NATION: The Criminalization of Homelessness (Notes from 7/17/2014 Webinar)

No Safe Place: 

The Criminalization of Homelessness in U.S. Cities.
Notes from Webinar that took place on

Thursday, July 17, 2014 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT.

This page consists of notes that I took on this National Law Center (NLC) webinar for the folks in the Homeless Services Oversight Council (HSOC) - Housing Committee, of which I am a member. All of my comments are in brackets and italicized; example: [Tim Waag]. Apologies in advance for any errors (grammar or spelling), omissions, etc. I took notes while listening, then took 42 minutes to edit and voila! - Read on! 

[Side note: I include beautiful photos of nature on many of my otherwise boring or depressing web pages in order to counterbalance them...hope that makes sense...]

Above: rare cactus at my Aunt's home near Flagstaff that blooms for only 1 day per year - this flower only lasts for 1 day, and we were there to see it at sunrise - by sundown, it had begun to wilt, and by the next day it was gone...click to enlarge.

[I believe that "Criminalization of Homelessness" is occurring in my local community of San Luis Obispo county, and have reason to believe that it is occurring all across this country. When local officials are handing out citations for things like sleeping in your car or cooking in a camp alongside the creek, they need to do more than hand out citations. They need to have an answer for the homeless person when they ask "Where should I go, officer?". The answer should not be, IMHO, to just "go away".]

[As I have stated repeatedly, I believe that "in our relatively affluent country, we should be able to feed and house everyone, regardless of circumstance". Not luxury housing. Not fancy food. Just basic, nutritional food, and a cot under a dry roof with a blanket and a bathroom].

[Tim's Summary: At 1 hour long, this webinar is a summary of trends and court cases across the US. For most of us, criminalization of homelessness is nothing new, and I did not learn as much as I had hoped from this. Many involved with HSOC are far more knowledgable about the applicable laws in the various SLO County municipalities than I am. I am not up-to-date on the exact legal reach and implementation of our current laws on vagrancy, panhandling, sleeping in public, anti-camping, sleeping in cars, urinating in public, use of public bathrooms for bathing, etc., so will have to defer to others on judging where we stand vis-a-vis this criminalization issue.]

PERSONAL: Just for Fun! Summer Kayaking at Avila Beach!

From time to time, I post some favorite (or random) photos from a recent outing. In this case, we live along the beautiful central coast of California, and try to get out and enjoy it as often as possible.

Above: normally shy harbor seals cooperate for the camera. My favorite photo of the bunch. Photo taken in one of their favorite resting places on Smith Island in Port San Luis.

Above: Artful photo of the remaining concrete supports for the whaling station operations in Port San Luis.

Above: Very nautical looking fishing vessel swaying at its mooring.

 Above: Playful California Sea Lions; upper middle individual in photo displays amazing neck flexibility!

Above: Kayakers perspective while observing Cormorants perched at the far end of Smith Island, with Whaler's Island above in the background! That's all for now - hope you enjoy these photos. Click to enlarge. Nope - not a masterful photographer - I just enjoy these images anyways!

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