Where can you go if existing on public property is illegal?

Sleep is a pretty essential human function, right? You can die without it. Well in one city on Oregon that has more homeless people than beds, sleeping in public is illegal.

They obviously don’t own any property, so public property is the only space they are allowed to exist. If you’re not allowed to perform a function necessary for survival in any location… are you allowed to exist?

Also, since these are “civil” laws… (civil - [adjective]: courteous and polite) the punishments are fines, and not jail time. Just in case they thought they might be able to get a little help.

And the only thing more shocking than the decision, is the Supreme Court Justice who doesn’t understand what his job is.

“Why would you think that these nine people are the best people to judge and weigh those policy judgments?”

Real quote from the dystopia - “Why would you think that these nine [justices] are the best people to judge?”

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Jackaloftheazuresand · 26-30, M

If you're homeless in America long enough that you'd die without sleeping then you aren't really trying and if you aren't really trying then you don't deserve what everyone else works for. See because without the contributions of everyone else if you fell asleep out in the open a bear or a wolf or a lion would eat you. Otherwise you'd have to build your own shelter and protect it yourself. You are only safe because you are taking from others and that is really what is illegal here, being a leech. When you don't contribute it is not fair to expect others to hold you up. You want to exist, you can, but you have to leave society and do everything for yourself because that is the same rule everyone else abides by just without the agreed upon teamwork.

I used to think like you until I realized that. Freedom from society is simple, you just wander off into the wild. What's the worst that happens? A ranger comes and tells you to move it along or the cops pick you up and let you sleep inside for a night. These are excuses because it's hard out there alone and few people really want to be that much of a master to their fate. All the things you think are restrictions placed by other people are really the restrictions of the universe itself. Water isn't guaranteed in the wild, food isn't either. If the homeless truly want to exist then they will without help, nobody is actually stopping them.

Handfull1 · 61-69, F

You have a lot to learn. No man is an island. Unless you’re really living on a deserted island. You’re correct. Most would be dead by now. Problem solved if that’s how you want to look at it.

Jackaloftheazuresand · 26-30, M

@Handfull1 If no man is an island then you might want to give up now because that can only mean within the system of life more is always being taken than given back ergo it's always declining no matter what you do and you're fighting a losing battle

SatanBurger · 36-40, F

@Jackaloftheazuresand I'm not trying to argue so don't take this as me trying to be in any way towards you. But our mental health care is broken and the things that make a person is complex. You do have it right, a lot of people make their own beds they lay in but there's a bunch of other factors too.

Like it's not uncommon for a homeless person to have a job but no house due to more rent. A person now has to make 36% more which was a statistic I heard for basic living. Then lack of medical care, mental health, complex PTSD.

We still don't really know what causes trauma but we also know for sure that it rewires the brain too. So like we don't really have answers for everyone anyways.

The United States has entire ghost towns and they try to gentrify them instead of finding some way to ease poverty. Whole entire buildings just sitting there and taking up resources and electrical grids.

SatanBurger · 36-40, F

@Jackaloftheazuresand Although I will say that I can't ignore that many homeless do drugs too and then kind of kind the streets of San Francisco where there's dirty needles and stuff. So I think you got a point but I also think that if there's a time wherever I'm homeless either, I wouldn't want to be criminalized.

There was one time I was willfully homeless just trying to find an apartment after school and all the homeless shelters were special cases and the one that took you was a literal religious cult. They demanded two church services a day and if you were out on a job interview and happened to miss even one, you were kicked out along with all you stuff. The rules were made very clear.

Then I asked if they helped me find a job and they actually laughed. That's when I turned around and said nope.

Handfull1 · 61-69, F

@Jackaloftheazuresand it’s easy to say because we are generally not in the wild. Yes, on an island I’d probably give up at my age. But you talk smart. Think of everything you’re doing right now that is relying on someone. Like being online.

Jackaloftheazuresand · 26-30, M

@SatanBurger The thing about being criminalized here is that the punishments only work on someone who still has one foot in the game. When you leave society behind you become untouchable. "You'll fine me a currency I don't rely on?!" or "It's going on my record that I don't use because I don't work for anyone but myself." It's a cake situation, not much of a problem to be solved like the commenter above thinks. Someone either wants to be a part of the group or they don't.

Jackaloftheazuresand · 26-30, M

@Handfull1 And I would not fault them for cutting me off when I don't fulfill my side of the contract so what are you even saying?

goodlil666 · 51-55, M

@Jackaloftheazuresand You have obviously lived a sheltered life to come to those kind of conclusions . And you don't have any grasp of the wide variety of issues that have contributed to making so many people and families homeless today. Many indeed do have jobs, and still are unable to afford housing, food, insurance, utilities, transportation. , etc. Moving to a place with a lower cost of living is not an option usually because lack of employment opportunities in those areas. Most are not looking for a hand out , but just to be left alone to survive doing the best they can at the time and not turned into a criminal because of it. Walking off into the woods is even less of an option for most. Most people don't have the skill sets to survive that way. Many don't have access to public land if they do have the skill sets. Many states have very little public land with the vast majority being held in private hands. Once you become homeless everything else becomes that much harder. Personal hygiene becomes a struggle, getting food and preparing meals is a constant issue dealing with perishable healthier foods or less healthy usually non perishable foods. Sleeping in dark, low profile places exposed to a higher chance of crime or violence against you. Of course addiction and mental health issues are factor in some of this as well. These are just a few of the almost endless issues of cause and effect for the large numbers of homeless in America today. and it's not going to get any better anytime soon.