Susan Duclos
Columbia, South Carolina has unanimously passed a measure that basically criminalizes homelessness in order to address their massive homeless problem. The homeless will be given a choice to relocate or be arrested.
If they agree to relocate they will be taken to a shelter, but a shelter allows people to come and go at will, not so for this shelter..
This “shelter” will be a remote 240-person bed emergency shelter but it is being reported that those relocated to this location will not be allowed to leave the premises without permission and there will be an armed police officer guarding the road leading to the building.
The shelter will also be used as a drop-off for people recently released from prison.
While homelessness does need to be addressed, this sounds suspiciously more like the FEMA camps we have seen talked about of late and less like a place meant to help people get back on their feet.
The city claims this is to be a temporary measure.
This follows the recent ban on feeding the homeless in Myrtle Beach.
The majority of homeless people do not choose to be homeless and treating them like criminals is tantamount to kicking someone while they are down.