After objections from residents and some members of the Worcester, Massachusetts, City Council, a proposal to fine unhoused residents for sleeping or camping on public property was voted down on Sept. 22.
Detractors said the measure would amount to criminalizing homelessness.
Here's what to know
Councilors chose not to move forward with City Manager Eric Batista's proposal.
The municipal ordinance, as reported by local news outlet GBH, would have imposed a $25 fine for each violation involving tents, sleeping outside on streets or sidewalks, or staying in a vehicle for a full day in public parking lots.
Before the council took up the issue, residents reportedly spoke for two hours, many arguing that the fines would punish people for being unhoused without meaningfully addressing underlying problems. They also warned that individuals who could not pay the citations would only be taking on more debt.
Among those who spoke was one unhoused resident, Kevin Lynch, who, according to GBH, questioned where people would be expected to go if the city barred sleeping outdoors on public property.
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
"Please let's think about a little better approach to this," Lynch said, addressing the council.
Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty, who also chairs the City Council, expressed doubts that the ordinance would do much. "We go take an encampment down — what then?" Petty posed at the meeting, according to GBH.
Petty also said that Worcester should "show some dignity and respect" as it aims to address the homelessness crisis. He argued that the city should expand its shelter capacity, improve data-sharing among social service agencies, and make it easier to connect unhoused people with supportive services.
But rather than throw out Batista's broader strategy, councilors supported sending it back for changes, with some noting the approach needed "a little more compassion," according to GBH.
Where can I learn more?
Cities around the country are wrestling with many of the same crises and important questions about how to address the needs of marginalized community members, economic disparities, and public safety:
• In New Jersey, officials drew backlash over a move to deter the presence of unhoused people with a plan to remove shade trees critical to public health.
• In Utah, a van dweller was identified as homeless, showing how precarious vehicle living can be.
• In California, a tiny home community began connecting unhoused residents with essential services.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
