The Bay Area is witnessing a shift in homelessness policy, facing legal challenges as cities impose stricter ordinances. Attorney Andrea Henson represents Evelyn Alfred, a disabled woman who successfully halted Vallejo from dismantling her makeshift shelter. This ruling marks a pivotal check on the criminalization of homelessness. Advocates stress that with thousands of unhoused individuals and insufficient shelter options, punitive measures are both impractical and inhumane. In light of rising tensions, cities like San Jose propose stricter measures, igniting further debates on homelessness solutions.
Andrea Henson represents Evelyn Alfred, a woman with disabilities who lives in a makeshift shelter and just sued the city of Vallejo. It’s notable because this ruling checks the power of criminalizing homelessness amid expanding city restrictions.
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan argued that the status quo is ineffective, saying, 'One out of three people in this area who are offered housing refuse to come indoors,' highlighting the complexities of enforcing housing offers.
Law professor Laura Riley highlighted the inadequacies in the shelter system: 'Practically speaking, if everyone who is unhoused is supposedly given notice that there is shelter available, some would inevitably face criminal penalties, which is inhumane.'
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