consider attending.
The Senate Study Committee meeting on Unsheltered Homelessness will be held on Thursday, August 4, 2022, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Room 450 at the Capitol.
Author: Ericka Cameron-Carr
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