LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Organizations that work with Louisville’s homeless population are uncertain a new public safety plan from state Republican lawmakers is the right approach to the complex issue of homelessness.

What You Need To Know

  • A group of Republican lawmakers have laid out their plan to tackle violent crime in the state

  • Their 18-point plan includes language targeting homelessness

  • It would ban street camping in public places

  • Organizations who work with Louisville’s homeless population say this is not the right approach

This week, a group of Republican lawmakers who represent Jefferson County laid out their plan to improve public safety. It's been dubbed the Safer Kentucky Act. Included in the 18-point plan is this section concerning homelessness:

Preventing Street Camping

  • Imposes a ban on street camping on public streets, sidewalks, paths or public areas normally used by pedestrians and/or vehicles, private property, homes or businesses in any way. 
  • Persons engaged in street camping in prohibited areas must vacate immediately if requested to do so by property owners or law enforcement; those refusing to vacate could be physically relocated by law enforcement and charged with a misdemeanor, escalating with each offense.
  • Property owners shall not be held criminally liable for any actions taken to defend themselves from the aggressive actions of a person refusing to vacate an illegal street camp, and any such aggression by the camper can be prosecuted as assault.
  • Authorizes local control by allowing local governments to designate indoor or outdoor areas separate from public areas for camping. They must provide for basic sanitation needs.

George Eklund, education and advocacy director with Coalition for the Homeless, says essentially criminalizing homelessness won’t solve the issue.

George Eklund is the education and advocacy director with Coalition for the Homeless in Louisville (Spectrum News 1/Mason Brighton)

“So we don’t even have the capacity to meet the needs to give people the option to be in compliance with this law,” Eklund said. “And so it’s going to leave people out in the cold and they’re going to be susceptible to being charged with this.”

Eklund explains in Louisville there are more than twice as many people experiencing homelessness than there are shelter beds available. This leaves many with no other place to go than the street. He adds more housing, case managers and other wraparound services are what’s needed.

“Shelter will keep people safe. They’ll keep people indoors, but really, the ultimate solution is creating more affordable rental for those that are earning the least in our community,“ Eklund said.

Other organizations have weighed in on the Safer Kentucky Act as well. Ra’Shann Martin, executive director of the St. Johns Center in Louisville, told Spectrum News the following.

“Fining and incarcerating impoverished people for being poor, Is not only inhumane it is an inefficient and inexcusable use of taxpayer funds when providing shelter has proven to be the more sustainable and less expensive option,” Martin said. “We agree the proposal’s stated issues are critical, but these solutions are short-sighted ineffective, and expensive. Rather than punish people for broken systems, we urge the KY legislature to propose solutions that address the root causes.”

The ACLU of Kentucky also offered the following statement on the proposed legislation.

“The Safer Kentucky Act regurgitates failed policies and counterproductive ideas to give the appearance of being ‘tough on crime’ when, in reality, the legislation will cost the taxpayers tens of millions of dollars and not increase public safety. True public safety is achieved when we support our citizens, provide access to their basic needs, and invest in our communities,” said Kungu Njuguna, justice reform policy strategist for ACLU of Kentucky.

Eklund says he has concerns with two other sections of the Act, which center on the involuntary confinement of the mentally ill, and strengthening the protections for store owners who use “reasonable amount of force necessary” against shoplifters. Still, he supports another section which would help individuals get an ID after being released from jail.

Eklund also hopes to have discussions with lawmakers as they work to finalize the language of their proposed bill.

“I would love Frankfort to have a conversation with us to like, learn from our providers, from learning from people that are directly impacted, to see like what do we actually need,” Eklund said.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg’s office provided this statement on the Safer Kentucky Act’s homelessness language.

“While our homeless services team is committed to outreach and support, we must also focus on limiting the growth of encampments, especially in areas around schools, neighborhoods and other family gathering places, in the interest of public safety. Public spaces should be safe and accessible for everyone.”

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