r/NoStupidQuestions • u/Garey_Coleman • 9d ago

Where are the homeless supposed to go?

Cities have been cracking down on homeless people so they can’t have encampments or stay on sidewalks. At the same time usually the shelters are full. So those who are unable to get into a shelter, where are they supposed to go?

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u/MolemanEnLaManana 9d ago

No one wants to say it aloud (because it’s a vile and appalling outcome) but the logical conclusion here is putting homeless people in prisons and other institutions against their will. If you criminalize homelessness more and more, and you don’t create more spaces where the homeless can freely live, that’s what you’re building toward.

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u/HungryIndependence13 9d ago

Florida has made it illegal for them to sleep. No joke. 

You aren’t allowed to use someone else’s private property to sleep. 

You aren’t allowed to sleep on public property. 

So, they can’t sleep anywhere. They are not allowed to sleep. 

This 100% turns them into criminals against their will. No matter how hard they try to stay awake they will eventually fall asleep somewhere. 

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u/Fantastic-Campaign31 9d ago

One of the biggest "holy shit, this is what the world is really like" moments for me as a new adult was when I went on a road trip and due to limited funds some nights I slept in my car. And I learned very quick how difficult it is to legally sleep in public. My brain couldn't comprehend it. I'm technically legally not allowed to just park on the street somewhere where I'm not bothering someone and sleep? Or find an empty lot overnight?  Then I wondered about people less fortunate than I who don't do it by choice. Who have no other option. It's incredibly sad that as a society you can't just...exist, sometimes. 

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u/BravoFive141 9d ago

Somewhat related, I took a short road trip (only about 2-3 hours) a few years back to go to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal with my girlfriend at the time and a few friends. We get out of the park pretty late obviously, but I'm feeling alright, so I opted to hit the road and just try to get home rather than waste money on a hotel. I'm usually more of a night owl, so I figured they could all sleep in the car while I drive.

I get about an hour away from home before I decide I gotta stop and get get home shut eye for a bit. It's about 3-4am at this point, so I just pulled off at the next rest stop, parked in a well-lit spot, locked the doors, and got some sleep. At about 6am, I get woken up by an officer telling me I'm not allowed to sleep there and it scares other people.

Well fuck, guess I should have just crashed the car and killed us all?