President Trump is focused on addressing homelessness in Washington D.C. by moving unhoused individuals into shelters or removing them from the city. However, details on the implementation of this plan are lacking. Advocates, including Amber Harding, express concern that the focus may shift to criminalizing homelessness. The White House has mentioned offering services and shelters to the homeless, with potential fines or jail time for those refusing help. Local organizations have reported limited shelter space, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the proposed approach to solve homelessness.
"Everything they do is outside and in public. They are the segment of the community that is the most scrutinized for criminal behavior," Harding said in an interview with Morning Edition.
"There are many places that they can go, and we're going to help them as much as you can help. But they'll not be allowed to turn our capital into a wasteland for the world to see."
"[Housing] is cheaper than jail. It is cheaper than institutions. It is not effective to put someone in jail for a night," Harding says.
"Where are they going when they get out? They're going back to the street. You haven't solved the problem."
Collection
[
|
...
]