Street Roots • March 17-23, 2017
Opinion
Page 3
Time for lawmakers to go big on housing
n the past few months, a bar owner brandished an
assault rifle at police. He was drunk and upset at
individuals experiencing homelessness in the
community. Another man tossed
a homemade bomb under an RV
frustrated at people experiencing
homelessness camping outside
his residence. The bomb didn’t
go off, thank goodness. Both of
the individuals walked with only
By Israel Bayer
_________________
a slap on the w rist
Last month, a business owner
shot and killed an individual
experiencing a mental health crisis in his parking lot. The
individual was homeless. The Portland Mercury reported
this week that a Multnomah County grand jury decided
the business owner was justified in killing the homeless
that all people have a right to restful sleep and equal
access to public space preserved. Call you state reps
today!
Speaking of it being a crime to be broke in America, the
unwavering attacks on health care and the possibility of a
$6 billion federal budget cut for housing and homeless
programs and mental health services is enough to make
your brain explode.
Let’s not forgot that nearly 40 years ago the Reagan
administration began to dismantle housing investments
around the United States. It’s the reason we have modern-
day homelessness to begin with. Today, the Trump
administration appears ready to burn the entire house to
the ground.
It’s all the more reason I believe local elected officials
should be less concerned about homeless shelters and
more concerned about how they’re going to obtain long
term revenue options to support homeless programs and
All of the individuals walked with only probation or
more affordable housing. If we as a community continue to
nothing at all.
•
get lost playing small ball instead of keeping our eyes, on
Now, I’m not saying the police and the district
the bigger prize we are in deep trouble.
attorney’s office aren’t doing everything they can or aren’t
If only a fraction of what the Trump administration has
getting it right in these specific cases. Regardless, it sure
threatened comes true, it’s going be absolute madness on
does send an interesting message to the general public
our streets. Not to mention that there’s no reason to think
about how we can treat people experiencing
that in the coming years we’re going to get anywhere near
homelessness. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not a crime-and-
the relief we need from Salem. They continue to give us
punishment kind of guy. Still, there’s a big difference in
bread and expect poor people to find the roses. It’s a
being frustrated due to homeless camps or having to deal
crying shame.
with someone having a mental health collapse, and pulling
The mayor of Seattle is doubling down on the homeless
out an assault rifle, throwing a bomb or actually killing an
and housing emergency there and going back out to voters
individual.
(after just passing a housing levy) to support investment
The twisted irony is that the very system that isn’t
in mental health sendees and housing. In Los Angeles,
punishing any of these individuals for their action^ is more the City passed a sales tax this week for $355 million
than willing to spend an enormous amount of resources . annually for homeless services. This.comes only four • • >
m o n th s a f te r p a s s in g a $ 1 b illio n h o u s in g b o n d . T alk a b o u t
a n d e n e r g y to e n fo rc e a n d p r o s e c u te “q u a lity o f life ” law s
big time.
criminalizing people experiencing homelessness.
I believe our regional leaders should be thinking about
Meanwhile, the homeless person ends up actually doing
the same thing. To let up on the gas at this point would be
time in the county jail for not having the resources to play
a grave failure. We just might be on the verge of seeing
the game. It truly is a ¿rime to be broke in, America.
one of the largest spikes in homelessness and poverty in
It’s all the more reason to support Oregon House Bill
American cities in our lifetime, possibly since the Great
2215, Oregon’s Right to Rest Act. The bill would end the
Depression. Now is not the time to be managing the
criminalization of sleeping while homeless, while working
problem. Now is the time to go big or - eventually - go
to support the basic human and civil rights for all people,
home. If there’s a home left that is..Time will tell.
regardless of their housing status. The bill would ensure
I
DIRECTOR'S
DESK
Israel Bayer is the
executive director o f
Street Roots. You can
reach him at
israel@streetroots.org
or follow him on
Twitter @israelbayer.
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