As though homeless people don’t already own so few possessions, the city of Los Angeles just passed a law saying that the amount of things a homeless person can own must fit inside of a trashcan. They even have size dimensions for the trashcan, noting that the items must fit in a 60-gallon trashcan and the lid must close over it.
The new law allows police to even confiscate tents that are still standing on public property during daylight hours. Taking away a homeless person’s shelter is not constructive, and in fact only makes them feel less secure in a time when they need a solid foundation to get back on their feet.
This law is in response to LA’s homeless epidemic, which has been on the rise recently, with an increase in 20% over just the last two years.
Please sign the petition to urge LA to immediately rescind the misguided law restricting homeless people to owning no more than what they can fit in a 60 gallon trashcan.
We the undersigned ask that you immediately rescind the misguided law restricting homeless people to owning no more than what they can fit in a 60 gallon trashcan. Homelessness is an issue that stems from greed and a disregard for the root causes of poverty, as many people that are homeless cannot afford housing first and foremost because rent is too high. As cities look the other way while buildings increase their rent prices, more people are evicted and end up on the streets.
The only real solution for homelessness is to give people homes. Initiatives have begun in other U.S. and international cities, such as Canada, that are attempting to reduce the amount of homeless people by first giving them homes and subsequently working with them to determine the best approach for getting them back on their feet. These programs offer a range of services, such as rehabilitation for drug addictions, therapy, and connections to job opportunities. It’s programs like these that constructively help to end homelessness and poverty, not laws that try to restrict homeless people even more.
