Get the Facts: How the Safer Kentucky Act will impact homeless in Louisville
The Safer Kentucky Act went into effect on Monday, making it illegal for people to sleep or set up camp in public places.
According to George Eklund, with the Coalition for The Homeless, there are 800 beds across city shelters, but 1,600 people who are homeless each night.
맥스카지노Housing is essential. It is a foundation stone that our lives are built upon,맥스카지노 said George Eklund.
Under the Safe Kentucky Act, it맥스카지노s a class B misdemeanor for second and repeat offenses, along with a $250 fine on repeat offenses.
The bill brings concerns to those like Eklund who are on a mission to curb homelessness.
맥스카지노For us, we think locking people up, fining them, giving them misdemeanor charges are not going to actually address their homeless situation. For us, we believe housing ends homelessness not handcuffs,맥스카지노 said Eklund.
Mayor Craig Greenberg said the city is focusing on providing housing options and resources for those facing homelessness.
맥스카지노That맥스카지노s why we continue to support other nonprofits across the community that are providing services and shelters to individuals,맥스카지노 said Greenberg.
He also said if people have 맥스카지노disorderly behavior맥스카지노 regardless of housing status, they will be held accountable.
맥스카지노Individuals who are on the streets for the wrong reasons and creating disturbances, we will hold them accountable,맥스카지노 said Greenberg.
Eklund believes current efforts to address homelessness are working, but admits there is also more work to be done.
"We need to move to more 24-hour shelters. We need to move to more transitional shelter models where people have some level of stability and permanence where they can really focus on getting back into housing rather than moving from shelter to shelter,맥스카지노 said Eklund.
We also followed up with LMPD and were told they have not been given any direction on how to enforce the new law.