“NASHVILLE, Tenn.—” indicating the location where the news was reported.
The Supreme Court has recently supported a Tennessee law that prohibits camping on public property, citing concerns over the high cost of homelessness.
Some individuals believe that this ruling by the Supreme Court may exacerbate the problems associated with homelessness and be seen as a way of criminalizing it. However, there are others who argue that it could serve as a deterrent for those who are currently living on the streets.
The high court has made a significant ruling in a 6-3 decision, allowing cities to enforce bans on public sleeping and camping. The previous ruling by a California appeals court that considered such laws too harsh has been overturned.
Mixed emotions arise as a result of the ruling.
According to Jesse Rabinowitz from the National Homelessness Law Center, imposing fines or incarcerating individuals will only exacerbate their situation and make it more challenging for them to secure a permanent residence.
“The decision today by the Homeless Law Center was shameful,” Rabinowitz says. “Punishing people for doing what they need to survive is fundamentally unjust and will never solve homelessness.”
According to Brittany McCann, a community advocate, the Supreme Court’s decision had a massive impact. She explains that it was one of the main reasons why they couldn’t shut down their camp in Hermitage and provide housing for the people. Unfortunately, they had no choice but to let the camp grow, which led to more overdose deaths. The decision was significant and had a detrimental effect on the community.
According to McCann, the recent ruling by the high court is a victory.
The picture shows a homeless camp in Hermitage.
“It wasn’t a pleasant experience,” she adds, reflecting on the experiment of living on public land without access to basic facilities like plumbing, toilets, or hygiene.
FOX 17 News reached out to the mayor’s office on Friday to inquire about their plans for enforcing citywide regulations in light of the Supreme Court’s ruling, even though Tennessee lawmakers had already passed a bill in 2022 making it a Class E felony to camp on state-owned property.
Their aim, as per the statement they sent us, is to guarantee the availability of housing and services.
According to April Calvin from the Office of Homeless Services, this decision will be utilized to advocate for additional housing options.
“What I know about our community is we are resilient, we are service providers that are passionate and feisty, and what I know about our mayor and local government is they are solutions-based,” Calvin says.
When FOX 17 News inquired about the enforcement of the homelessness ban, the district attorney’s office stated that General Funk does not prosecute such cases. However, they added that each case is unique and will be thoroughly reviewed.